Spring showers

Spring has sprung, and with it comes spring showers.

Once upon a time a gentleman carried an umbrella as a matter of course. It was part of his daily uniform, along with hat and briefcase. A throwback to days of yore when a sword was appropriate day wear for a man's battle in the city.

It's tough to find a man with an umbrella these days. For suburban Masters of the Universe the automobile and underground parking have put paid to the necessity for such stylish accessories, along with hats. Consequently, it's tough to find a well made brolly.

Shantung Silk, long the preferred fabric of choice, has joined the rotary telephone on the dustbin of history. Today's better bumbershoots use a Jacquard silk, wool and cotton blend, coated with a bit of teflon to keep the drops off.

So what'sa guy to do? Give Maglia Francesco a shot. One of the few remaining bespoke umbrella makers, as well as manufacturers for James Smith and Sons, London's famous purveyor of brollys and walking/working sticks.

Regretfully, an umbrella made to suit your unique requirements isn't cheap or quick. There are lots of options to choose from. Alternatives do exist however. You can pick up a serviceable Maglia Francesco model off the rack. The greatest selection is at Rain or Shine, next try Paul Stuart or Barney's in New York.

Toad

Where's my brolly?

Like my namesake, my obsessions come and go. Enthusiasms tend to last a very long time. My latest obsession is photography blogs. They deserve their own post, but later.

I came across this photo, which happens to coincide with another enthusiasm, and a pet peeve.


I'm suggesting nothing untoward, but something is wrong with this photo.

Gentlemen of a certain stripe worship at the altar of James Smith and Sons, purveyors of umbrellas, and walking sticks to the gentry since 1830 in the same London location since forever.
Their shop is a treasure trove of Victorian era elegance. The staff, much of it family, can size a customer up on his way in the door. Old Comrades of all British military units have purchased their obligatory mufti brollies there for generations.

Smith's most iconic brolly is the Whangee handled wooden shaft model. Their web site describes it thus:

WHANGEE CANE WITH A SILVER LAPBAND

Whangee cane handle with a silver lapband. (GFUJS.WHANGEE.LP). All these umbrellas can be adjusted to the correct walking length for each customer. Prices from £275.00

ADG tells the story of finding his silk covered topper left behind in a London cab. For the price of a monthly house payment, plus shipping both ways, Smith would gladly recover it for him.

My two are the nylon topped, more pedestrian model, which have provided excellent service for a number of years.

One of a Londoner's great fears is to leave the brolly in the umbrella stand inside the door of his local, and to forget it or have someone walk off with it by "mistake". Cheap umbrellas do not make the man.

Like all style affections, 99% of the population never notice something as provocative as a expensive umbrella. Those in the know, know, and judge accordingly.

So go back to the first photo. The chap on the right strike you as a Smith's man?

Toad