The Umbrella

[Hemingway Jones]

I have a Brigg Brolly made from a solid piece of Hickory. It cost me around $300, with my initials on the royal seal.

Here are some photos (They should expand if you click them):





This umbrella gets a lot of work here in Boston. Briggs are very tough and very beautiful. The wood grain is amazing. The canopy stretches tight and the rain sounds like pebbles on a tin roof. It is quite the experience.

 

[Marc Chevalier]

Just don't lose it!

 

[Hemingway Jones]

Just don't lose it!

Seriously! Or me with it in a wind storm.

 

[binkmeisterRick]

Siiiiiiingin' in the rain... just siiiiingin' in the rain...

 

[geo]

I have a solid shaft polished chestnut Brigg umbrella purchased from Classic Luggage about 5 years ago, and I'm very happy with it. It is more difficult to lose a long shaft umbrella like this than a smaller collapsible one.

 

[Zemke Fan]

I am living proof...

...that it is possible to lose ANY umbrella, no matter the shape, size, color, or value. They all disappear at an equal rate. Therefore, I have taken to just buying $15 ones that I will not cry to hard over when they vanish into the nether regions.

 

[jake_fink]

I am such an optimist that I've lost more umbrellas in this life than gloves. It just doesn't pay to direct your feet to the sunny side of the street.

 

[jake_fink]

I have taken to just buying $15 ones that I will not cry to hard over when they vanish into the nether regions.

That'll teach you for getting your brolly so close to your nether regions.

 

[Miss Neecerie]

...that it is possible to lose ANY umbrella, no matter the shape, size, color, or value. They all disappear at an equal rate. Therefore, I have taken to just buying $15 ones that I will not cry to hard over when they vanish into the nether regions.

Brings new meaning to putting things where the sun don't shine......

 

[Zemke Fan]

Enuf...

Already! I'm a Bartender for crying-out-loud. Show me some due deference!

 

[Pilgrim]

Marc, I'm confident that the pigskin can be replaced on those handles. It might even be within your capabilities with some practice.

I have some tanned deerhide in a medium brown - that kind of leather would be perfect for such an application. If stitched accurately while inside out and then turned right-side out, I'll bet you could slide it on the handles and glue the very ends down with contact cement.

 

[Marc Chevalier]

Thanks! I really should do something about it.

 

[Pilgrim]

Shouldn't be hard to find some pigskin or other tanned leather that would work.

 

[Senator Jack]

This is the sort of detail you don't see any more on umbrellas. I'd date this one to late 20s - early 30s; the construction is incredibly solid. I've lost a few vintage brollies in the past - hopefully those days are over.

Regards,

Senator Jack

 

[Marc Chevalier]

Let's not forget ladies' umbrellas of the Golden Era.


The one below belonged to my French grandmother: a young, up-and-coming hat designer in 1930s Paris. (Sad to say, I have none of her creations -- not even a photo or a drawing.) This '30s umbrella is navy blue silk, piped in white around the inside edge. The wooden handle is handcarved and painted. At the time, my grandparents had a little dog just like that one.

 

[Matt Deckard]

Now that is an umbrella handle!

 

[Marc Chevalier]

It deserves a "Thin Man" movie of its own.

 

[geo]

In the profile view, it looks like the stuffed head of a real dog. A way to take your dog for a posthumous walk.

 

[scotrace]

It deserves a "Thin Man" movie of its own.

I does! An amazing piece, just fabulous! Thanks for posting this.

 

[Shaul-Ike Cohen]

Terriers

How comes Scotch terrier and fox terrier dogs are so Golden Era? Or is this just my association?

The Charleses, Čapek brothers, Katharine Hepburn...

I gather the actual question is, why have they gone out of fashion. Maybe it's Lassie's fault.