Maxwell tartan - need help

[Colonel MacNeal]

Hello all,

I know we shouldn't trust the colors on the internet, so I'm asking experts -

Can anyone tell me if the

green stripe in the Locharron Strome Maxwell tartan

is darker than the

green stripe in the Marton Mills Jura Maxwell tartan?

Just need to confirm that the stripe is darker on Locharron Strome.

Thanks very much,
ColMac (have Maxwell/Polk ancestors - along with lots of other clans)

[ShaunMaxwell]

Hey Col:

I've got a Maxwell ancient Locharron Strome, and a 16 oz. Marton Mills Maxwell modern... Obviously, the green is MUCH darker on the modern version than the ancient.

I don't have a Locharron Strome modern to compare the Marton Mills modern to, but judging from what's pictured online (Scotweb), it looks to me like the green in the Locharron is a bit brighter than that in the Marton Mills version (kind of a middle ground between the Locharron ancient and the Marton Mills modern...). However, from looking at what pictured online on the USA Kilts site, it appears that the Locharron is darker...

Best bet would probably be to order a swatch of each.

That being said, it's worth mentioning that the Marton Mills Jura range costs about half of what the Locharron does, and is still a very nice fabric. Having two Locharron Strome kilts, and the aforementioned Marton Mills, I'm about to order another 8-yarder in my mother's family tartan in 16 oz. Marton Mills Jura, as it's good value for money.

[Colonel MacNeal]

Doh!
Modern - I should have said modern.

[ForresterModern]

Just looked on Tartanweb's site and they have both Lochcarron Strome and MM Jura in Maxwell modern in their 8 yd machine sewn sales kilts for those two tartan groups, Jura for around $250US and Strome for around $280US. So there really may not be as much difference in price for a finished item as you think. From their pictures shown the Lochcarron seems much darker in the green strip, almost black, compared to the Jura, while both seem to have pretty bright red background.

[BoldHighlander]

PM Matt Newsome, he works with Lochcarron tartan (amongst others) & may have the answer you seek.

[slohairt]

I just finish a kilt in Maxwell Modern Strome about two weeks ago and have the swatch from Lochcarron as well as one from Marton Mills. The green stripe is slightly darker in the Lochcarron version while the red is actually brighter. In both versions the green does not look black at all. When my camera is charged up later, I can post a picture of the two, side by side.

[ShaunMaxwell]

Col Mac:

I spoke with Jim Maxwell, president of the USA Maxwell Society, and learned that his kilt is Locharron Maxwell Modern. His is pictured on the left, and Locharron's Maxwell Ancient is to the right in the image below.



The image below is Marton Mills 16 oz. Jura in Maxwell Modern:



Hope this will help!

Cheers,

SM

[slohairt]

Here's a picture of the two, side by side: