Barlesoni?

[funneman]

Hello Gents,

I'm looking at a "Barlesoni" brand hat, made in the USA. Never heard of it. It's your standard short brim, center bash with matching ribbon. Looks nice in the picture. Wondering if it's a "Borsalino" knock-off. Anyone know anything about them?

Thanks.

 

[Young fogey]

Yep, shameless ripoff. Borsalinos are made in Italy. That said, I have a Barlesoni and it's smart and sturdy.

 

[Alive'n'Amplified]

I have a Panama. I like it; good quality.

 

[Mystic]

Just won a Barlesoni on ebay. Not much on the lounge that I could find on this brand.

This one looks to be a pretty good hat in the photos. Looks like it could be mid 50s.......any guesses?
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-BARLESONI-Dark-Brown-Beaver-Fedora-Bogart-Sinatra-Style-Men-039-s-Hat-6-3-4-/371184957168?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2047675.l2557&nma=true&si=qeh4sW89LlhZsXFVrQmHl4TDOG0%253D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc

 

[hatsRme]

I'd bet you're close with a mid fifties guess, Mystic. But no matter, that is one sweet hat, regardless! Great find, friend.

 

[Mystic]

I'd bet you're close with a mid fifties guess, Mystic. But no matter, that is one sweet hat, regardless! Great find, friend.

Thanks charlie, I guess I'll learn a little something about Barlesoni's quality in about a week.

 

[besdor]

The Barlesoni brand was owned by a company called Goodwear Hat manufacturing that was located in Atlanta GA during the 1970's and early 1980's. When the company was closed , the name was transferred to Bollman Hats. We sold them in our stores during that time. I have a few in stock . Probably retailed for around 25 to 30 in 1980.

 

[Mystic]

The Barlesoni brand was owned by a company called Goodwear Hat manufacturing that was located in Atlanta GA during the 1970's and early 1980's. When the company was closed , the name was transferred to Bollman Hats. We sold them in our stores during that time. I have a few in stock . Probably retailed for around 25 to 30 in 1980.

Wow, if that's the case it looks like they did an excellent job of replicating vintage features.
This makes me even more interested in seeing what it looks like.
What's your opinion of the felt used?

 

[mayserwegener]

I believe Besdor is talking about the company at a later point in time. Your hat looks to be early to mid 50s maybe a bit older. By the way it looks really nice!

 

[Mystic]

I believe Besdor is talking about the company at a later point in time. Your hat looks to be early to mid 50s maybe a bit older. By the way it looks really nice!

Thanks Steve, It sure looks 50s to me. The features and especially the brim treatment are what caught my eye and interest. Although it looks like it may be too heavy to get much head time for me.

BTW: Fantastic black/blueish Habig Wien on the Last man standing thread.

 

[besdor]

I asked my source of information and was told that Lynbrook Hat company made the Barlesoni hats in the 1940's and 1950's. When they closed , the name was transferred to Bollman hats.

 

[Mystic]

Hi guys, I have finally gotten around to getting a few photos of the Barlesoni I picked up on ebay last month. I am very pleased with this hat. Good quality workmanship, felt compares to my Stetson 15 dress quality and Mallory 15, hand felted edge, wind trolley, no plastic on liner, vented sweat, oil skin behind sweat. Possibly late 40s but definitely no later than mid 50s. The only thing that seems out of place is the red vent grommet on the sweatband.

open crown 5 3/4"
brim 2 5/8
ribbon 2 1/16
sweat 1 3/4

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[hatsRme]

Stinning! Great find, Mystic. Wear it in good health!

 

[RJR]

I don't know for sure but would guess that the grommet is to enable hanging it up.

 

[randooch]

Great sweatband! Handsome hat overall.

 

[besdor]

Thats not a Bollman hat. Definately older so im guessing made by Lynbrook Hats.

 

[Mystic]

Thats not a Bollman hat. Definately older so im guessing made by Lynbrook Hats.

After you made the comment about Lynbrook Hats I was hoping there would be something under the sweatband to confirm it. But, just a simple basic re-order tag. Nothing on reverse side of the sweat either.

Oh, well it's a very nice hat anyway.

Thanks for the compliments guys.

 

[besdor]

Many of the companies back then didnt put their names into the hats as they made them for other companies. Lynbrook, like other factories made hats for many stores as well as other smaller hat compamies ..what i can tell you is the the logos that are on the hat are exactly the same as the Barlesoni hats that we have in our store. I'm guessing that all of the dies were just transferred to Bollman or even Goodwear Hats that was in Atlanta GA.

 

[deadlyhandsome]

Bollman era Barlesoni. I wouldn’t have looked twice except for the color. I “liked” it and an offer came that I couldn’t refuse. It will be a first for me…late next week?

 

[deadlyhandsome]

My first of two Barlesoni hats arrived. US size 7 3/8 or 59cm. This is a not too dark navy blue fedora (somewhere between navy and royal) with a matching seven pleat puggaree. The raw edge brim is 2 1/2” wide and the open crown is 5 1/2”. There is some tapering, but no more than I was expecting. The felt is decent and slightly better than I was expecting. I’d say it was better than the current Stetson Royal line (damning with faint praise).