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Messages
20,202
Location
Nederland
View attachment 821373
Stetson Select Quality
Tan felt with brown trim
6 Inch Crown Open (approx 4 3/4 as shaped)
2 3/8 Raw Edge Brim
2 inch Brown Grosgrain Ribbon w/ Frayed Edge
1 7/8 Sweatband with taped rear seam.

This latest arrival came off a much appreciated tip from a friend to its Facebook marketplace place ad. Luckily the seller was willing to ship… so on its way it was. Sold originally at Ruby and Peters Company in Perth Amboy, NJ, it had made its way to only about two hours away in PA…. Now it has traveled down South to its new home in Florida. As I knew from the seller’s photos it was going to need a bit of work to return it to some of its former glory. It had long been settled into one of those very deep center creases that tend to collapse onto itself. So a very heavy brushing and steaming was in order. Considering the proportions of this hat with a 6 inch crown to a 2 3/8 brim, I like to use up some of that generous crown space with a diamond shape crease that reduces the height a bit and gives it a more boxy silhouette I prefer.

The sweatband while holding up fairly well is a bit stiff and brittle, but I took a little risk to try to find any evidence of age under the sweat. I did not find a LotXXX number, but I did find a red three cell hand written manufacturer tag an orange reorder tag along with some hand written notations. Luckily I believe I only managed to burst the taped seam in the process or possibly from stretching it a bit on to my head. Either way… It now fits pretty comfortably. The only issues with the felt are a few slightly larger than quarter sized spots, one on the brim and two on the crown where the felt is somewhat lighter in appearance. I had though maybe fungus a culprit and tried to see what I could get out with a heavier brushing, may have reduced it slightly but it is still there. Might try sanding at some point…. But really it’s nothing too bad for a hat with nearly a century (give or take) of existence.

I’ve got two other Stetson Select Quality… both incredible specimens in my mind. But as wonderful as they are neither of those is in a style I would consider a “Daily wear” kinda hat. This one however fits that bill perfectly…. Color, cut, shape and finish. Absolutely love this one!

View attachment 821375
View attachment 821374 View attachment 821376 View attachment 821377 View attachment 821378 View attachment 821379 View attachment 821380 View attachment 821381 View attachment 821382
Very cool find, Joe. Great to see how it shaped up. Still a lit of life left in that one.
 
Messages
20,202
Location
Nederland
Thank you Marcel. Very interesting Flechet with the side seam. I feel like I remember Stefan found something similar some time back.

Thanks Bill!!
Nothing wrong with your memory, Joe. I think you mean this one. A Cambiaghi with some more elaborate seamwork going on.

1793951656433.jpeg


Must have been a thing at one time in France especially. I've seen these on Mossant as well. And here is a Tirard with a similar embellishment.

1793951804772.png
 
Messages
20,202
Location
Nederland
Two 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 :)
Nice finds, Daniele. Lord is one of those brand names that keeps popping up here and there. A bit like Windsor. The brand name Lord (not Lord's) was registered by Cervo in 1927.

1793952242478.jpeg


Advertised with it too. With this great poster by Paolo Garretto.
1793952315473.jpeg
 

Pellie

My Mail is Forwarded Here
Messages
3,038
Location
Enschede, Netherlands
Nothing wrong with your memory, Joe. I think you mean this one. A Cambiaghi with some more elaborate seamwork going on.

View attachment 822316

Must have been a thing at one time in France especially. I've seen these on Mossant as well. And here is a Tirard with a similar embellishment.

View attachment 822317
I was almost buying that Tirard, but didn't push the buy button. I think it's sold now!
 

Daniele Tanto

I'll Lock Up
Messages
4,660
Location
Verona - Italia
Two hats for the same season: winter. They were produced by Borsalino, which, during the 1970s and 80s, offered excellent felt hats—featuring short- or medium-nap finishes and colors that departed from the brand’s traditional, signature palette.
Topo Borsalino A.jpg
There are two styles: the first features a felt hatband adorning a hat with a compact silhouette and a particularly striking color.
Miele Borsalino A.jpg
The second also has a felt hatband, embellished with a circular stitched pattern near the bow.
Topo Borsalino B.jpg
A brief personal note: these hats—along with others—were saved from being discarded.
Miele Borsalino B.jpg
They were "dead stock" sold at a street stall.
Although they were not in the best condition, they underwent expert restoration in the Netherlands, returning them to their original shape and fit.
Topo Borsalino Interno.jpg
Both are a size 56; one is marked as a 57, but time has caused it to shrink.
Miele Borsalino Interno.jpg
These two examples did not achieve widespread success outside of Italy—or even much of Europe—yet they represent a specific, transitional phase in the history of Italian hat-making.
 

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