The BORSALINO BROTHERHOOD

[Chasseur]

I was taking photos of some 1950s suits I have for sale and I thought my vintage Borsolino (thank you Bond!) would go nicely with them:

 

[mayserwegener]

besdor - It looks more like a early 50's or late 40s hat to me with the high untapered crown and unreeded sweatband. Brim may have been trimmed down to 2 1/4" so I don't know what the size the original brim was. I would guess 2 1/2" but I don't know. I'm not too familiar with the particular model.

It's not late 40s early 50s. Similar styles were produced by Borsalino up to when the old factory closed. My guess would be late 1960s early 1970s.

This is an early to mid 1930s G. B. Borsalino Fu Lazzaro & C. (< 1936) of mine.

 

[bond]

Looking good chasseur.
Nice graphics on that vintage Borso, really a mint one for being that old.

 

[carouselvic]

Borsalino got that liner logo trademark registered in January of 1976.
(the Purplesage hat)

 

[gtdean48]

The Alessandria model should also be a thin ribbon hat.

Bound edge too...shame to see such a classic style altered
Neat mountain sheep color too. Mine is early 50's w/o the model name in the sweat. This one looks younger that it.

 

[Chepstow]

Steve, that is an fine piece. Love the shape on that good old Melone!

 

[mayserwegener]

Borsalino got that liner logo trademark registered in January of 1976.
(the Purplesage hat)

Good find!

Manfred, Thanks!

 

[Purplesage]

Cream Borsalino Alessandria

Cream/Ivory Borsalino Alessandria which I recently picked up for a good price. The hat is in excellent condition with the exception of some foxing on the liner. Don't know when this one was made so any help in that area would be appreciated. It has a 2 1/2" brim with thin grosgrain edge and a 5 3/4" open crown with a thin Open Road style ribbon and an unreeded sweatband.

 

[philosophy101]

That is SO cool, Chasseur!

 

[Purplesage]

Borsalino Alessandria Early 50s

Ops tag indicates this Borsalino is from the early 50s. It has a 2 3/4 Plus brim with grosgrain bound edge and a 5" crown(5 1/2 open) which is wrapped in a 1 7/8" grosgrain ribbon. The sweatband is unreeded. The tag behind the sweat says Borsalino and has someone's name and address written on it who resided in Independence MO. The hat may have had a wind trolley on it at one tim

 

[ManofKent]

Very nice Purplesage

 

[Purplesage]

Thank you Richard.

 

[Purplesage]

I recently bought this Borsalino from a lady in Greece so I'm sure it was made for the European market. It is marked as a size 5 (7 1/8) but it fit rather snugly so I had to stretch it just a bit. I was concerned I might pop some stitching but fortunately I didn't. The tag behind the sweat which says "Borsalino Grand Prix Paris 1900" would indicate the hat is likely a pre-50s model. It apparently had an oilskin liner cover at one time since some of the remnants are still present. Does anyone have a recommendation for conditioning the sweatband.

 

[Landman]

I use Pecard Antique Leather Dressing for my sweatbands. I've only been able to find it online. It has worked well for me.

 

[TheDane]

Does anyone have a recommendation for conditioning the sweatband.

The most important thing is, that the conditioner is made especially for vegetable tanned leather. A conditioner for chromium tanned leather is like petrol in the tank of a diesel car - or even worse: Water in the tank. It may completely ruin the sweatband over some time. Don't use household chemestry to clean the leather, either. For vegetable tanned leather, you should use saddlesoap. The brand of conditioner and soap is not important ... what it's made for is.

 

[ManofKent]

I use this stuff on practically anything leather including sweatbands and found it always works well: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/LEATHER-B...omeGarden_CLV_Cleaning_CA&hash=item43c1db0895

 

[Purplesage]

Thanks ManofKent.

 

[Mr.Astor]

I use Connolly hide food from the UK, keeps my jaguars seats supple also my sweatbands especially the borsalinos

 

[TheDane]

Chromium tanned leather has other properties than vegetable tanned. As far as I know, car-seats are made from chromium tanned leather, whereas sweatbands are made from vegetable tanned leather. One of the differences is the absorbency of water. Chromium tanned items are quite waterproof, while vegetable tanned items absorb water, which is a must with sweatbands.

IMO it's a very good idea to ask the supplier, what the conditioner is made for. A friend of mine is a museum conservator, and he has supplied me with a mixture of hoofs oil and lanoline, that is used for restoring and maintanence of antique vegetable tanned leather items. A supplier for conservators and museums would probably be the very best place to start looking for a substance for treating vintage leather.

 

[Purplesage]

Thanks Dane