The BORSALINO BROTHERHOOD

[M_Jones]

Congrats M_Jones, be sure to post some photos Please. I have a gut feeling these hats are really good.

I would love to but I don't have a digital camera. My computer is also ten years old (yep, that's right ten) and I still have dial up. This is why I must stop with the hats for a while. lol I will try to work something out though.

Regards,
Hollis

 

[jimmy the lid]

Green Allesandria

Just got this one back from a cleaning at Optimo, and it really is in pristine condition. The felt is exceptionally lightweight and smooth. The color is an absolutely gorgeous shade of green. On the vintage color charts, it doesn't appear to be far off from Stetson's "Bermuda Green." I have been looking for a green thin-ribbon for quite some time, and this one also happens to allow me to apply for membership to the Borsalino Brotherhood...

Cheers,
JtL

 

[mingoslim]

Gorgeous . . .

And I do mean gorgeous . . .
Jimmy, that hat must make you the prince of the Borso Brotherhood. :eusa_clap

 

[Fletch]

Times must have changed...if back in the day a man in Tulsa could feel proud to own and wear such a sophisticated, urbane, Italian(!) hat.

 

[MississippiLong]

And I do mean gorgeous . . .
Jimmy, that hat must make you the prince of the Borso Brotherhood. :eusa_clap

agreed!

great Borso, Jimmy.

:eusa_clap

 

[AlanC]

Another great hat with the trademark JtL C-Crown™. :eusa_clap

When you sent it to Optimo for a cleaning exactly what did they do? It seems all the original parts are there so how do they clean without disassembling?

 

[ideaguy]

GREAT HAT!! I won something eerily similar a while back-my hat's the same as yours, with a slight difference in color; in the shots of the hat on the white cloth, where the hat is the darkest-it almost matches my hat; I think mine is a bit darker, has some hue of dark green that's just impossible to shoot correctly, but I'll do my darndest-be great to see the two together on the same page.
In lieu of photos, I'll lobby for induction into the Borsalino Brotherhood on the basis of my sales of my own Borsa's to Lounge members-
when it's all said & done, a great Borsalino beats 'em all.

 

[jimmy the lid]

Many thanks, Gents.

Alan -- the liner is removed for the cleaning and blocking. Otherwise, everything stays intact. Once the blocking is complete, the liner is sewn back in.

Cheers,
JtL

 

[J.T.Marcus]

Beautiful, Jimmy!!! :eusa_clap :eusa_clap :eusa_clap

 

[jimmy the lid]

I think mine is a bit darker, has some hue of dark green that's just impossible to shoot correctly, but I'll do my darndest

It would be great to see the photos of your lid, ideaguy -- post away!


Cheers,
JtL

 

[Stan]

Have one just like this....

This is my newest older model. I really like this hat. It has a velvety finish and great proportions. It fits like a glove too. I love when that happens. it is not pristine but it works for me.

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This hat has an old world charm about it.

May I join this group as well??

The only difference is that mine has the old French size '4 1/2' on the tag. It's also not in quite as nice a shape (some yellowing to the liner), but it'll do!

Later!

Stan

 

[jimmy the lid]

Talking with Peters Bros. on the phone, I was told that the Borsalino Alessandrias that they sell need to have the crease specified in advance and can't be hand-creased (i.e., they're stiff). (They said the Borsalino Traveler is soft.)

Are Alessandrias stiff? Somehow I thought they were soft (never having touched one in person).

This doesn't sound right to me, Kabuto. I don't profess to know what the story is with Peter Bros. -- but, as a general matter, the Allesandria should be fairly soft and shapeable by hand. If you go to the Miller Hats website, you will see that the various manifestations of the Allesandria specify that they have been "hand-creased." Also, the "Alexandria" version is specifically made available in an open crown.

Cheers,
JtL

 

[Rick Blaine]

Talking with Peters Bros. on the phone, I was told that the Borsalino Alessandrias that they sell need to have the crease specified in advance and can't be hand-creased (i.e., they're stiff). (They said the Borsalino Traveler is soft.)

Are Alessandrias stiff? Somehow I thought they were soft (never having touched one in person).

...sounds like total BS, IMHO. Mine are as soft as a baby duck's butt. Levine's Hats in St. Louis has a sale on their Alessandrias, brims at both 2.5" & 3" in sizes 6 3/4, 6 7/8, 7 & 71/8 for less than $150, 'bout the best I have seen.

 

[DOUGLAS]

By all means join Stan. You have a great hat!

 

[J.T.Marcus]

I just went back through all the pages of this thread, and realized I've never applied for membership. I seem to have five, in all. Here are my two favorites: a brown Alessandria, and a grey Savoy. Both have wind trolleys (I actually used one the other day!). The Savoy also has a Cavanagh edge. Both have the direct sewn, non-reeded sweatbands, and the accordian pleated spacer at the front of the sweatband. I love these hats!

 

[DOUGLAS]

I love the brown Allesandria J.T. Mine is one of the most comfortable I own.

 

[J.T.Marcus]

I love the brown Alessandria J.T. Mine is one of the most comfortable I own.

Absolutely!

 

[jimmy the lid]

Lovin' the Allesandria, J.T.

Cheers,
JtL

 

[kowalskt63]

Am I in, Am I in?

Got this off ebay for $76. Its called the Anello. Pristine condition. Not the top of there line, but still gets me in the door right? My first impression as a novice with less than 20 lids is that construction wise its nothing above and beyond any of the other hats I have, new or old, however, I must say the felt is very soft and easy to bash. I'm digging it. What do you all think?

 

[Stoney]

Great color. :eusa_clap

Of course you're in.