The Umbrella

[mrwilmoth]

great thread, anyone know where to purchase a brigg or james smith umbrella in los angeles?

 

[Blackadder]

http://www.classicluggage.com/gentlemen!s_umbrella26629.html
One of their dealers in the States

 

[norton]

I bought one of these last week on sale for $85. It's not a Briggs, but its a one piece stick umbrella and for that price I figured it was worth checking out. When I get it I'll try to post a review.

 

[Blackadder]

Fox is another maker of umbrella. You can purchase it online as well. Both Briggs and Fox are great though I prefer Briggs. A good umbrella when folded should be slim and can be used as a walking stick. The Polo's umbrella when folded is bulky and looks ugly. If you want a gentleman's umbrella, you should pick Briggs or Fox. Sometimes high end stores have umbrella too but they are often made by Briggs and Fox etc. For example, Dunhill, Church's shoes and Hermes have umbrella for sale but they are made by Briggs and Fox etc.

 

[Cliffnopus]

Briggs is one of the best, if not the best for a full size umbrella. Lately I have gone to a smaller more packable brolly. These KNIRPS compacts are so good my wife and I now have one in each vehicle, permanently stationed so that we're never out of range. This site: http://www.european-umbrellas.com/ carries many umbrellas including Briggs.

They also are where I get my KNIRPS fiber duomatic. This sucker can be turned inside out and just 'popped' back into service - check out the video.

Cliff

ps: the wife and I have given these out as gifts to many folks who still have them in use.

 

[Blackadder]

Good site. Am interested in the Oertel though. Seems cheaper than Briggs. How does it compare?

 

[Cliffnopus]

Don't know. I'm not familiar with the Ortel. Looks decent though.

Cliff

 

[Mr Vim]

Here in Juneau there is a lot of rain... a lot of rain. We're considered a rainforest that's how much rain we get. Now I own a rather nice Brooks Brothers one stick umbrella which I use quite a bit but there is something rather odd about Juneau-ites. They believe that using an umbrella labels you an outsider and walk about in the rain getting spectacularly, soaking wet (as there a lot of folks who also do not wear water proof jackets or hats.)

Not me though. Although they stare at my hat and umbrella with the look of "that guy is not from here," I enjoy being warm and resonably dry. Plus I rather enjoy my one stick umbrella, it is of good quality and a reasonable price and it adds that extra sense of sophistication to the appearence when dressing up.

 

[Blackadder]

I have a couple of Dunhill, a couple of Burberry's and a Polo. The Polo is cheap only about USD50 after discount so I bought it. Anyway I bought all mine at a great discount. My Dunhill costs me only USD70 each at their warehouse sale a couple of years ago. My Burberry's also bought at warehouse sale. Been thinking of buying a Briggs but too expensive.

 

[EnglishGent]

I have a whangee Fox umbrella which I purchased around two months ago. And superb it is too!

 

[Chasseur]

I am a big fan of my James Smith solid stick brolly. They have great customer service and their store is a pleasure to visit as well.

Mr. Vim you are spot on about people in Juneau and umbrellas. I lived most of young life in the state and I would hazard you could make that a broader generalization about Alaskans though. I guess its something about the tough manly Alaskan image, but umbrellas are just not used by locals... Since you are in the Southeast did you get your XtraTuf boots yet?

 

[Woodfluter]

Just to alert those of you who might appreciate such a thing...J. Peterman is now selling the solid stick (cherry) Brigg umbrella for $208. I bought mine a couple of weeks ago when it was reduced to $238. I haven't seen a better price lately. In the "last chance" department.

- Bill

 

[norton]

I don't know whether to thank you or curse you Woodfluter. $200 for an umbrella!

This has been on my "long term" purchase list for some time. It just moved to immediate.

 

[Woodfluter]

Hahahaha! My plan for world domination moves one square further! Now to invest my life savings in SAB stock! (Insane, untranslatable laughter follows...)

Sorry Norton, but I just had to tell someone. I've yet to try mine out in the rain due to dry spell here...following the forecast and anticipating precipitation with inappropriate delight. But really, I've been in the same boat and this was an unexpected surprise. Wish I'd held out for another week, but it's still OK.

I added a two strand, 3 lead, 7 bight turk's head knot in black nylon cord to the upper part of the handle to distinguish it as "mine", rather than having the band engraved. I'm kind of a knot person in addition to my other odd obsessions. It seems extraordinarily well made and no buyer's regret so far.

- Bill

 

[Tomasso]

Seems they're now sold out of the Brigg.

 

[Woodfluter]

Seems they're now sold out of the Brigg.

Egad! That was fast. OK, now I'm not sorry I got mine when I did, and hope some of the other Loungers got the last of the bargains (relatively speaking).

 

[norton]

I got mine ordered. That knot idea sounds good, although I can't imagine getting it confused with someone else's Brigg out here in the hinterlands.

Did it come with a cover? I expect not, but there's a dealer in Chicago I can visit if I really want one.

 

[Tomasso]

there's a dealer in Chicago I can visit if I really want one.

Who would that be?

 

[norton]

I haven't visited this shop yet, next time I'm downtown I plan to. I've seen it listed as carrying brigg umbrellas.

http://chicago.metromix.com/style/store/worth-and-worth-loop/135866/content

 

[Woodfluter]

Norton, the Peterman's ad didn't say anything about a cover but mine did come with a finely constructed one, black with elastic at both ends and a button and ring closure at the top like that used for furling.

Do say how you like it when it gets there!

- Bill