Vintage Tank Alterations

[Smayniac]

I would guess, based on your pictures and on other threads I've read, that the tartan is some sort of asymmetrical and to save material and still pleat to the red stripe, the pleats are to the red stripe of half setts. The color across the rear is not consistent and some setts have varying distances between somewhat similar elements. Someone who knows tartans better may be able to comment more intelligently.

(edit)Okay, I just looked again and it's obviously asymmetrical from the front view, but that doesn't seem to explain the color variation completely.

Bob-

[The Wizard of BC]

A very interesting Kilt. Can you take a closer view of the front apron?

In your photo of the apron it appears that just left of center there is a red stripe flanked by light green. But the flanking green bands seem to be different width. Is this an allusion or possibly a fold in the fabric?

I can't tell to well from your description but from looking at the pleats of the Kilt even though it is pleated to the Stripe there are three distinct areas. The center is to the Red Strip flanked by light Green and then outer section is Red Stripe flanked by Blue.

This changing of the stripe you pleat to is the reason for the difference in pleat depth. If you will look at the odd depth pleats you'll probably find that they are at there the color changes.

I really had to take a close look at the Murray of Atholl Thread count on the Scottish Tartans Authority because at first glance I didn't think it was that Tartan.

BTW Murray of Atholl is International Tartan Index no. 281.

[Cerebite]

I can't tell to well from your description but from looking at the pleats of the Kilt even though it is pleated to the Stripe there are three distinct areas. The center is to the Red Strip flanked by light Green and then outer section is Red Stripe flanked by Blue.

This changing of the stripe you pleat to is the reason for the difference in pleat depth. If you will look at the odd depth pleats you'll probably find that they are at there the color changes.

Wow that is a VERY COOL effect

[sydnie7]

[snip] In your photo of the apron it appears that just left of center there is a red stripe flanked by light green. But the flanking green bands seem to be different width. Is this an allusion or possibly a fold in the fabric? [snip]

And way down on the lower left of front apron is are two red stripes with NO light green flanking. . . again, perhaps illusion (as the Wizard alluded ) but it gets curiouser and curiouser. I do really like the effect of pleating to different stripes in three bands across the rear!

[M. A. C. Newsome]

I would guess, based on your pictures and on other threads I've read, that the tartan is some sort of asymmetrical and to save material and still pleat to the red stripe, the pleats are to the red stripe of half setts. The color across the rear is not consistent and some setts have varying distances between somewhat similar elements. Someone who knows tartans better may be able to comment more intelligently.

(edit)Okay, I just looked again and it's obviously asymmetrical from the front view, but that doesn't seem to explain the color variation completely.

Bob-

No this is a typical symmetrical tartan. It is actually a Black Watch variant. It is pleated to stripe, but to different stripes, as Steve pointed out. Very unusual!