Interesting one there Joe, hopefully some of our resident Borsalino experts have some info on it.
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Tim.. it is very strange to me. Yeah... it’s almost like it is faded under and on the back side of the ribbon. But that doesn’t seem to make sense. I was thinking maybe it was treated for water repellency or something like that... like when you oil fabric and it gets that dark look to it... or maybe something as simple as a previous owner dyed it darker. The feeling and texture of the felt too makes me feel like something is applied. That lighter area.. I think kinda feels more like what I would expect as hand. But it’s such a small sample area to really tell
Thanks... I may be able to get a better look at that tag.. though it is pretty damaged. I was concerned about the sweat... but also the tag looks like it was sorta stuck to the inside of the sweat a bit and part of it peeled off. There is a dried almost adhesive like substance behind the sweat and along the liner I originally thought was the liner glued in.. but then saw it was also tacked in with thread. And then thought someone had maybe glued the sweat in place when it started popping threads...
Randy, Thanks again.
Really nice looking hat and that bow is beautiful. I've been thinking I have seen it before and I have! I have an Overbeck branded hat with exactly the same bow style.Mayser "Spezial", 58 cm possibly late 1950s. As usually great felt, form and workmanship. Really like the bow and brim work. Also near mint condition.
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Cool find, Joe. Gérard Sools was a high end retailer who sold hats mostly under his own brand (but made by various manufacturers). Borsalino did the "Super Borsalino" designation on request of retailers. I've seen them done for a few different ones. The cerrated label puts the hat anywhere between the mid-thirties and mid-sixties, but somewhere in the mid- to late fifties is most likely. Impossible to say what the original colour of it was; Borsalino had forty greys we know of! There was definitely something put on the hat after the ribbon was put on, but what? It certainly wasn't done by Borsalino.
Joe hope you got it for free!This is a ‘Super Borsalino’ that arrived the other day.
The hat arrived a dirty crumpled mess. Now After a very thorough brushing and a quick reshaping... it’s now a much less crumped slightly less dirty hat.
I’m very curious if anyone knows anything about this model. Super Borsalino. This one appears to be French or at least was sold at a French hat store. Sools Maitre Chapelier.
I’m not sure what is up with this felt. Which appears either a dark grey or medium to darker brownish.. depending on light. It is somewhat stiff... which allows for it to keep a razor sharp raw edge.. but it also feels that way in the crown.. (almost like canvas that has become sun dried) however it molds easily into shape still. Can pop it open.. or put in a crease easily. The ribbon is falling off... and under the ribbon the felt is a much lighter colored grey that feels a bit more smooth. I wonder if maybe there was a treatment put on the felt after the ribbon was attached. I don’t think it is just from being extremely dirty as the darker color is fairly uniform on all the exposed parts. Except a small area right on the bottom front of the brim that is lighter... maybe from tipping the brim.
I did find the remnants of a manufacturer label.. but it is rather damaged. Can make out a few details on it. The sweat appears to be unreeded and is coming unattached in a few spots popping it’s stitches as the edge of the leather appears sewn directly to the corner of the felt.
I think I see the remnants of either a cellophane or paper liner tip
any thoughts on it are appreciated
Haha Daniele... $15 counts as free right? I figured it was worth that to me for the curiosity factor. I wouldn’t put a professional cleaning into it... but I’m sure I can get it to a point on my own where I will enjoy it myself. Even if it’s just a trail hat. I do like that sharp raw edge it has.Joe hope you got it for free!
This Borsalino seems a veteran of the Punic wars
However it is a hat made exclusively for Sools, see also the stamp on the sweat band, "Super Borsalino" very little used normally. The color of the felt is the darkest one, the one under the bow is the color with the dust. The hat appears to have been outdoors for quite some time. You can probably have something better in your hand after a well done cleaning, but I doubt it's worth investing money. From the size tag is a hat that can be at most fifty years old.
Stefan, Thanks! I took look at the Overbeck photos and it's highly possible that it was made by Mayser.
