Pellie
My Mail is Forwarded Here
- Messages
- 3,020
- Location
- Enschede, Netherlands
Thanks Randy.A very nice set of excellent hats today, gents.
Thanks Randy.A very nice set of excellent hats today, gents.
Great find. It's true, in general, about the 'bay, but you've still gotta check because every once in a while . . .Just picked up this Tonak from the bay— a place I spend less and less time these days because I think it seems to be going downhill for sellers and buyers, but was interested in the green velour up close and in person.
View attachment 821706
Interesting brand: CastorinoTwo Italian hats from brands that are either unknown or rarely seen in these circles.
View attachment 821729
Let’s start with the more intriguing one: "Castorino"—both Stefan and Marcel own examples, though theirs are quite different from each other.
View attachment 821730
Stefan’s "Castorino" features a manufacturing label identical to those found in Borsalino hats.
The gray felt is of medium weight and extremely malleable—much like certain Borsalino hats, which seem to change shape just by being looked at.
View attachment 821731
Marcel’s hat has no label; it has been torn out. I bought one myself, though I was skeptical about it being a Borsalino—but, alas, the label in mine has been torn out as well.
Consequently, the only concrete evidence comes from Stefan’s piece: it is a Borsalino in disguise.
View attachment 821732
There are others like it on the market, but the "Castorino" brand is new to me.
As you can see, the hat has a very 1950s profile, with proportions to match and size is 56 cm,
View attachment 821733
The other hat was almost certainly produced by Panizza; the felt, its color, and the finish all point toward the Ghiffa factory.
View attachment 821734
The trademark is "Lord's hat", I have come across a few of these—not many—and I believe I own one myself.
View attachment 821735
In this instance, it is being presented as an English hat. It is labeled as a size 59, but it fits more like a 58, or perhaps even a 57.
Panizza was, in Italy, the largest manufacturer of felts with medium and long pile finish and the colors that recall the colors of honey are fantastic. This is one
View attachment 821736
Neither of them fits my head, so perhaps someone else might be interested![]()
I actually have a 7 1/8 Qualità Aquila" (Eagle Quality) Borsalino up for sale right now. I've never determined what the designation actually meant. Nice to see another one.As we did yesterday, we are examining some hats that arrived over the summer.
What do these two hats have in common? Both come from a manufacturer renowned in the world of hat-making, and they share the same size: a 6 on the French scale—a system Giuseppe Borsalino adopted following his apprenticeship at Berteil. This corresponds to a 59 in the European sizing system and a 7 3/8 in the US system.
View attachment 821902
The first hat was sold in Venice, in Piazza San Marco, at a famous—though now closed—hat shop; it features more extensive branding, which you can see on the sweatband.
View attachment 821903
The felt is exceptionally fine and soft, in a Mogano - Mahogany shade, finished with a short nap and a "patterned" ribbon.
View attachment 821905
As an interesting side note, I own two other hats from the same period—"Vanzina-styled" Borsalinos in size 57—that share these exact characteristics. Both new. This one was very rarely use and it is more suitable for a 58 - 7 3/8 size
View attachment 821906
The second hat is a grey Borsalino, marked "Qualità Aquila" (Eagle Quality)—a designation not often seen on Borsalino pieces.
View attachment 821907
This hat also features a soft, short-napped felt finish.
View attachment 821908
I am particularly drawn to its silhouette, which is both elegant and well-proportioned.
There is no internal label to confirm the exact color name.
This brand new
Send me a private message if you would like more information
Most of the time, these were arrangements made with the retailer—specifically those with high sales volume and strong appeal (as opposed to generic shops)—who, depending on the scale of their sales and orders, had the opportunity to "customize" the marketing. If you look closely, you’ll see that the Borsalino brand always remains on the sweatband, while other elements vary according to the preferences of the retailer and the sales agents. Another point to note is that some shops feature non-standard brand lettering of Borsalino on the hat's lining. It was also a way to vary the look of the hat interiors and convey an impression of great variety—which was, in fact, genuine—in terms of styles, felts, and finishes. This was the strength of Borsalino and many other Italian hatmakers. In this particular grey, the felt is truly, truly beautiful.I've never determined what the designation actually meant
As we did yesterday, we are examining some hats that arrived over the summer...
View attachment 821902
View attachment 821908
John Lofgren Monkey Boots Shinki Horsebuttt - $1,136 The classic monkey boot silhouette in an incredibly rich Shinki russet horse leather.
Grant Stone Diesel Boot Dark Olive Chromexcel - $395 Goodyear welted, Horween Chromexcel, classic good looks.
Schott 568 Vandals Jacket - $1,250 The classic Perfecto motorcycle jacket, in a very special limited-edition Schott double rider style. Stay tuned. I will do my best to show hats in yours size, that's also mineBoth beautiful hats! But, unfortunately, both also one size too small for me.Oh well, life marches on.
Both beautiful hats! But, unfortunately, both also one size too small for me.Oh well, life marches on.
Lol, keep those size 58 / 5.5 hats coming...Stay tuned. I will do my best to show hats in yours size, that's also mine![]()