Nice Balmorals

[An t-Ileach]

[QUOTE=PiobBear;298751]Wow; that's a great price for a balmoral, and kudo's for not getting a common black one; I like rifle green...

As an old Light Infantryman I must concur: Rifle Green is the way to go.

[macwilkin]

One for an armiger, two for a chieftain, and three for a chief. Traditional for most folks is their clan's plant badge (provided you can find a sprig of it, of course).

Thanks, piobear! I should have mentioned that; I was in a hurry this morning as I am using the hotel's computer!

T.

[Nanook]

Wow; that's a great price for a balmoral,

Made in Pakistan and not quite to the same standard as those made in Scotland by the MOD contractors. There are vast differences and one should not compare them on price. Materials are different, design is different and workmanship is different. They also have different goals. MOD Balmoral bonnets are quite heavy-duty.
Beyond the comparison of products I do think one should support the Scottish and Irish cottage industries. The industry is not doing to well as they can't compete with slave labour from China and even in the niche markets the observation that the makers in Pakistan "export 80% of their products directly to the UK" ( http://www.glengarryhats.com/about.htm ) does not do well for its survival. We are looking at bonnets, sporrans and kilts. The Scottish companies are really quite small and many are family businesses. Leather goods maybe larger? How many sporran companies do you think are still in operation? And the "big ones" like Nicoll Bros or Janet Eagleton or William Scott? All really tiny shops. How many sporran makers are there in all of Scotland?

I vote with my purchases for fair trade and also to keep traditional companies going. Sure a lot of shops in Scotland and Ireland sell imports, often even as native products, but that's no excuse.

If you're thinking of a feather hackle, you might want to carefully consider that "Hackles are generally awarded to regiments for battle honours or a special reason.

Feathers are a long standing symbol of battle and not just among the Scots but throughout Europe and well into WW-II. When we see feathers in other styles of caps do we think of war? When we look, however, today at a Tirol hat with a feather we don't think war anymore do we? If one is, however, so worried about the language of hackles taken out of context as a fashion thing in civilian garb then what is your position on dicing? And, of course, that's only the start of where we'd need to look to remain careful and correct. I, personally, see less of a problem with a hackle taken out of context than dicing. Badges I see as "fan ware" and hackles as somewhere in between.

[McClef]

The danger of sticking to perceived is that it would considerably limit the choices of most of us about what we can wear.

Whatever we choose is bound to rub somebody or other up the wrong way :rolleyes:

[David Thornton]

OK Nanook, I'm willing. Any preferred links?

David

[Graham]

Very similar, Gray, to my recently acquired Balmoral (as seen in my new avatar). Mine is their WWI Canadian Khaki - a more serviceable colour, I thought. I have to agree that, for the price and prompt service, it seems GlengarryHats.com cannot be beaten.

As you know I am NOT a hat wearer but, since growing the beard, I think I can (just) get away with the Balmoral - but not yet in public!!

PS: The 'badge' I wear on it is one of the first generation X Marks kilt pins!

Yes Hamish, I was aware of the similarity to yours, you probably influenced me!!
I've had a black one for ages but it was always a wee bit small and tight (it's all the nice comments I get about the kilt, made my head swell).

I don't wear it casually, more for celtic events.

Hamish, you are full of surprises, first the beard, then a hat!! Glad you're not stuck in a rut
btw, that hat looks great on you

[Nanook]

Following a link here I ended up seeing this on scottishkilts.net :confused:


its direct from their sales catalogue for a solid glengarry bonnet.

(I'd hate to see what they send customers out the door with)

[Cawdorian]

I can identify with the Balmoral that is too small. Can any one tell us how and where to measure our head for a correctly fitting Balmoral? I am considering purchasing a new one in Lovat Green.

[MacWage]

Something to consider in wearing battle honors and awards.

While not EXACTLY the same thing, this may reflect some of the feeling.
Imagine someone wearing a Purple Heart as a brooch, pin, or hat badge (because they like the color), though they, their significant other, etc has not served.

How would a veteran who has earned one or has a close friend who lost a major body part in battle feel?


In the case of a hackle, I was not aware of the reasons and emotion behind them, but have not worn them.
Now, I doubt I ever will.

[Nanook]

I can identify with the Balmoral that is too small. Can any one tell us how and where to measure our head for a correctly fitting Balmoral? I am considering purchasing a new one in Lovat Green.

With a Balmoral or Glengarry you should measure 1-2 fingers above your eyebrows and parallel to your ears, viz. straight and level. Balmorals are typically worn 1 cm (1/2" or 1 finger) above the eyebrows and level on the head with the top pulled-over but sometimes a little bit tilted. Most often its right but we need recall that even before WW-I it was common for socialists to wear their bonnets tilted left.
If you are in between sizes (say 58 1/2 cm) then go with the next larger size (59 cm) as they tend (at least the MOD contracted bonnets) to run a bit snug. One can also aways with a bit of thread and a needle take up any difference for a perfect fit.