OTHER THAN eBAY Hats: Victories, Defeats, Gripes & Items of Interest

[blewnote]

Arg! I have some work ahead of me .
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Oooh, but worth it.

 

[wsmontana]

Yes, but with Borsalinos, that's the fun kind of work. Those things will snap back beautifully.

Ooh.. baby - that’s the good stuff

Thanks guys! They are crushed but in great condition otherwise.

 

[wsmontana]

Oooh, but worth it.

Yes for sure!

 

[Blare]

Arg! I have some work ahead of me .
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Those will rebound nicely!

 

[wsmontana]

Those will rebound nicely!

Yes they did! They must be pocket hats by design ;-).

Thread 'Borsalino "Pocket" hat in a Small box'
https://www.thefedoralounge.com/threads/borsalino-pocket-hat-in-a-small-box.87030/

 

[Blare]

There are some that are actually labeled Pocket Hats…. And many that are not that spent much of their lives rolled away in those coffin boxes. Stefan and other have indicated they were never intended to be stored in those boxes repeatedly only meant to make the trip home then unrolled, steamed into shape and worn. I have a few of these…. Even managed to get one with the rolling/unrolling instruction sheet. Some I keep in thier coffins… ones that are seldom used. Another nicer I do not roll back…. Though I’m sure it would do fine. And one…. That I brought with me this weekend for a cruise where I felt I could knit bring the hat one my head and the rolled up one (without its box.. it is too fragile. It pops back into decent shape and will make an appearance this weekend.

 

[jeffgarf]

There are some that are actually labeled Pocket Hats…. And many that are not that spent much of their lives rolled away in those coffin boxes. Stefan and other have indicated they were never intended to be stored in those boxes repeatedly only meant to make the trip home then unrolled, steamed into shape and worn. I have a few of these…. Even managed to get one with the rolling/unrolling instruction sheet. Some I keep in thier coffins… ones that are seldom used. Another nicer I do not roll back…. Though I’m sure it would do fine. And one…. That I brought with me this weekend for a cruise where I felt I could knit bring the hat one my head and the rolled up one (without its box.. it is too fragile. It pops back into decent shape and will make an appearance this weekend.

I have three of the coffin boxes. They would hold hats with descriptions like "Flyweight" or other descriptions on the sweatband, but you are right, they were meant for selling the hat and having it steamed and worn after, not re-rolling and storing like the "Traveller" hats of today.

 

[wsmontana]

There are some that are actually labeled Pocket Hats…. And many that are not that spent much of their lives rolled away in those coffin boxes. Stefan and other have indicated they were never intended to be stored in those boxes repeatedly only meant to make the trip home then unrolled, steamed into shape and worn. I have a few of these…. Even managed to get one with the rolling/unrolling instruction sheet. Some I keep in thier coffins… ones that are seldom used. Another nicer I do not roll back…. Though I’m sure it would do fine. And one…. That I brought with me this weekend for a cruise where I felt I could knit bring the hat one my head and the rolled up one (without its box.. it is too fragile. It pops back into decent shape and will make an appearance this weekend.

Thanks for the info Joe!

I find it fascinating that these coffin boxes actually existed. Do you have a pic of the instructions? It would be cool to see those.

I’m sure my hats were never intended to be crushed like that but they are fine. The leather sweatbands were a bit wonky but a gentle 4-way stretching fixed that.

Do your coffin hats have cloth sweatbands?

 

[jeffgarf]

Thanks for the info Joe!

I find it fascinating that these coffin boxes actually existed. Do you have a pic of the instructions? It would be cool to see those.

I’m sure my hats were never intended to be crushed like that but they are fine. The leather sweatbands were a bit wonky but a gentle 4-way stretching fixed that.

Do your coffin hats have cloth sweatbands?

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Not speaking for Joe, but mine had leather sweatbands. I have only seen cloth or grosgrain sweatbands on modern Borsalinos, including those advertised as "Traveller" hats. @Daniele Tanto or @steur would certainly have the largest sample size (and the knowledge) to know if that was a recent thing for Borsalinos. I do have very old hats, of other European brands, that did have them (tuxedo hats and such), so anything is possible.

 

[wsmontana]

Not speaking for Joe, but mine had leather sweatbands. I have only seen cloth or grosgrain sweatbands on modern Borsalinos, including those advertised as "Traveller" hats. @Daniele Tanto or @steur would certainly have the largest sample size (and the knowledge) to know if that was a recent thing for Borsalinos. I do have very old hats, of other European brands, that did have them (tuxedo hats and such), so anything is possible.

Thanks for the info Jeff!

 

[jeffgarf]

Thanks for the info Jeff!

One last thing, you may see modern black Borsalino hats on the second-hand market (or in online stores) that have a ribbon hatband. These were certainly made for the religious market and not advertised as "travellers" hats. Since the religious hats in the Jewish market are meant to be worn for long periods of time, several days in a row, many manufacturers, Borsalino included, have used the fabric hatband to reduce the sweat caused by the sweatband. Strangely enough, the hats didn't go down in price (after all, leather is more expensive), but I guess there really weren't too many complaints from the wearers who likely figured this was a wearability upgrade.

 

[wsmontana]

One last thing, you may see modern black Borsalino hats on the second-hand market (or in online stores) that have a ribbon hatband. These were certainly made for the religious market and not advertised as "travellers" hats. Since the religious hats in the Jewish market are meant to be worn for long periods of time, several days in a row, many manufacturers, Borsalino included, have used the fabric hatband to reduce the sweat caused by the sweatband. Strangely enough, the hats didn't go down in price (after all, leather is more expensive), but I guess there really weren't too many complaints from the wearers who likely figured this was a wearability upgrade.

Not to hijack this thread, but I totally understand and empathize in dealing with sweat and its destruction of leather sweatbands. My beloved Akubra Bushman (which you could say I wear religiously on the river and sweat in profusely) has a leather sweatband that is at its end of life and needs to be replaced. I could go with leather again but I’m thinking of “upgrading” to a longer lasting cloth/synthetic material. Any recommendations?

 

[jeffgarf]

Not to hijack this thread, but I totally understand and empathize in dealing with sweat and its destruction of leather sweatbands. My beloved Akubra Bushman (which you could say I wear religiously on the river and sweat in profusely) has a leather sweatband that is at its end of life and needs to be replaced. I could go with leather again but I’m thinking of “upgrading” to a longer lasting cloth/synthetic material. Any recommendations?

I know grosgrain is used for the travellers series of many brands, but honestly, there is another fabric that has some thickness to it that is used in hats sold under the Albertini brand (a whole 'nother discussion) that I'd find to be more suited to what your looking for. I'm actually expecting to receive a second hand one next week and I can let you know more about it. Finding someone to create and install it, might be another matter.

 

[wsmontana]

I know grosgrain is used for the travellers series of many brands, but honestly, there is another fabric that has some thickness to it that is used in hats sold under the Albertini brand (a whole 'nother discussion) that I'd fine to be more suited to what your looking for. I'm actually expecting to receive a second hand one next week and I can let you know more about it. Finding someone to create and install it, might be another matter.

Yes, please let me know what you find out. I have replaced many reeded/taped leather sweatbands myself (manually using a speedy stitcher). Hopefully I could leverage that skill for a cloth-based solution.