Vintage Borsalino arrived-with pics

mark seven · Post by **mark seven** » Sat Oct 14, 2006 11:09 am

Hi everyone,here is my vintage Borsalino which I've styled as an Indy hat.This hat was originally purchased in the early forties but never worn so it's in great condition-the felt is so soft and thin(half the thickness of my fed),I changed the ribbon and gave it a SOC'ish bash..I LOVE this hat,after wearing this one for a few days my fed feels like a well-made costume hat,it's so light and soft!.

Ripper · Post by **Ripper** » Sat Oct 14, 2006 11:15 am

Looks great! Of course, we will need some more pics...back, side etc... Love the color!

Indiana G · Post by **Indiana G** » Sat Oct 14, 2006 3:15 pm

nice look mark seven! that hat definitely has a character of its own and she looks perfect on the owner....enjoy it!

Feraud · Post by **Feraud** » Sat Oct 14, 2006 4:05 pm

Very nice. Welcome to the world of vintage hats, there is nothing like 'em!

How is the fit? It looks a little big but maybe it is just my eyesight playing tricks..

mark seven · Post by **mark seven** » Sat Oct 14, 2006 4:48 pm

Thanks guys,I will try and take pics of the sides and back,I have to get a friend of mine to take my pictures and it's always a little rushed(a digital camera is top of my christmas list!),Feraud,I have already taken 3/8ths inch off the brim and it looked fine in the mirror but I agree that in the photos it still looks slightly too big!?!(I guess the scissors are coming out again!),I am thinking now that I am TR brim size-2 3/8th's on the sides..I am learning so much with every hat I get.Vintage hats are something else..more grown-up and real,I can't put it into words..just special for sure!

GoneSolo · Post by **GoneSolo** » Sat Oct 14, 2006 6:01 pm

Nice lookin' lid mark. Just have one question. Do you cut the brim all around or just at the outermost points as shown below.

Note: I know thats an AB. I'd never cut an AB, just using it as a reference.

mark seven · Post by **mark seven** » Sat Oct 14, 2006 6:24 pm

Thanks GS,this Borsalino wasn't dimensionally cut when I got it, so I had to trim just the sides to begin with and then afterwards(for the second and third trim) I went all the way around evenly taking an 8th inch off each time..as I've got a very narrow face I have had to face up to the fact that every hat I get I am going to have trim a lot off to fit my face-but it doesn't worry me now because it always looks so much better when it's tightened up-streamlined and ready for action!

GoneSolo · Post by **GoneSolo** » Sat Oct 14, 2006 7:11 pm

I too suffer from the narrow face disease. This Akubra looks like a sombrero on me, though I have since bashed it a bit thanks to help from some of the guys. I was thinking about cutting it down, but they were against it.

Feraud · Post by **Feraud** » Sat Oct 14, 2006 7:13 pm

mark seven wrote:Thanks GS,this Borsalino wasn't dimensionally cut when I got it, so I had to trim just the sides to begin with and then afterwards(for the second and third trim) I went all the way around evenly taking an 8th inch off each time..as I've got a very narrow face I have had to face up to the fact that every hat I get I am going to have trim a lot off to fit my face-but it doesn't worry me now because it always looks so much better when it's tightened up-streamlined and ready for action! , I've learned something today though-a SOC bash looks a lot wider than,say,a temple-grab bash so it may need to have a slightly narrower brim.

Aaargh!! Do not trim the brim anymore!

Of course it is your to do with what you will but I suggest leaving vintage items "as is" and wearing them with as much care as possible. Those beauties are finite.
There are plenty of modern brands trim, rip, and fool with if necessary.

I was referring to the hat fit, not the brim. The hat looks like it is sitting a bit too far down on your head. Like I said, it could just be my eyes.

BendingOak · Post by **BendingOak** » Sat Oct 14, 2006 8:05 pm

gonesolo, your hat is fine. You just need to adjust the brim. I think your hat would look a lot less like a sombrero and more like a fedora if it wasn't so flat ( brim).

VP · Post by VP » Sun Oct 15, 2006 2:43 pm

I agree with jpenman.

Erri · Post by **Erri** » Sun Oct 15, 2006 3:52 pm

mark seven the hat looks really great! And I have to add... that jacket is marvellous. You need to tell me the specs!
Again compliments about the hat

mark seven · Post by **mark seven** » Sun Oct 15, 2006 4:17 pm

Thanks Erri,the jacket is a GB chrome Goat- size 38,it's had the works done to it(sorry Michaelson

)-acetone,staining,sandpaper and two trips through the washing machine and dryer(full heat!

)-it looks 30 years old now.I may do a seperate post on my jacket- I'm very proud of it

Erri · Post by **Erri** » Sun Oct 15, 2006 5:07 pm

Looks really fantastic. 38, mmh my size... I wonder.... ok send it here I'll have a proper look at it

Sorry for hijacking, again compliments on the hat, it looks really nice.

PS my girlfriend says that your wee girl is very cute

Kt Templar · Post by **Kt Templar** » Sun Oct 15, 2006 5:10 pm

I thought you'd like to know, threads like these are giving Fedora Loungers cold sweats

. Who's up for some vintage A2 deknitting?