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The BORSALINO BROTHERHOOD

Messages
18,452
Location
Nederland
Stefan, Thank you for the additional information. Sometime in the 1930s there was a switch from the Celled Paper Labels. Your "Nebbia" is a really fantastic looking hat. I think it could be earlier than the date stamped hats but I am not sure the additional hand writing points to that being the case. It would be interesting to put all the Celled Paper Labels + Hats together in one post. I know one of my examples has a slightly different cell alignment.
Sounds like a plan. I'll have to see how many of these labels I have collected the pictures of. It is true that the idea that more writing on the label means an earlier date is speculation that needs confirmation with a dated hat, but I do think it is a reasonable assumption to make. Then again; this is Borsalino we're talking about, so logic is not as solid as we'd like...
 
Messages
17,517
Location
Maryland
Sounds like a plan. I'll have to see how many of these labels I have collected the pictures of. It is true that the idea that more writing on the label means an earlier date is speculation that needs confirmation with a dated hat, but I do think it is a reasonable assumption to make. Then again; this is Borsalino we're talking about, so logic is not as solid as we'd like...
Stefan, Sounds good. I will try to collect some photos.

Update: I checked the first 100 pages of this thread for Celled Paper Labels(3) and Separate Size Paper Labels(5). I am collecting all the photos for each hat.
 
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Messages
10,849
Location
vancouver, canada
I thought I'd share this link my son sent me recently.
He said he isn't endorsing or supporting "this hobby of yours".
He is more antagonistic to my hat addiction than my wife is. LOL!
Anyway, I found this article interesting:


https://www.bloomberg.com/news/arti...-millennials-italian-hat-maker-tries-new-look

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Yes, I read this the other day. Funny I have never considered Sinatra, Bogart, or Redford as particularly 'rough and tumble". I have this gut level thought that the new owner's initiative will not end well for the their bottom line nor the Borsalino name. Hang on to your vintage Borsalino's folks as I don't think that is the road they will be travelling down.
 

drmaxtejeda

I'll Lock Up
Messages
8,363
Location
Mexico City
Yes, I read this the other day. Funny I have never considered Sinatra, Bogart, or Redford as particularly 'rough and tumble". I have this gut level thought that the new owner's initiative will not end well for the their bottom line nor the Borsalino name. Hang on to your vintage Borsalino's folks as I don't think that is the road they will be travelling down.
If they maintain the Borsalino quality it will be interesting to watch, though.

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Messages
10,849
Location
vancouver, canada
If they maintain the Borsalino quality it will be interesting to watch, though.

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My reading into the article is that the attempt would be to take them more mainstream to appeal to the millenials....more fashion oriented and I read that as lower quality. I have not purchased a Borsa newer than 1990 so I have limited exposure to the brand. But the ones I went through at Bernie Utz shop in Seattle a year ago were decidedly inconsistent. Some of the flaws that got past quality control were inexcusable in at $400 fedora.
 

AbbaDatDeHat

I'll Lock Up
Messages
8,850
^^^^No no may it never be!
I’m gonna stop reading stuff and stay suspended in my happy place Borsalino home!!
“It’s a Borsalino”!!! Mi Amor!
B
 
Messages
17,517
Location
Maryland

Daniele Tanto

I'll Lock Up
Messages
4,247
Location
Verona - Italia
I believe we must realize that the taste for hats has changed. We are past tastes, even in our section there are some precise distinctions. Who has remained to build hats to sell them must absolutely try to meet the tastes of an audience that very little conceives the dress hats as some of us love. Even on FL at this moment the western hats are going crazy, which are, at least for me, a very little loved genre. It is clear that no one can afford to have totally all the work related to felt and all the steps to build a hat. The consequence is the work of those few who remained in the sector: the rare producers of felt and the few hatters. We want to make those who are scandalized because we are not taken into account by the producers? Come on we know that we are a niche of enthusiasts and tastes very different from each other. We must be realistic and not dreamers. Borsalino tries to keep afloat with a fashion operation, trying to become an "exclusive brand" for those who want to appear with status symbols, no matter if they are beautiful, ugly, out of place or crazy. On the other hand, a discussion has been going on FL for some weeks, with a relative sense of possession, on hats that had the beginnings of the status symbol and that is the price: 50, 100 and so on. Alan pointed out that Borsalino never used this technique, but then WAS the hat. In the current world no more and have embarked on their way to try to be important again ;)
 

DRB

One Too Many
Messages
1,621
Location
Florida
Thanks for your attention Steve. Here are a few examples of non-borsalinos (Stratoliners) in silverbelly.
 

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    Silverbelly Stratoliner by Stetson 2.JPG
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Messages
15,083
Location
Buffalo, NY
Hi Alan, that looks great. That looks soft! I have never seen that hat before. I am guessing there are more than one. I am interested in finding a silverbelly borsalino felt for myself. I can fix it up. There are no modern day models for sale, right?

It's a 1950s hat... I have others in thin ribbon from that era in various tan shades. Looked quickly at Bencraft's website and did not see a tan colored Borsalino. They do specialize in religious hats, which are black. Hard to imagine they do not offer a contemporary hat in a tan color, but not sure.
 
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