Needs Some Expert Borsalino Feedback

[thefedorastore]

Below, please find a couple of liner shots of a Borsalino that is supposed to be pre WWII. It is one of those that comes from the gent in Europe, which has received good reviews here on the lounge. My question, is that could this really by pre WWII? It has this clear plastic/celophane tip/logo protector. Was this sort of material actually made pre WWII?

 

[DOUGLAS]

I have a Borsalino from the same seller and store. I t has the exact same liner.
It is a fine hat but I too am doubtful of it's age.

 

[geo]

Sofia is the capital of Bulgaria, which became communist after WW2, so I doubt that Borsalino would still make hats for a shop in Sofia to carry them after WW2. Also the fact that the address is in French denotes pre-1945 origins.

 

[BellyTank]

Hmmm.... tricky one...

Looks like an older style- and that laced sweatband is an old style.
Is that 'plastic' crown protector celluloid?(think film-stock)

It could well be even considering its superficially 'modern' impression.

Shame about the size.

B
T

 

[Marc Chevalier]

Celluloid? No. Glassine? Maybe.

If it is indeed glassine, then it could easily be from the '30s. The wonder is that the glassine has not disintegrated over time -- that stuff is very fragile to heat and light.

.

 

[feltfan]

Hmmm.... tricky one...

Looks like an older style- and that laced sweatband is an old style.
Is that 'plastic' crown protector celluloid?(think film-stock)

My Lightweight Borsalino, which I'm pretty sure is from
the 50s, has a laced sweatband. I think I have a Borsalino
from the 70s with the same. It was a style. Other than
the lacing, that sweatband is pretty unique. The Trionfo
logo does not look terribly modern, either.

Duane, do you have the "Men's Hat Book" (or something like that)
published by Chronicle Books? It's a decade-by-decade set of
pictures of Borsalinos. Might be handy to have around, though
it won't answer all questions.

The "Eulan" tag might be more useful than the sweatband in
dating this hat. Loungers have noted that the tag is prominent
in 50s-70s Borsalinos. But we have no proof that it does not predate
the 50s. Love to hear from someone who knows when Bayer created
that product. Seems to be a lot of info on the web...