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The BORSALINO BROTHERHOOD

Bill Hughes

My Mail is Forwarded Here
Messages
3,165
Location
North Texas
Possibly late 1950s - 1960s. Second Lupo felt I've had the pleasure to see today.

What does the "Lupo" designate?

How about the "Nisso"?

Reading through the thread I am a bit confused about the naming convention of these hats. Is "Alessandria" the model or is it the city were it was made? Same for "Trionfo"?
 
Messages
15,083
Location
Buffalo, NY
What does the "Lupo" designate?

How about the "Nisso"?

Reading through the thread I am a bit confused about the naming convention of these hats. Is "Alessandria" the model or is it the city were it was made? Same for "Trionfo"?

The leftmost word in the manufacturing tag denotes the color of the felt - in this case "Lupo" > wolf. Borsalino used some wonderful descriptors for felt color - animals, metals... creative associations. The middle word denotes the ribbon color, if contrasting from the felt color (if not, a dash appears in this spot). Nizza or Nizzo - not sure of the reference. I believe that Nizza is the Italian name for the French city Nice?

The right most position on the tag was used for a model descriptor - often different than the model name imprinted on the hat's sweatband and perhaps the name used in marketing too. These words often defy translation. The word imprinted on the label for the style we refer to as "Alessandria" was sometimes L'udoela, sometimes Ta Ludora. Alessandra is the location of the Borsalino company and factory (it was relocated in the 1980s) and it was imprinted as a style indicator on a certain thin ribbon style similar to the Stetson Open Road. It is used by many here to identify that style, which remains in the line today. Trionfo (Triumph) is another descriptor which applies to a range of hats rather than a single style. "Colombo" is another in this broader category of styles. These are all marketing words which are tempting to use as if they were scientific categories. Care and a grain of salt is good to apply.
 
Last edited:

RJR

Messages
10,620
Location
Iowa
What does the "Lupo" designate?

How about the "Nisso"?

Reading through the thread I am a bit confused about the naming convention of these hats. Is "Alessandria" the model or is it the city were it was made? Same for "Trionfo"?
"Trionfo" translates roughly to"triumph".
 
Messages
12,384
Location
Albany Oregon
The leftmost word in the manufacturing tag denotes the color of the felt - in this case "Lupo" > wolf. Borsalino used some wonderful descriptors for felt color - animals, metals... creative associations. The middle word denotes the ribbon color, if contrasting from the felt color (if not, a dash appears in this spot). Nizza or Nizzo - not sure of the reference. I believe that Nizza is the Italian name for the French city Nice?

The right most position on the tag was used for a model descriptor - often different than the model name imprinted on the hat's sweatband and perhaps the name used in marketing too. These words often defy translation. The word imprinted on the label for the style we refer to as "Alessandria" was sometimes L'udoela, sometimes Ta Ludora. Alessandra is the location of the Borsalino company and factory (it was relocated in the 1980s) and it was imprinted as a style indicator on a certain thin ribbon style similar to the Stetson Open Road. It is used by many here to identify that style, which remains in the line today. Trionfo (Triumph) is another descriptor which applies to a range of hats rather than a single style. "Colombo" is another in this broader category of styles. These are all marketing words which are tempting to use as if they were scientific categories. Care and a grain of salt is good to apply.
+1 thanks for this Alan.
 
Messages
18,469
Location
Nederland
My first entry in the esteemed brotherhood. I hope this one will get me admitted, so I don't want to take any chances. This one was listed as an Italian Hat by an elderly lady who got it from her then boyfriend as a gift (she probably didn't realise it must have been true love to receive a beautiful hat like this one). Paid 15 euros for it. Here's the thing though: I hardly wear it at all because it's so nice I don't want to risk staining it. Any of you have a hat like that?

borsalino fanosca_01.jpg
borsalino fanosca_02.jpg
borsalino fanosca_03.jpg
borsalino fanosca_04.jpg
borsalino fanosca_05.jpg
borsalino fanosca_09.jpg
borsalino fanosca_10.jpg
borsalino fanosca_11.jpg
borsalino fanosca_12.jpg
 
Messages
10,858
Location
vancouver, canada
My first entry in the esteemed brotherhood. I hope this one will get me admitted, so I don't want to take any chances. This one was listed as an Italian Hat by an elderly lady who got it from her then boyfriend as a gift (she probably didn't realise it must have been true love to receive a beautiful hat like this one). Paid 15 euros for it. Here's the thing though: I hardly wear it at all because it's so nice I don't want to risk staining it. Any of you have a hat like that?

View attachment 70617 View attachment 70618 View attachment 70619 View attachment 70620 View attachment 70621 View attachment 70622 View attachment 70623 View attachment 70624 View attachment 70625
This is a beautiful hat. Please wear it and enjoy it. Hats are made to be worn and enjoyed. Buy a hat brush and treat it well and it will last your a long time. Besides if it does get stained a good felt hat such as this can be cleaned and restored to its former glory. Wear and enjoy! I have 8 Borsalinos of varying vintages. I love them all. Some have been brought back to wonderful condition from what initially looked like imminent death.
 
Messages
18,469
Location
Nederland
This one I posted earlier in the homburg nation thread (full size images there). An early misto felt, tall crowned, wide brimmed homburg by borsalino. My guess is 1930's based on the handwritten label, but I cannot be sure. Beautiful smooth felt and in great shape for its age. This one does get regular wear.

borsalino lobbia_01.jpg borsalino lobbia_02.jpg borsalino lobbia_04.jpg borsalino lobbia_08.jpg borsalino lobbia_10.jpg borsalino lobbia_11.jpg borsalino lobbia_12.jpg
 
Messages
10,858
Location
vancouver, canada
This one I posted earlier in the homburg nation thread (full size images there). An early misto felt, tall crowned, wide brimmed homburg by borsalino. My guess is 1930's based on the handwritten label, but I cannot be sure. Beautiful smooth felt and in great shape for its age. This one does get regular wear.

View attachment 70632 View attachment 70633 View attachment 70634 View attachment 70635 View attachment 70636 View attachment 70637 View attachment 70638
This is an amazing hat.
 
Messages
18,469
Location
Nederland
Thanks guys for the kind comments and the welcome. I will be posting a lot more borsalinos. I did not save the best for last though; these are right there at the top end of my list, but I have some interesting ones left to show. Stay tuned.
 

Daniele Tanto

I'll Lock Up
Messages
4,253
Location
Verona - Italia
This one I posted earlier in the homburg nation thread (full size images there). An early misto felt, tall crowned, wide brimmed homburg by borsalino. My guess is 1930's based on the handwritten label, but I cannot be sure. Beautiful smooth felt and in great shape for its age. This one does get regular wear.

I don't why but I missed this Lobbia Borsalino
E' fantastica and may be have already said it was made before the WWII
Il cappello della Domenica!;)
 
Messages
18,469
Location
Nederland
Daniele, thank you. I was well pleased to win this one and even more when it fitted me perfectly. Sometimes the stars align...
 

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