jimmy the lid said:Nice one, buler. Love the brim stitching. :eusa_clap :eusa_clap :eusa_clap
Dreispitz -- that Centurion is very nice. :eusa_clap :eusa_clap :eusa_clap
Cheers,
JtL
buler said:Needs some more cleaning and the sweat reattached. Great brim stitching. 2 7/8" brim. 5 1/2" or more crown. Medium ribbon.
Aureliano said:While on a day trip to Beacon, NY to visit the Dia museum, my wife and I took a stroll around town. We went inside a couple of antique shops as I was hopeful to find a hat. And a hat I found. I've been looking for an unlined hat to wear in spring and fall. I wanted a playboy but found this rather large 6 7/8Borsalino (I'm a 71/8 but it almost fit me perfectly.A few hours in the hat jack and some steam did the job of a comfortable fit) .
I have never seen one like this and I hope someone here can shed some light about its age and style. To me it somehow looks like an Alessandria because of the bound brim edge but the ribbon seems too thick for that style and it doesn't match the brim binding. Also it has a wind trolley that matches the color of the hat and not the ribbon. The felt is very thin, almost as thin as my Vagabond: one of those that the slightest touch will mess up the crease. No liner (yay!) but a tip sticker made of cloth. The tag says "Ontano" for the color and a google translation gave me "tree, wood" [huh] Take a look and your help is appreciated.
Open crown and a bit lumpy befor I did anything to it.
Tip sticker and size tag.
Corrugated front sweat.
Inside tag.
Ribbon. It doesn't look like grossgrain, any ideas? It is attached to the felt by outside, top and long stitches.
After brush, steam and flange.
Aureliano said:To me it somehow looks like an Alessandria because of the bound brim edge but the ribbon seems too thick for that style and it doesn't match the brim binding.
Your ribbon is a replacement. You are right that it was originally of the Alessandria style. I also think the medallion was once part of a full liner.
carouselvic said:Your ribbon is a replacement. You are right that it was originally of the Alessandria style. I also think the medallion was once part of a full liner.
carouselvic said:I own several of the TA/Ludora model of hats, and have seen countless others, all where a thin ribbon with matching brim binding. When Borsalino made a hat with a ribbon color different than the hat, it would appear on the label(in between the hat color and hat model).
carouselvic said:Your Borsalino was made when they still where being made to high standards. The top stich on a ribbon can be a clue as to the age of a hat, but that stitch was still being used as late as the 60's.
Aureliano said:Although I have no idea what TA/Ludora hats are or look like, I thank you for the info about ribbon color in the inside label. Did not know that one!:eusa_clap
Now, besides looking at it and comparing it with other ribbons, how could I tell if this is indeed old? Can the outside stitching be used as an indication?
What year would to say the hat is?
Its definitely between 1951-1975. No Borsalino in script on left edge(transitioned during OPS period) and not later rounded corner sticker with date. Need more securely dated 60's hats to see if there are other definite changes.ScottF said:The ribbon still might be old - I've had a couple of very old hats that had very old replacement ribbons.