Cap badges with Tams, or Balmorals without ribbons?

**Tobus** · 9th March 10, 09:21 AM

Originally Posted by M. A. C. Newsome

It seems like it has come up a few times recently on the forum that people are looking for a lighter, thinner badge than the clunky pewter ones generally available.

Matt, I have two questions for you. I'm looking at your online gift shop with the intention of ordering a clan crest badge. Specifically, I'm looking at the brushed pewter crest badges.

1. The color in the photos seems to suggest that these are a bronze-ish or brass-ish color. My intent is for my cap badge to match my kilt pin which is a typical dullish grey pewter. Can you verify for me the color of these crest badges of yours? Is it just the lighting in the photo that makes yours look that color?

2. You list the standard pewter crest badges (polished or brushed), and then you offer a smaller (7/8") size. But what is the size of the standard ones? Obviously they're larger than 7/8", but what size are they exactly?

Thanks.

**M. A. C. Newsome** · 9th March 10, 11:11 AM

Originally Posted by Tobus

1. The color in the photos seems to suggest that these are a bronze-ish or brass-ish color. My intent is for my cap badge to match my kilt pin which is a typical dullish grey pewter. Can you verify for me the color of these crest badges of yours? Is it just the lighting in the photo that makes yours look that color?

These are the standard dull grey pewter. It may just be your monitor settings that makes them look bronze. They look fairly pewterish (is that a word?) on my screen.

2. You list the standard pewter crest badges (polished or brushed), and then you offer a smaller (7/8") size. But what is the size of the standard ones? Obviously they're larger than 7/8", but what size are they exactly?

They are exactly the size of a typical crest badge, more or less. :-) I know, not the answer you are looking for, but I'm not in the shop now to take a precise measurement. The small pins (7/8") are about the size of a quarter, while the standard crest badge is a bit larger than a silver dollar, if that gives you any indication.

If you want precise measurements of the crest pin, you can call up the gift shop and someone will use a tape measure and get that info to you. Or email the museum and you should have any answer today or tomorrow.

**tulloch** · 9th March 10, 12:35 PM

I have some pins that I wear with my caps other than the Ross clan badge. I understand that Tulloch is a sept of Ross but I would wear the Ross badge when I wish to be formally associated with them such as at a clan association event. Otherwise I am pretty independent and like my decorations I have acquired.

I think they look pretty good.

**BoldHighlander** · 9th March 10, 12:45 PM

Nice!

Originally Posted by tulloch

I have some pins that I wear with my caps other than the Ross clan badge. I understand that Tulloch is a sept of Ross but I would wear the Ross badge when I wish to be formally associated with them such as at a clan association event. Otherwise I am pretty independent and like my decorations I have acquired.

I think they look pretty good.

**Friday** · 9th March 10, 08:29 PM

It is not clear but to me it appears as if the fifth man from the left, in back partially hidden, has not cut or tied his ribbon, but has it hanging loose. The picture is not clear enough to be positive but this is my observation.

I also agree with Mr. Withnell, I sewed a small section of ribbon on the inside of the hat at the band. This created a pocket that I inserted a small piece of plastic to support the clan pin. This does a lot to support the pin and keep it from pulling the Balmoral over.

**ForresterModern** · 10th March 10, 06:28 AM

Originally Posted by Friday

It is not clear but to me it appears as if the fifth man from the left, in back partially hidden, has not cut or tied his ribbon, but has it hanging loose. The picture is not clear enough to be positive but this is my observation.

The man two further over to the right from him appears to be wearing a bonnet with neither tails, a bow or a rosette, making me wonder if it is a tam instead of a balmoral. To my eye there are several bonnets without rosettes but with bows and badges or other accoutrements where the badges would normally be, including plant sprigs of what I must presume to be clan plants. This overal mixture of wearing styles and devices was what caught my eye whan I first posted this.

Another option to a rosette for stiffening the side of your cap is to use a swatch of your tartan, reinforced with the iron on stiffener available at fabric stores for lapels, etc.., either in addition to or in lieu of a rosette. If it still falls down you can pin the swatch from inside your cap with safety pins and then hide the small part of the pins showing with your cap badge.

jeff

**Tobus** · 10th March 10, 07:52 AM

This overal mixture of wearing styles and devices was what caught my eye whan I first posted this.

The more I look at it, the more differences in style that I see. It's an interesting photo, to be sure!

Thinking back to Jock Scot's thread on shaping his Balmoral for the 'crushed' look, and his description of how some people wear the "flying saucer" on their heads, I see both in this photo. Some of the men are wearing their Balmorals flat and centered on their heads, or with only a slight cock to the right (like the fellow on the left with his back to us, or the chap at slightly right of center, in the background, facing us). To me, that looks like the "flying saucer" Jock speaks of. Or maybe the bunny with the pancake on his head, of internet fame. Perhaps it's because the bonnet overhangs their heads all the way around that gives it that look.

The older gentleman in the foreground just to left of center, who is facing left, seems to be wearing his Balmoral angled further forward and to the right (i.e. no overhang behind his head), although he still doesn't have the 'crushed' look to it, as it seems to be slightly overhanging his badge and is possibly bending his plant badge to the left.

I have to say I like the way the lad on the right side is wearing his. That has a 'crushed' look to it, and it overhanging only on the right side. I can't tell from the picture, but does he have something white in front of his cap badge?

Also, the young man to the left of him (who he appears to be reading to) has a very light colored bonnet. It's a shame this isn't a color photo, as I'd be interested to see what color it actually was. Surely it wasn't white?

**Friday** · 11th March 10, 07:14 AM

Originally Posted by ForresterModern

This overal mixture of wearing styles and devices was what caught my eye whan I first posted this.
jeff

this picture is more support to the "It not a uniform, its clothing" point of view.

**JSFMACLJR** · 11th March 10, 07:21 AM

Originally Posted by friday

this picture is more support to the "it not a uniform, its clothing" point of view.

Exactly!!!

**ForresterModern** · 11th March 10, 08:00 AM

Originally Posted by Friday

this picture is more support to the "It not a uniform, its clothing" point of view.

Hence the reason I posted it and raised the question I did, precisely because of the variability evident in the one single photo.

By the way, Sandy, my apologies for crediting it to Rex instead of to you, but I found it first in his post which itself was not credited to you either. Anyway I envy your legacy and documentation of such a colorful and interesting heritage. Thanks for sharing it with us so freely so that we may be more informed of all thing Scots from back in the day....

Jeff