Cap badges with Tams, or Balmorals without ribbons?

[ForresterModern]

I just saw this photo in another thread about day plaids and noticed a couple interesting things about the headwear these fine gentlemen are wearing. Most appear to be balmorals or tams, but some of what appear to be diced tams (no tails or ribbons evident to me at least) also appear to be sporting clan badges or some other adornment in the location where a clan badge would normally be placed. is it appropriate to wear a cap badge with a tam, or are these rosette and ribbon deficient Balmorals? I have a number of tams and Balmorals and want to be sure to be wearing them appropriately.



Photo credited to Rex Tremende, although borrowed without permission.




jeff

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

To my practiced eye, all of the gentlemen in the photo originally posted by JSFMJR (Sandy to his pals on XMTS) are wearing Balmoral bonnets-- some with dicing, some without, and all with their tails either tied up, or (possibly) cut off. Most are wearing a badge of some sort on the left side. Now here's the thing: There is no requirement to wear a cap badge on your bonnet. Probably 99% of gentlemen do, and of that number probably 99% of them sport their clan badge. But it's not required, and either is the cockade. Since cockades rarely, at least these days, denote any special allegiance, their main purpose is to supply a secure backing for the pin on the clan badge.

Hope that answers your question.

[Bruce Scott]

"Most are wearing a badge of some sort on the right side."

Do you mean right as in correct because plainly they are wearing their badges on the left, which is correct.

[HarborSpringsPiper]

But it's not required, and either is the cockade. Since cockades rarely, at least these days, denote any special allegiance, their main purpose is to supply a secure backing for the pin on the clan badge.

And you can order your Balmoral without the Petersham cockade. I had them leave it off the last one I ordered as I wanted to wear it without a badge.

[BoldHighlander]

Now here's the thing: There is no requirement to wear a cap badge on your bonnet.

Quite right! I've seen a gentleman wear one with a silver Celtic knot brooch (& it looked quite sharp). I've seen other various non-clan "badges", and I've seen them once or twice worn without any insignia/badge at all.

By the way, that's a great photo!

[Redshank]

I personally don'y wear a clan badge on my balmoral, not that I don't like or bear alliegence to my clan, it's just that I don't like the weight of the pewter versions and untill I can find a suitable vintage clan badge in silver I will continue to wear a penannular brooch on mine.

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

"Most are wearing a badge of some sort on the right side."

Do you mean right as in correct because plainly they are wearing their badges on the left, which is correct.

I share your confusion! I should have said "proper side", which is what I meant. I have edited my original post to say "left side" to avoid any further confusion. Thanks...

[thescot]

I mentioned in another thread that, like Redshanks, I don't care for the weight of most pewter badges. I find that they tend to pull the left-hand side of my bonnet down; I even retired my oldest USMC badge for the same reason. It looks really good, but it weighs about a 1/2 pound and pulls the bonnet down.



I wear thinner, lighter silver padges almost exclusively now, and I think you'll like them if you can find some to your liking.

[M. A. C. Newsome]

I personally don'y wear a clan badge on my balmoral, not that I don't like or bear alliegence to my clan, it's just that I don't like the weight of the pewter versions and untill I can find a suitable vintage clan badge in silver I will continue to wear a penannular brooch on mine.

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.

I'll just point out that there is another option, if you don't mind paying a bit more for quality.

Our hand cast sterling silver badges are much thinner and lighter than the typical pewter badge.
http://giftshop.scottishtartans.org/silver_badges.htm

I just weighed one on a postal scale and it was .6 oz.

[okiwen]

I also noted that everyone of them has a can or a walking stick. Even the 15 Yr. old n the back. Look how high up the kilt pins are.

Jim K., the pin you have shown I have as well. The pin part doesn't go through far enough for the clasp on the pack to grasp. Did you have this problem?