Sticks and Bonnets?

**DWFII** · 8th November 08, 05:31 PM

Originally Posted by ThistleDown

Aparently I've been looking in the mirror too long. Of course you are correct, but I've never seen a Balmoral in Scotland with a white cockade. They are traditionally black, but I suppose they could be replaced with white.

[chuckle] I thought that might be the case!

When I got my balmoral, the first thing I did was pull it over my left ear...as I was looking at myself in the mirror. Looked good to me!

As I understand it the white cockade is strictly Jacobite...in honour of BPC who plucked and wore a white rose on his bonnet when he stepped back onto Scottish soil. In any case that famous painting of Culloden shows, I believe, the white cockade.

**ThistleDown** · 8th November 08, 05:32 PM

Ted. I have a friend who has an antler-headed stick about the same length as the shorter one I posted. It can't be folded up, of course, but it has a brass pointed tip that can be covered with a rubber one -- and he has had it finished in white because he has sight problems. Still and all, I think the graphite one you are using is pretty fine.

**Jock Scot** · 8th November 08, 05:38 PM

Originally Posted by DWFII

I knew that...just shorthand. But since I don't have either a cockade or a badge for my balmoral yet, how far forward of the left ear should they be placed?

About like this.

**Bugbear** · 8th November 08, 06:03 PM

Originally Posted by ThistleDown

Ted. I have a friend who has an antler-headed stick about the same length as the shorter one I posted. It can't be folded up, of course, but it has a brass pointed tip that can be covered with a rubber one -- and he has had it finished in white because he has sight problems. Still and all, I think the graphite one you are using is pretty fine.

Ok, I will stick with the stick I have then.

Thanks, ThistleDown.

Is there a bonnet that doesn't require the cockade and badge on the side?

**puffer** · 8th November 08, 06:24 PM

IMHO, NONE DO. ( except maybe the "military bamoral")
I do not wear anything on my WPG TOS, & seldom wear any thing on my "glengary"

NOTE - only my "glengary" ( mil. issue ) is designed to take one.)

Puffer

**thescot** · 8th November 08, 06:47 PM

You'd look good with the Canadian khaki balmoral, and you can get one from Glengarryhats at http://www.glengarryhats.com/balmora...temcplb97999i0.

I have one, and it's fine, looks good, and goes well with brown stuff. It's a little lighter weight, I think, than my oldest balmoral made in Scotland, but it looks good.

And, no, you don't have to have a cockade or a badge, but both look good to me. I sew a white ribbon cockade on all my bolmorals because I like the look. I you want one, just PM, and I'll send one to you.

I wear a variety of badges on mine: clan, masonic, etc. I even put on outdated Scottish regimental badges occassionally since I'm pretty sure no one will mistake me for a member of the 92nd Regiment of Foot. (That badge went out in 1881.)

What ever you decide, you always look debonair, so do what makes you happy. The balmoral is traditional in a snappy outfit like your picture, but an ivy hat looks pretty good to me, too.

**Bugbear** · 8th November 08, 07:42 PM

Thank you, Puffer and thescot. I did see your post on the tams, Puffer and I'm looking into those.

Really, all I have to put on as a cap badge is the zebra pin Moosedog sent me.

I guess that would be fine, and I have put it on the side of a flat cap when not kilted. And for some reason I have it in my mind that I would like to wear a light or mediuim blue bonnet. I have no idea why, but that is what I see in my mind.

Even a navy blue one seems like it would be all right.

An update on the stick: I sanded a little on the stick with the deep weather cracks that i described before. It is smoothing up nicely, and there is a wavey texture to the stick when turned in the hand from all the vertical cracking. I don't have any steel wool right now, but it looks like it will polish up quite well. Should probably look into stains and outer coatings...

**Bugbear** · 8th November 08, 07:43 PM

Originally Posted by puffer

If more casual or for the Scot's look, the a bamoral ( NON MILITARY style) or Tam o Shanter.( like WPG's that I reviewed)

Puffer

Thanks, Puffer.

What exactly is a Tam o Shanter? I've read about them and seen them being sold along with balmorals as more casual, but what is the difference?

**puffer** · 9th November 08, 09:15 AM

Originally Posted by Ted Crocker

Thanks, Puffer.

What exactly is a Tam o Shanter? I've read about them and seen them being sold along with balmorals as more casual, but what is the difference?

Ted, good ???

Basicly a Tam O Shanter (TOS) is LARGER in diamiter. ( a "full size" one is a balmoral on STEROIDS)

Here is my take on the subject.

Balmorals-
a. Military style are the smallest, 9-9 1/2" in diam. (refer to the upper left pic ( my 1960 "Berret") Note both the "modern US & Brit issue are sim.)
The upper mid. one is of modern Brit issue TOS, BUT I rate this as a Balmoral because of it's size (10")

b. Civilian style are a little larger, usually 10-11" ( the upper right one is 11"

Tam O Shanter
a. The lower left one (WPG TOS) measures 12 1/4"in diamiter ( about the smallest size, IMHO)
b. The lower right one is a "Traditional " style TOS measures 13 1/2"

I hope this helps

NOTE that I wear my US version with the flash/badge on the RIGHT & the Scot's styles on the LEFT.

Puffer

**Jock Scot** · 9th November 08, 09:41 AM

Sorry to take issue with you Puffer, but Scots style is to have the badge on the LEFT(see picture on post #23) and for civilian wear the balmoral does not have the "starched and ironed" look ,quite the opposite,the more beaten up they look the better they are. I read somewhere that kicking your new balmoral along a road for a mile or two to customise it, is recommended. A bit drastic, perhaps, but it works!