Six Kilties Including Two Pipers

**O'Neille** · 27th August 06, 08:21 PM

Originally Posted by David Thornton

The firepipers head cover would have me retinking my objection to hats. What is it and how did he achieve the look, or do they come that way?

David

It appears to be a navy blue Balmoral with small dicing and a red torrie if I remeber correctly. Remember to keep the badge over your L temple and you'll do fine. Experiment a little and it will work. Remember you have choices. Glengarry and Caubeen, I like them all but do not own a Balmoral. It's good to try on a few to see what works as the sizing is a little wonky sometimes. O'Neille

**Retro Red** · 28th August 06, 11:26 AM

Originally Posted by O'Neille

It appears to be a navy blue Balmoral with small dicing and a red torrie if I remeber correctly. Remember to keep the badge over your L temple and you'll do fine. Experiment a little and it will work. Remember you have choices. Glengarry and Caubeen, I like them all but do not own a Balmoral. It's good to try on a few to see what works as the sizing is a little wonky sometimes. O'Neille

I like Balmorals, got 3 of 'em in different colors; they're a good looking way to keep my hair out of my face. To answer David Thornton's question, no, Balmorals do not come that way; they come looking more like Vinny's (the other piper). Looks like firepiper has done what I do to mine, namely dampen it & reshape it. A Balmoral is essentially a type of baggy beret & like the Army berets, it's just begging to be molded & fitted to the wearers head. When I get a new Balmoral, first, I lose the torrie, that little pom-pom ball on top - can't stand 'em. Then I pull out my fine-misting spray bottle & thoroughly spray the outside. Now, with the wool softened up, I start customizing. I prefer to pull the material to the right & slouch it down the side. It seems firepiper has done pretty much the same thing. Like the kilt, the Balmoral isn't a museum piece - it's a great every day hat that should be made to fit you!

Hey, O'Neille, looks like you had a great time. Sorry I couldn't get away this last weekend. I hope I can make the next Sierra Vista kilt night (& take you up on a tour of Bisbee, too).

.

**andyfg** · 28th August 06, 11:38 AM

I have only just caught up on this thread. Looks like a fantastic time had by all. Great set of pics. Thanks.

**efer** · 28th August 06, 09:32 PM

Another nice rabble of kilts.

I love the last "Hamish Pose" picture!

**Kiltedfirepiper** · 30th August 06, 01:06 PM

yesh ...it WAS a good time! Vinnie and myself ended up visiting a few other pubs that night ...endedl up walking away with free drinks ,and about $100 at the end of the night!

as far as the Balmoral goes......its a "home made" one ...the Dicing should be bigger but ...work with what you have I guess!
it IS wool though ..I just soaked it in cold water, wrang(sp) it out and put it on till dry. I like having it hang on the right side basicly touching my right ear. I think it looks better all flopped over like that! on a "real" balmoral, the wool is alot thicker so it takes a little more to get it "floppy" but the end result is about the same,

interesting side note, I was told not long ago that the glenn is actually a bastardized Balmoral! they used to fold the balmoral in a way that it looked like the present day Glenn! I donno how much truth is in that, but it sounds plauseable

Scott

BTW the Auld Dubliner is now OPEN!!!! me thinks a kilt night is in the works soon!!

**macwilkin** · 30th August 06, 01:21 PM

interesting side note, I was told not long ago that the glenn is actually a bastardized Balmoral! they used to fold the balmoral in a way that it looked like the present day Glenn! I donno how much truth is in that, but it sounds plauseable

http://albanach.org/hummel.htm

Happy Reading!

As far as how balmorals should look, the best example is "Monarch of the Glen's" Golly Mackenzie:

http://www.bbcamerica.com/genre/dram...f_the_glen.jsp

What is Vinnie's tartan, btw?

Cheers,

Todd

**Beertigger** · 30th August 06, 09:57 PM

Originally Posted by Kiltedfirepiper

BTW the Auld Dubliner is now OPEN!!!! me thinks a kilt night is in the works soon!!

Went on Monday night - the food was good, the service less so. Hoping it was the opening night curse that did 'em in.

The waitress we ended up w/ was pleasant and competent enough, but the first one we encountered couldn't have been more snippy if she'd taken lessons. (She may well have).

I will say that the shepherd's pie and curry chips are tasty enough. The first pint o' Guinness I got tasted like a tall glass of bleach. When will bar-folk learn that there aren't enough hops in Guinness to cover up the sanitizer/rinse solution taste? Was replaced with a much better attempt at a pint forthwith.

I'll be assisting with the celebrating of Hotel Congress' 21st birthday this weekend... maybe a kilt night later in the month?

**David Thornton** · 31st August 06, 05:38 AM

Originally Posted by Kiltedfirepiper

as far as the Balmoral goes......its a "home made" one ...the Dicing should be bigger but ...work with what you have I guess!
it IS wool though ..I just soaked it in cold water, wrang(sp) it out and put it on till dry. I like having it hang on the right side basicly touching my right ear. I think it looks better all flopped over like that! on a "real" balmoral, the wool is alot thicker so it takes a little more to get it "floppy" but the end result is about the same,

Uhm, are you taking orders?

David