The Unpinched Fedora

[BellyTank]

No- it only works for certain bunches of years, as discussed elsewhere-

B
T

 

[jamespowers]

It's called "The Angora"- who knows what the composition is- maybe it is just a hairy version of a typical blend, or maybe it does have angora rabbit in it.
It has a nice marled colour, greys with a speckling of a blue-ish hue.
Serial is '810M 76718', if that means anything... Going by it's similar, contemorary hats, it's '40s vintage. When I got it, it had the typical and classic Borsalino styling and dents but I have done a little 'creative ironing and hammering' with it- some subtle tweaks and smoothing...

Angora just meant it is a long haired felt or a plush in my experience. Everyone had their own names for hat models and finishes during that time. You had Doe Finishes, Velour Finishes, Kitten Finishes, Cravenettes and a tone of other designations. You will even see Borsalinos with the X designation, Super Borsalino and a host of other names on the sweatband.
BT, that is a great hat and your guess as to its age is probably coirrect.

Regards,

J

 

[BellyTank]

JP

I think you're probably right on the use of the name- although I wouldn't be at all surprised if our Italian friends slipped in a bit of long haired rabbit.
I'm sure the 'Kitten Finish' didn't contain a lot of kitty hairs.

You can probably better see the detail of the brim edge in these shots.
It is Cavanaugh-ish, self-felted-welt, not sewn.

Thanks for the compliment- if I find an example in your size, I'll let you know about it...

B
T

 

[Visigoth]

Beaver in Borsalino

A good place to ask this again (I asked it in another thread, but got no response): did all vintage Borsalinos have at least *some* beaver in them? Or were they in the "lapin" business, even back then?

 

[jamespowers]

I think you're probably right on the use of the name- although I wouldn't be at all surprised if our Italian friends slipped in a bit of long haired rabbit.
I'm sure the 'Kitten Finish' didn't contain a lot of kitty hairs.

You can probably better see the detail of the brim edge in these shots.
It is Cavanaugh-ish, self-felted-welt, not sewn.

Thanks for the compliment- if I find an example in your size, I'll let you know about it...

The Borsalino might well have been a blend but they could really make the blend behave like a beaver felt. Something they did made a difference.
Byer/Rolnick would not likely have done that. Rolnick was a hat lover beyond most of us. He loved hats. Hats produced when he was at the helm are not going to be cats. They might have rabbit in them though.
I have never seen a Cavanagh Edge plush. That is really quite a bit of work to be done on a hat body when you think of it. Removing the stitches before the felting stage could make you go blind with all that plush to dig through.
I doubt you will ever see an example in my size. A plush like that is pretty rare in any size as it is.

Regards,

J

 

[BellyTank]

'Feltfan' apparently has a couple of Angoras...
B
T

 

[jamespowers]

A good place to ask this again (I asked it in another thread, but got no response): did all vintage Borsalinos have at least *some* beaver in them? Or were they in the "lapin" business, even back then?

I didn't see the question when first asked. [huh]
Vintage Borsalinos were mostly blends unless otherwise designated. If you paid less than $20 back then it was likely some kind of blend with more rabbit than beaver. If it got to be $30 you got more beaver fur in the blend. $40-50 would get you to the full beaver level and up to $100 would get you all the best accoutrements as well as being finished by their best master hatters. At least that is what I have seen in the literature and in actually seeing the hats.

Regards,

J

 

[Visigoth]

And is there any way of determining what level a given Borsalino is, if you don't have the price tag? For instance, if it has a wind cord, is it near the top, or was that standard? Some seem to indicate with X's, etc., but I take it you can find a hat with no such indication, which nevertheless has a high beaver content?

 

[Matt Deckard]

I just can't seem to not pinch unless it's a bowler or Homburg.

 

[Carlisle Blues]

Worth & Worth has a few

Aria
This classy, rabbit fur felt flaunts a suede finish accented with a band to match its binded edge.

Viaggio
Cashmere fur felt packable hat
Brim: 2 1/4"

Trilby
Fine fur felt hat with 1/4" grossgrain band and cloth sweatband
Brim: 2"

 

[daizawaguy]

Oh oh...another idea for a new hat...

 

[theinterchange]

I had this hat, a Stylepark Templeform "Aristo" briefly, it was an eBay win that was mis-listed as my size, but in reality was 2 sizes too large. [Seller was clueless about hats ]

I really loved the color of that hat, but there was no way I could have worn it. :eusa_doh:

Randy

 

[mayserwegener]

This is my ultimate example. It will not even take a pinch.

Hückel Superior (late 30s)

 

[theinterchange]

That's a beautiful hat you've got there! :eusa_clap

 

[dnjan]

This is my ultimate example. It will not even take a pinch.

Hückel Superior (late 30s)

Were there many hats from that period with raw edges?

 

[dnjan]

Center dent only is dressier---think of the homburg. Center dent with the brim up all around would be like a homburg and considered dressier.

I have a problem wearing a snap-brim from that period (around 1-3/4 to 2" brim) without the brim snapped. I think today's "rockers" have spoiled it for me.
I do like a Homburg brim with the curl on the side, just not the soft, un-snapped brim with no side curl.

Probably an age thing ...

 

[Dr Doran]

Do "today's rockers" wear the brim up? I have not noticed. Do tell?

 

[dnjan]

Sorry - not meant as a disparaging remark about rockers in general - just those who insist on performing with a hat on, with the brim un-snapped. I am just not a fan of the look.

 

[Brent Hutto]

I had this hat, a Stylepark Templeform "Aristo" briefly, it was an eBay win that was mis-listed as my size, but in reality was 2 sizes too large. [Seller was clueless about hats ]

I really loved the color of that hat, but there was no way I could have worn it. :eusa_doh:

Randy

Oh my. Love the shape of that hat. Don't know if I could wear such a small brim but I'd love to try. And the pinchless crown has great proportions. If it were a shade darker and sans feather it would be absolutely perfect to my eyes.

 

[mayserwegener]

Were there many hats from that period with raw edges?

I am not sure how popular raw edges were at that time. I do know that my Hückel fedoras and one homburg from the 30s early 40s have raw edges.