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Hi Terry,Someone gave me a vintage thin ribbon Borsa that needed a lot of TLC....it was in pretty rough shape and was missing the sweat band. The felt, though, was still nice. Anyway, I attempted to reblock it two sizes larger to a 7 1/4 to fit me. I lost so much brim width in the size up that I decided it wasn't worth my effort to go any further with it. I still kept it as a reminder to how superior vintage felt was. So much better than anything made today. Felting is a long lost art. I came close to having a thin ribbon Borsa but it just didn't work out for me. The felt on that Borsa was every bit the way you described it.
I hope one in your size crosses your path. The first Borsalino I found many years back was a later production - 1970s I think - a late offering from old factory. The liner was no longer the raw silk variety and the sweatband was sewn with a reed, but the felt had much of the quality of the earlier versions, which I acquired later on. Hard to describe the differences from its American cousins but they are tangible. The lower priced Stetson thin ribbons are often light in weight but not that soft/supple and not very responsive to shaping. The high end beaver felt hats are immensely shapable and very well made, but feel a little heavy on the head to me. The Borsalino thin ribbon melds the best of both into one hat, beautifully executed in the hand of the felt and the finishings. My next favorite to wear and the early Stratoliners, which are modestly finished but have the lighweight formable felt down pat. Later Stratoliners (1950s) are too stiff IMO. The 7XCB is a marvelous felt for sure - just a little heavy/dressy and limited mostly to silverbelly. Just my person .02!