The BORSALINO BROTHERHOOD

[drmaxtejeda]

Max, I think you would need to compare similar felt (fur content, weight, finish) and hat type. For example the Borsalino you just posted is a Curled Brimmed Hat so more stiffener was applied to brim (today you will not see the same level of Curled Brim work). The felt might also be of a heavier weight. The fur content is Rabbit (maybe so mix) and not Beaver so there will be a density difference. Also there will be a difference in the finish.

This mint condition Curled Brim Echter Borsalino is from the late 1920s. The felt is of a heavier weight but the crown is very pliable. You can see there is some Nap to the finish but this intended. My guess is the fur content is mostly Rabbit. As a whole, the hat is at a level you will not see today.

http://germanaustrianhats.invisionz...c/50-borsalino-german-market/page-2#entry1153

Steven, you're a master. Seeing the hats in your site and your posts and reading your explanations sometimes make me think the same thing I think when I watch Roger Federer play: "How can a guy get to be so good?"

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[drmaxtejeda]

I've seen that one. Good get, Max. I don't think you'll be disappointed. Only thing that has me wondering though is the back seam on that sweatband, which seems a bit off. I wonder what that's about.

@justdaniel said a little while ago that it is spacer to give the hat an extra 1/8 of an inch, and that it can be adjusted. He even told me where I can take it to be adjusted in Mexico City.
I hope he is right.

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[drmaxtejeda]

Great find, Dr. Max!


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Thanks again!

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[mayserwegener]

Steven, you're a master. Seeing the hats in your site and your posts and reading your explanations sometimes make me think the same thing I think when I watch Roger Federer play: "How can a guy get to be so good?"

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Max, Thanks! It can be hard to know the fur content of the felt even with the hat in hand. There were mixes of fur types including Fur + Wool. If you look at this late 19th Century Austrian Hat (Alois Pichler Hut-Niederlage, Wien ) catalog you will see mixes of Beaver (Biber - Melange) for the Stiff (Steife) Felt Hats (would most likely have a Smooth Finish). For some of the Hunting Hats (Jagd) you will see Beaver - Loden Wool mix (Biber - Loden). The highest price point hat is the Silk Top Hat "Vienna Fashion Form / Wiener Mode Form". The second highest price point hat is the men's Velour "Lincoln" (Wieche Hüte / Soft (Felt) Hats) which would have been primarily made of Wild Hare. High quality Velour was very time consuming to produce so that factored in the price. Most likely a pure Beaver Stiff Felt would have been as much or more expensive but the increase would be fur cost related (also just because it's pure Beaver doesn't mean it produced a better end result than a Beaver mix). The production time would be less than a high quality Velour so price would be based on more expensive fur content.

http://germanaustrianhats.invisionzone.com/index.php?/topic/134-alois-pichler-hut-niederlage-wien/

 

[jonesy86]

Hey Jonesy86. I have a lot of modern day Borsalino hats and for the most part very happy with them. The Como is a nice dress hat made from hare felt. Attractive crown to Brim proportions and made to the standards of high end mass production hats of the 21st century. You want, a European style blue hat? Well there it is. Now custom hats are another animal, no pun intended, and you should have one of those too! Can never go wrong with a custom beaver. The vintage Borsalino hats that were produced in the early to mid 20th century during the heyday of hat fashion are in a league of there own: felt, finish, and craftsmanship. You should also own some of those as well. Just my $.02 enjoy the hunt.


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Dlaniger
Thanks for the advice. Probably hold off on the Como for now and am going with my 2nd. new custom. I don't have much to compare it too yet but, the beaver is something special and I like the idea of buying from a small craftsman rather than a bit factory. I'm keeping my eye out for a Vintage Borsalino 7 1/2-60.

 

[drmaxtejeda]

This arrived in Texas from England already. Just have to pick it up. Seller said it was from the 30s or 40s
I wonder if that's true?

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[mayserwegener]

This arrived in Texas from England already. Just have to pick it up. Seller said it was from the 30s or 40s
I wonder if that's true?

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Max, I think this one is going to be really nice. I wasn't sure you purchased it.

 

[drmaxtejeda]

Max, I think this one is going to be really nice. I wasn't sure you purchased it.

If you recommended it, Steven, you can be sure I bought it.
What decade would you say it's from again?

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[mayserwegener]

Max, My guess is that it's from the late 1930s early 1940s. The brim work looks really great. I know you mentioned the discolored liner but this hat is in better condition than the other one and is not altered (see sweatband).

 

[jlee562]

From Italy, to Bulgaria, to England, and now to Mexico. A very well traveled hat!

lovely brim curl!

 

[drmaxtejeda]

Max, My guess is that it's from the late 1930s early 1940s. The brim work looks really great. I know you mentioned the discolored liner but this hat is in better condition than the other one and is not altered (see sweatband).

It will probably be too large for me to wear it, and I don't want to alter it, but I will enyoy seeing it and petting it.

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[steur]

@justdaniel said a little while ago that it is spacer to give the hat an extra 1/8 of an inch, and that it can be adjusted. He even told me where I can take it to be adjusted in Mexico City.
I hope he is right.

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You'll just have to wait and see, Max. Whatever it is; it doesn't detract from the hat itself. It is just a sweatband after all. Nice if they are in pristine condition, but never the main attraction.

 

[steur]

This arrived in Texas from England already. Just have to pick it up. Seller said it was from the 30s or 40s
I wonder if that's true?

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A beautiful hat, Max. And like Steve said: it is true that these are pre-war. Character like that in a hat can't be replicated.

 

[mayserwegener]

It will probably be too large for me to wear it, and I don't want to alter it, but I will enyoy seeing it and petting it.

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They tend run a size small. Also it's common to find spacers in old hats so that an option. I use felt and cork spacers.

 

[Daniele Tanto]

Today I show you the first of a bunch of Borsalino with flaws that need work to be worn

Borsalino "Light weight" color is "Rutenio" Qualità Extra Superiore, sold in Salerno.
Very worn, it has a light felt and the sweatband is excellent, the defect is the seams of the brim that are loose

For proportions they are: brim at 6 cm. crown at 10.5 cm and the ribbon is 3 cm.

To improve the erratic size in Borsalino history, this is a 5 1/2 that fir perfectly my 6 1/2 head

It will go to the construction site in Holland to became a nice and clean Borsalino ready to be worn

 

[steur]

Today I show you the first of a bunch of Borsalino with flaws that need work to be worn

Borsalino "Light weight" color is "Rutenio" Qualità Extra Superiore, sold in Salerno.
Very worn, it has a light felt and the sweatband is excellent, the defect is the seams of the brim that are loose

For proportions they are: brim at 6 cm. crown at 10.5 cm and the ribbon is 3 cm.

To improve the erratic size in Borsalino history, this is a 5 1/2 that fir perfectly my 6 1/2 head

It will go to the construction site in Holland to became a nice and clean Borsalino ready to be worn

It certainly is worth saving. Rutenio is a great colour.

 

[mayserwegener]

Today I show you the first of a bunch of Borsalino with flaws that need work to be worn

Borsalino "Light weight" color is "Rutenio" Qualità Extra Superiore, sold in Salerno.
Very worn, it has a light felt and the sweatband is excellent, the defect is the seams of the brim that are loose

For proportions they are: brim at 6 cm. crown at 10.5 cm and the ribbon is 3 cm.

To improve the erratic size in Borsalino history, this is a 5 1/2 that fir perfectly my 6 1/2 head

It will go to the construction site in Holland to became a nice and clean Borsalino ready to be worn

Daniele, This one is all around fantastic. I am really looking forward to the restoration. I the Lady Hatter from / in Holland does some great work.

 

[Daniele Tanto]

Second Borsalino with flaws or defects that need work to be worn

Borsalino Qualità Extra Extra Superiore, color is "M. Volga", the ribbon is "Asfalto" , sold in Milano.
The ribbon and bow are consumed. Do not ask me why because I have no answer

For proportions they are: brim at 5,5 cm. crown at 11 cm and the ribbon is 4 cm.

This is a true 6 1/2 and have the colors of a "Borsalino family" of felts that were all starting with M. plus the name of the color, very similar each others

Its destination is Netherlands in Penumbra Hats atelier to be restored

 

[Daniele Tanto]

We share with Stefan a love on the Borsalino mistery about making, brands and the Borsalino not "Borsalino branded"

This is a homburg in deep brown with the matching ribbon and brim trimmed in the same color

The measures are classic: 6 cm. the brim and 12 cm the crown.

The hat seems to be very old for its sweatband that is 5 cm .
It is possible that it was done immediately after the war.

Qualità Extra Superiore, it does not have the name of the store on the swetband and the paper label becomes a mystery because the name Borsalino is missing.

The words on the label in paper are extremely strange and I can not decipher the name of the color. It looks like a sample and comes together with others of very small size from Ghiffa the homeland of Panizza.

The hat is in very good shape, no moths or failure, only the sweatband is dry and at one point the basting has been released. The size is 5. The hat is very elegant for the continuous shades.
Sorry, but this Borsalino is just keep by Stefan for our next exchange

 

[mayserwegener]

Daniele, This one is magnificent! The colors really work nicely together. Also great form.