The BORSALINO BROTHERHOOD

[jeffgarf]

Borsalino Dolfosan 33 or 38, can't read it very well. Color Bismuto. Very nice and soft felt. Condition of the felt is in mint condition. The lining inside is dirty. Overall a very nice Borsalino. I think it's late 50's, early 60's.
View attachment 681547 View attachment 681548 View attachment 681549 View attachment 681550 View attachment 681551 View attachment 681552 View attachment 681553 View attachment 681554

I have much restoration to do @Pellie , but I think I have a relative of this hat of yours.

The color, Vinca, is forest green, but the Italian stamp says, "Export Prohibited." Whoops, it got exported.

 

[Pellie]

I have much restoration to do @Pellie , but I think I have a relative of this hat of yours. View attachment 710989 View attachment 710990

The color, Vinca, is forest green, but the Italian stamp says, "Export Prohibited." Whoops, it got exported.

Nice find!!

 

[jeffgarf]

A question for any experts on Borsalinos sold in Europe - has anyone ever seen this liner before?

This is the best shot I have of it. Thanks

 

[steur]

A question for any experts on Borsalinos sold in Europe - has anyone ever seen this liner before? View attachment 711786

This is the best shot I have of it. Thanks

It's a modern one. There were a few similar ones in use by Borsalino. I think in the nineties.
Here's another example:

 

[jeffgarf]

It's a modern one. There were a few similar ones in use by Borsalino. I think in the nineties.
Here's another example:

View attachment 711787

Thank you @steur . The modern part I knew due to the gold logo on the hat band (not posted). I had just never seen one that seems to say________of line, as the photo I posted seems to say.

 

[steur]

Thank you @steur . The modern part I knew due to the gold logo on the hat band (not posted). I had just never seen one that seems to say________of line, as the photo I posted seems to say.

I don't know how many different ones of these there are. Usually they say "linea...." like the Augusta one I posted. Makes me think the one you posted was for the American market. But what does it say? Your guess is as good as mine.

 

[jeffgarf]

I don't know how many different ones of these there are. Usually they say "linea...." like the Augusta one I posted. Makes me think the one you posted was for the American market. But what does it say? Your guess is as good as mine.

I will have it in within 3 weeks, I hope. It's actually being sent to me from Italy, so I guess we're all in for a surprise when it gets here.

 

[jeffgarf]

Aaaand another one that came in today that I am going to be working on come Sunday. Any help with the model name (can't quite make it out) would, as always, be most appreciated.

 

[steur]

Aaaand another one that came in today that I am going to be working on come Sunday. Any help with the model name (can't quite make it out) would, as always, be most appreciated.
View attachment 711849 View attachment 711851 View attachment 711847 View attachment 711848 View attachment 711850 View attachment 711852

That is a beauty, Jeff. Nice find. The colour on the lower left hand side is Ghiaccio (ice). No model name on this one it seems.

 

[BobHufford]

A question for any experts on Borsalinos sold in Europe - has anyone ever seen this liner before? View attachment 711786

This is the best shot I have of it. Thanks

Not until just now. — “Rain Proof Line”.

Used Borsalino Bow Tie Detail Fedora Black Felt Top Hat - Sz 6 3/4 - 6 7/8

shopgoodwill.com

Now they are falling out of the sky like … rain.

Used Lot of 2 Borsalino/Del Monico Fedora Feather Straw Tan/Black Hat - 6 7/8 -7 1/8

shopgoodwill.com

 

[srahimian24]

Recently snagged this borsalino and am very pleased with it. The felt is very nice, it's in fantastic condition, and I love the color

 

[D00R]

Borsalino Alessandria 7 1/4

eBay Hat was listed as 7 1/4 and has the tag as 7 1/4 but it fit like it was a kids hat.

It was so small and tappered that I don’t know what they did to it to get it that small.
I own the same Hat in black size 7 1/4 and it’s way bigger than this gray eBay Borsalino Alessandria

I wanted to return it but the seller doesn’t accept returns.

So I took a tea kettle shoved the hat down on my head and steamed it while I wore it, rotating it and then hand stretching it.

Here’s the after.

Im not a professional but I didn’t want to be stuck with another useless small fedora from eBay. And why don’t I take it to a professional? I went to JJ hat center with 2 eBay hats that were shrunk and they wouldn’t reblock them for me. Even when I pointed to there hat block they had near their steamer they said it was impossible to block them….so I blocked those myself with my hands…

I want to get a hat block incase this happens again. Because it’s happened time and time again buying fedoras on eBay, purchasing hats listed as 7 1/4 but they are so small and shrunk, I always get stuck with them. And it’s too much hand stretching and not professional to do it that way.

I contacted hatshapers for there hat block but he kinda talked me out of it saying there is no guarantee I can block my hats bigger. Anyone have any ideas for a hat block?

 

[rogueclimber]

Anyone have any ideas for a hat block?

I went for one from Walsh Design on etsy (I will never make a hat)

https://www.etsy.com/shop/WalshDesign3D?ref=yr_purchases

 

[One Drop]

Borsalino Alessandria 7 1/4
View attachment 713375

eBay Hat was listed as 7 1/4 and has the tag as 7 1/4 but it fit like it was a kids hat.

It was so small and tappered that I don’t know what they did to it to get it that small.
I own the same Hat in black size 7 1/4 and it’s way bigger than this gray eBay Borsalino Alessandria

I wanted to return it but the seller doesn’t accept returns.

So I took a tea kettle shoved the hat down on my head and steamed it while I wore it, rotating it and then hand stretching it.

Here’s the after.

View attachment 713394

Im not a professional but I didn’t want to be stuck with another useless small fedora from eBay. And why don’t I take it to a professional? I went to JJ hat center with 2 eBay hats that were shrunk and they wouldn’t reblock them for me. Even when I pointed to there hat block they had near their steamer they said it was impossible to block them….so I blocked those myself with my hands…

I want to get a hat block incase this happens again. Because it’s happened time and time again buying fedoras on eBay, purchasing hats listed as 7 1/4 but they are so small and shrunk, I always get stuck with them. And it’s too much hand stretching and not professional to do it that way.

I contacted hatshapers for there hat block but he kinda talked me out of it saying there is no guarantee I can block my hats bigger. Anyone have any ideas for a hat block?

Maybe you should ask the sellers to give you the interior length and width measurements before buying. I do this and it has never failed me.

I have an identical Alessandra in the same colour, my favorite dress hat. I'm a perfect 7 but mine is marked 7 ⅛ .

 

[jeffgarf]

At the famous Foerster Hats (was Ferster in Brooklyn) in Jerusalem where they proudly advertise their long time status as "Agents of Borsalino" and "the finest hats in the world."

 

[Rmccamey]

Yep. Taper and size have always been my issues with Borso's and, like you, LxW measurements can sometimes make a difference in gauging fit with vintage hats. Old bowlers tend to run small, so I always ask sellers for LxW when I buy stiff felts.

Maybe you should ask the sellers to give you the interior length and width measurements before buying. I do this and it has never failed me.

I have an identical Alessandra in the same colour, my favorite dress hat. I'm a perfect 7 but mine is marked 7 ⅛ .

 

[Pellie]

Yep. Taper and size have always been my issues with Borso's and, like you, LxW measurements can sometimes make a difference in gauging fit with vintage hats. Old bowlers tend to run small, so I always ask sellers for LxW when I buy stiff felts.

Maybe the problem is for the usa market? I never have problems with Borsalino sizes, always true to size for me. I can wear both punti 5 1/2 and 6.

 

[D00R]

Vintage Borsalino from Alessandria in Taupe.

 

[jeffgarf]

While we mostly use this thread to show off the vintage Borsalino hats we own, I wanted to use it to share some information on the status of current Borsalino hats in the market, specifically those made for the Jewish market. I have been having conversations recently with people in sales in this area and many are notoriously quiet about where these hats come from and where they are actually made. In the interest of helping those who may look to acquire a second-hand Borsalino in the future sold originally in the Jewish market, I'd like to present the following things I have been told by insiders:

Borsalino hats are generally made in Italy but, ever since Atica bought the rights for all the Jewish lines (their website is searchable and they run the Borsalino stores in the NY/NJ areas), the lower tiers which are called Torino and Milano have the felt bodies produced in Portugal by Fepsa then shipped to Italy to be finished.

The Trionfo is made in their factory but the quality varies. Sometimes it's good, sometimes it's bad and sometimes it's awful. Apparently this happens because they run out of 90%rabbit 10%beaver black felt bodies that are their trademark and use Fepsa bodies due to the high demand. This is not to say that Fepsa bodies are bad, but they are not as fine as the Borsalino bodies that one is presumably paying for.

It is also well-known that Borsalino now skips steps and rushes their process in most of their hats. The general quality control is not as good as it once was, but if you know what to look for you can find a pretty decent hat although overpriced.

The 100% beaver from Borsalino, however, it quite good but if you don't buy it from Bencraft of Atica you're going to be spending over $800 and definitly not worth it. It is also known that if they run out of their own black Beaver bodies then they will go to Fepsa for these, as well.

Boralino no longer deals with making Homburgs for this market so they're now produced with Fepsa bodies in Hungry by SUNEMAR the same for their clergyman hats. Lower tier, religious hats, called Kaneti, are also produced in Hungry but their higher tiers which go under the Trionfo and Angelo lines are produced in Italy with Italian bodies.

Hopefully this information will be useful for those searching for information about post-2017 Borsalino hats. For mass-produced hats, they probably are still close to top tier, but for those who know, Vintage will always be better.

 

[jeffgarf]

I have much restoration to do @Pellie , but I think I have a relative of this hat of yours. View attachment 710989 View attachment 710990

The color, Vinca, is forest green, but the Italian stamp says, "Export Prohibited." Whoops, it got exported.

@belfastboy ended up handling the extensive restoration required on this hat and his photos and explanation of work is:
Welt edge repaired
Sweat band resend
Liner removed and rinsed
Ribbon removed (necessary to reset sweat)
Light application of shellac
Flanged with a nice snap to the brim
Steamed and brushed

And finally


Much public thanks to him for his fine restoration job!