The Umbrella

norton said:

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

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News flash!!! Beware of incredibly stale Metromix listing. W&W closed their Chicago store around 15 years ago (right before they closed their NYC store). Metromix....

Another interesting thread that as a new guy I've stumbled upon. Quite agree with the OP that the 1 piece stick umbrella is a "classy adornment" to go with when I've got that tan trench coat and fedora thing going on. Definitely beats Totes. As I've never plumbed things umbrella I hadn't heard of some of these brands before-some classy looking brellas posted. My only 1 piece stick isn't particularly fancy but did pick up one that was made by London Fog I like well enough. Decent looker and definitely hit my price-$5 new found at a Dollar General. Earl

earl said:

My only 1 piece stick isn't particularly fancy but did pick up one that was made by London Fog I like well enough. Decent looker and definitely hit my price-$5 new found at a Dollar General. Earl

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Sounds like a steal! Can't go wrong at that price and any one-piece stick is really rare in my part of the world.

Here's a quick review of the Brigg umbrella I just received from J Peterman. I'll compare it to a stick umbrella I bought from Brooks Brothers several months ago on sale for $75. The Brooks umbrella was nice and operated smoothly, but the stick was not very strong. I could easily hold it at both ends and bend it and it would not hold up as a walking stick. That's not the case with the Brigg. The stick is about an inch thick and if I lean on it with my 200 lbs it bends only a very small amount. It would be suitable to use as a cane. I didn't measure it but the overall length and length of the ribs are about an inch longer then the Brooks.

The wood of the Brooks is heavily stained, so you can't see the grain or try to identify the wood. It seems soft and light which added to the thinner stick explains the flexibility. The wood of the Brigg is smooth and beautifully stained cherry. The grain is visible and adds to the appearance. I would have preferred hickory or oak or maple because the cherry is going to show every little scratch and dent, just like nice cherry furniture. However, it was cherry that was available at the price.

Pieces of the Brooks, such as the center ring that all the ribs attach to, are made of plastic and the canopy does not appear to be as firmly attached as on the Brigg. Each rib on the Brooks has a coil spring to aid in opening and there is a button that you push to open the umbrella. When you push the button the canopy springs opens quickly and smoothly. The Brigg has no coil springs and a bent wire instead of a button to open the canopy. When you open the Brigg you have to shake the canopy out of the way and push the canopy all the way open until it locks open. A little more trouble, but fewer pieces to break and I suspect its harder to open because the canopy is much tighter. The Brigg has a more pronounce arc to the canopy which helps keep it from turning inside out in a heavy wind.

Finally, The Brigg came with a cover and the Brooks did not. The Brigg could be expected to last a lifetime, the Brooks, while better than most umbrellas you see in stores, would not stand up to heavy use and the wood doesn't look near as nice. I'm very happy with the purchase.

I would advise you not to shake the canopy of real umbrellas as it could weaken the frame. You simply lift them out.

I have a magnificient James Smith and Sons cherry wood umbrella my family brought back from London for me, as payment for staying home to look after the house and cat. It is a work of art, I've lose track of the number of compliments it has received. I just wish I could find an insurance company offering umbrella coverage.

Charlie Huang said:

I would advise you not to shake the canopy of real umbrellas as it could weaken the frame. You simply lift them out.

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Perhaps shake was too strong a word. Now that its been open several times and hasn't been stored closed it opens easier.

I bought a great umbrella from the Brooks Brothers store in San Francisco about twenty-five years ago. I don't know th brand but it was made in England. It was the best umbrella I had ever owned. It finally met its match during a very severe storm about ten years ago. Haven't had a good brolly since. I suppose it's time to replace it.

Fix for Umbrella Rattle

OK, love the Brigg I got from Peterman. Only one little issue...when it arrived they'd put some tape at critical points where the frame would rub against the wood - to protect it in transit to the owner I guess. But upon removing that, steel frame parts began to wear a bit into the finish. Not a big issue, just adds character, maybe.

But when tightly furled the brolly would rattle a bit when used as a walking stick. The rubbing only appeared to happen in two locations.

Here's my fix:





Very small-diameter black nylon braided fishing line, wrapped around the critical points and secured like whipping on a rope end (I can elaborate if you really want to know). The bronze runner passes over the wrapping without hanging up.

The result: no rattling at all. Honestly - none. Now it feels and sounds just like a walking stick. Also added a push-on black rubber foot to the tip, easily removed when not wanted.

(Ignore the turks head knot further up -that's thicker cord and put there as decoration and a hand stop.)

Just passing this along as an idea, in case you find it helpful. I think they should do this in the factory, even if it breaks up the nice lines of the shaft.

- Bill

A good umbrella when furled would not rattle to that extent... My umbrellas do make a tiny rattle sound when walked but that is to be expected.

Charlie, it wasn't a lot of rattle. Just a subtle "click" every time it touched ground. Almost anybody would say it's normal. You understand, I'm fussy! It started to bother me because I knew the metal was rubbing on wood. And I wanted it to feel as solid and silent as a walking stick.

I know, I'm just weird. But I got it where I wanted it, and easily.

- Bill

LordBest said:

I have a magnificient James Smith and Sons cherry wood umbrella my family brought back from London for me.

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Some day you should make it to their shop where they'll cut the brolly to size for optimal fit. Not sure any other maker does that.

Also, Mario Talarico makes a sweet brolly.

Oh I intend to. As it was my parents rang me from the store to ask what height I was, and what wood I wanted as they had run out of the hickory I had specified.

Tomasso said:

Some day you should make it to their shop where they'll cut the brolly to size for optimal fit. Not sure any other maker does that.

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Watched part of the original Around the World in Eighty Days last night. It has to be one of the great umbrella movies of all time. I think it won an Oscar in that category.

Better pics of this SAB I posted a while back.







Lear

Lear, that's an extraordinarily handsome umbrella! The epitome of true class. Congratulations and thanks for posting these pictures.

I particularly admire the wood grain. Could you tell us what kind it is?

- Bill

Woodfluter said:

Lear, that's an extraordinarily handsome umbrella! The epitome of true class. Congratulations and thanks for posting these pictures.

I particularly admire the wood grain. Could you tell us what kind it is?

- Bill

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I think the better question would be: "Where can I pay money to get my hands on such a beauty?"

Woodfluter said:

Lear, that's an extraordinarily handsome umbrella! The epitome of true class. Congratulations and thanks for posting these pictures.

I particularly admire the wood grain. Could you tell us what kind it is?

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It's an oak stick Brigg with a sterling nose cap. It's a special order as there is only one OTR model, the PoW, that comes with a nose cap. Here is Lear's previous post concerning its acquisition

You can get the nose cap and collar gold plated as well.