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Opinions on this Borsalino, please

Brad Bowers

I'll Lock Up
Messages
4,187
Debated whether to put this in Classified or here, but since I'm asking for myself, I hope that's okay.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=52369&item=8132360762&rd=1

All of you Borsalino experts out there, what do you think of this hat? It looks like it might be about what I'm looking for. I emailed the seller about brim width. Look pretty wide to me, compared to the William Powell hat.

Also, is anyone else on the Lounge bidding on it? I don't want to step on someone's toes.

If you wouldn't mind, PM about what a top-dollar price should be, so I know what's reasonable.

Thanks, folks, I appreciate it.

Brad
 
Wow! That was some good hunting. It looks to be in very good condition and about the right size, age (latter 40s would be my guess) and color you are looking for. The brim looks to be about 2 1/2" and the crown is high enough for your specifications. Put in the center dent and remove the two forward dents and you are set. The ribbon is not as thick as Powell's but that can be changed easily enough. ;)
One word of advice is to move this thread to the Observation Bar or Classifieds so it is in a much less "public" area. ;) I would expect to pay about $80 for it. My wish is that you pay less though. :cool2:

Regards to all,

J
 

Brad Bowers

I'll Lock Up
Messages
4,187
Thanks, fellas.

It's probably as close as I can get, methinks. It almost looks like NOS to me, so it should be nice. Maybe Art can turn it into a Long Oval.

I don't know how to move the thread, perhaps it should just be deleted?;)

Bid placed, and I have a maximum in mind, so we'll see what happens.

Aagh, now the waiting begins.

I just noticed the brim color on the lower two photos looks pretty dark. Hopefully that's just shadowing.

Brad
 

K.D. Lightner

Call Me a Cab
Messages
2,354
Location
Des Moines, IA
Brad --

I am not bidding on it, it is not my size, but I did notice it this a.m. and it is a neat hat!! Go for it!

The best thing you can do on Ebay is bid as high as you are willing to go on a hat and hope no one bids higher. I lost out on a hat last week, was sniped with 7 seconds left to go and lost it. But I did not bid as high as I thought I should. There were no takers in it for most of the six days it was on auction.

Also, I like to bid an odd amount, just a tiny bit above my maximum, so that if someone bids at the last minute, you may win it by a few cents or so.

Good luck!!

karol
 

Brad Bowers

I'll Lock Up
Messages
4,187
Well, I did it! My first vintage Borsalino has been won. Unbelievable, I won by a penny! The bidding went to my maximum, which I was hoping it wouldn't, but even at $92, it should still be a good deal. I hope.

I'll post pictures when it gets here. Then I'll have to see if Art needs to do a cleaning and reblock or not.

Brad
 
Gee, my estimate was off by $12.01. :D I suppose I did not adequately look at the pictures because upon review, I do not remember the sweatband and interior as being so nice. The label does not have a bit of wear on it and the liner is still quite white.
I think you did quite well and got in right under the wire with that bid. Perfecto!
Let us know if it looks that good in person. I am sure it does. :D

Regards to all,

J

P.S. We need to get that Poincarre dude a new hobby. ;)
 

havershaw

Practically Family
Messages
716
Location
mesa, az
That's a real beauty you got there. I would have snapped it up if it had been my size.

Congratulations! I can't imagine you'll have any regrets.
 

Brad Bowers

I'll Lock Up
Messages
4,187
I'm excited, and hope this hat turns out to be a suitable William Powell hat. If not, I'm sure it will be a nice hat to have. Still smarting a bit from spending that much, but I keep telling myself it's a great price. Not as nice a deal as Havershaw's $30 ones, though.

Yep, this is my first vintage hat. I've tried to bid on them in the past, but either the bid went higher than I could afford, or I was sniped in the end. But this is still the best looking hat I've bid on. Karol, your little trick worked great, as it was that .01 cent difference that won the auction. Thanks, everyone, for your support.

Next week sometime...long wait.:(

Brad
 
You are not likely going to find nice vintage hats 7 3/8 or over for $30. I have done it once or twice but on average it gets up there when people start finding them. The hat you have on in your avatar fooled me if it is not a vintage hat. Looks good on you.
I love my vintage hats---even the crazy looking ones that do not fit---well, maybe not all of them. ;)

Regards to all,

J
 

K.D. Lightner

Call Me a Cab
Messages
2,354
Location
Des Moines, IA
Brad --

Congrats on that beautiful looking Borsalino!!! I hope it fits you perfectly and that you look like a movie star in it. I love the look and the color of it.

We do expect pictures when you get it and do what you need to do with it to make it your own special hat. Maybe you won't have to do much of anything, just put it on your head and check out the image in the mirror.

That you won it when there were 17 bids on it is grand. And, I know from experience, when you want something bad enough, it is almost a heart stopper in the last few minutes of an auction.

But, what a rush when you win it!

karol
 

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