Jock's New Balmoral

[Brian K]

Gaelic Themes has the pewter ones. The Scottish Tartans Museum can hook you up with a silver one.

Thanks, Piper. I'll check them out. On my budget the silver is probably not in my foreseeable future. It does also occur to me that I should check out Scotweb - after all we do get a discount there!

Brian

[turpin]

Redshanks should add a link in his website to this thread!

[thescot]

Brian K, that's a very nice bonnet, and you wear it well.

As to the badge:
If you are interested n the silver badge, I would strongly recommend that you begin just saving a few bucks a month and hold out for the silver. It'll sit better on the bonnet, and it will become an heirloom for future generations.

I have a very nice silver masonic badge--a Scottish Rite--but you could easily have one made at Matt's site.

[okiwen]

I do think there are other Xmarkers that sell Mackie bonnets too. How about a show of hands?

[Mael Coluim]

I do think there are other Xmarkers that sell Mackie bonnets too. How about a show of hands?

They would be hard pressed to beat the prices that include free world wide shipping that Chris (Redshank) offers at Dunadd Trading Company for Mackie bonnets and House of Chevoit hose.

[Redshank]

At Dunadd Trading Company I do try and set my prices so as to offer the kilted community an opportunity to by quality Scottish made products at an affordable price.

Chris

[longhuntr74]

Brian....regarding your thoughts on wearing the 10th MTN insignia...personally I'd recommend avoiding it...for the same reasons you have reservations and were asked the question...unless you were wearing a pin with a yellow ribbon perhaps. I don't think it'd make a very good bonnet badge however...maybe a big pewter one (think fridge magnet with a pin added), but I think that'd be REALLY heavy!!!

[Brian K]

Brian....regarding your thoughts on wearing the 10th MTN insignia...personally I'd recommend avoiding it...for the same reasons you have reservations and were asked the question...unless you were wearing a pin with a yellow ribbon perhaps. I don't think it'd make a very good bonnet badge however...maybe a big pewter one (think fridge magnet with a pin added), but I think that'd be REALLY heavy!!!

Thanks, Major, you've pretty much confirmed what I was thinking. It would be rare for most of my Army customers wearing my bonnet anyway. It would be pointless to do something in support of people who don't get a chance to see that support.

Regards,

Brian

[Brian K]

Brian K, that's a very nice bonnet, and you wear it well.

As to the badge:
If you are interested n the silver badge, I would strongly recommend that you begin just saving a few bucks a month and hold out for the silver. It'll sit better on the bonnet, and it will become an heirloom for future generations.

I have a very nice silver masonic badge--a Scottish Rite--but you could easily have one made at Matt's site.

I'll keep that in mind, Bro., and if I'm having a custom badge made perhaps it might be nice to have it made in the style of a Past master's jewel. It would be different from the usual and the Masonic cap badges I've seen so far have appeared a bit bland. A set of compasses and a quadrant on a sunburst would avoid that, I think

And thanks for the compliment, by the way.

Regards,

Brian

[creagdhubh]

As you know, my principal contribution to this thread was a declaration that I didn't think I could bring myself to abuse a bonnet as valuable as a Mackie Balmoral in the manner herein demonstrated. I was assured it was a necessary process and that I would have to make myself do it!

About 2 weeks ago I received a PM from Jock inquiring about my hat size. It seemed he had a Mackie Bonnet in need of a home. After a few exchanges I agreed to risk it and Jock posted his generous gift on March 10th.

This morning I received a text message from my sister at 7:45 am. She is the Postmaster of our small town and she had been keeping an eye open for my package - it had arrived.

Jock had told me it was a 7 1/4 (a generous 7 1/4) so it shouldn't be too difficult to stretch it to fit. It had already been "Jocked" so it was used to being tortured and would probably comply .

No further torture is necessary (not that I won't try the technique just to see it first hand) as it fits like it was made for me!

I am now the proud owner of a Robert Mackie Balmoral bonnet that has been customized by the hand of a master - to whom I owe a debt of gratitude.

Jock, if I am ever fortunate enough to visit Inverness I'll by a bottle and we'll share a wee (not so wee?) dram or three!! Thank you, my friend!

This picture was taken by one of the kids at the store where I am the assistant manager.

You look wonderful! Is the headband just below the dicing a different color? It looks more olive green than the main fawn color of the balmoral. Very cool!