The London Lounge

Any preference gents?



I have a malacca handled umbrella, but would like to add another to my collection - should I go for a second malacca (after all, the figure would be different) or a whangee? Or, indeed, do members favour any other type of handle? Any musings would be of interest.

(I will be purchasing from James Smith, whence came my current model.)

Best regards,
Algernon.

James Smith also do some truly superb whole hardwood models - snakewood, rosewood, ebony etc which are made from handle to tip of one solid piece of precious hardwood. Of course one would have a horn ferrule and a silver or gold lapband. They are more expensive than malacca or whangee and somewhat more individualistic. Brigg's do a malacca with a silver cap on the end of the handle (favoured by the PoW) and these come with a nylon or silk canopy. Frankly, I believe that James Smith umbrellas have maintained their standards over the years more than Brigg's. For example, if you want a hardwood handle from them, you will have a job to have whole hardwood, as described above, from Smith's. I cannot count how many umbrellas I have got through but many have been left somewhere and purloined. Why is it that bicycle and umbrella theft seem to attract less moral censure than any other form? Is it because they are principally crimes of the upper classes?
Nicholas.

Whangee is by far my preferred umbrella handle type. I have a lighter whangee handled umbrella from Venanzi, but the darker tone in the picture you posted looks great. I'll have to check out Smith and Sons next time I am in London.

I shall burrow around in Smiths. I'd agree a propos them and Brigg - or as far as I can, having never actually owned Brigg umbrellas. Smiths still has the feel of a workshop, and it is a mild regret of mine that I am of a height which means I have no need of their shortening / lengthening service.

I have never had an umbrella stolen (so far) but the worst thing is when people as to borrow them and are then invariably careless and clumsy, rarely displaying the veneration that is the due of a good Smith umbrella. Of course, refusing makes one look thoroughly miserable, so one has to smile graciously and consent. This is, I feel, a mental attitude encouraged by the proliferation of cheap & nasty extensible umbrellas, which are just as disposable as all the other paraphernalia of modern life.

Any thoughts on umbrella-swinging? I find it rather difficult to get a good, unostentatious but purposeful swing with a malacca handle when wearing gloves in winter. I assume whangee would be better from this perspective?
Algernon.

I would suggest that tight, unlined gloves provide a better grip on the handle and also sense of balance with the whole length. Of course, balance, with umbrellas, as with canes, fishing rods and guns is very important in the first place. The heavier whole hard woods are more difficult to sustain in a prolonged swing but the malacca and whangee could be more difficult to control. I find that the best swing is achieved by concentrating the grip on the index finger and thumb and using the rest of the hand just to guide movement.

Anyone have any thoughts on
1. the slow, nonchalant, full circular swing (obviously not in a crowded place), and

2.the places where an umbrella is out of place? On the last, I suggest: the countryside, even in provincial towns (except, maybe, on the golf course, or going to and fro' a country church and at the races).
Nicholas.

Balance matters for fencing swords too (some social parallels with umbrellas perhaps?) - as my Polish coach ('coach' is a little grandiose; I was only ever on the level of being taught - but he did coach the British olympic team a few years ago) always used to say, 'you must have awareness of your point'.

I find the amount of swing is a corollary of my mood. I specially like the full circular swing when crossing a road; it feels quite natural to push off the curb as the start of the loop.

I once felt very out of place with an umbrella - when the vicissitudes of Underground transport forced me to walk through Camden Lock on the way to meet a friend for lunch. The DB suit didn't help matters. I got some very odd glances from people who had embellished their faces with all sorts of ironmongery...

but the darker tone in the picture you posted looks great

- This was indeed from James Smith's website; certainly worth a visit.

Isn't Camden Lock somewhere just off the Park? What on earth were you doing on an underground train? When Brummell had his only challenge (to which the opponent did not appear, at Chalk Farm (close by, I believe)), he must have gone by carriage as it would have been too rough and rude a trip for a chair.
Nicholas.

I would have thought that a black-cloth umbrella for city use should have the smoother, ‘Malacca’ handle. A Whangee would be only appropriate for the country, I should thing.
I think many gents take “ rus in rube” too far.

Good point about handle grip. However, for self-defence, a smooth stick with a J-shape handle is better as it is difficult for the hand or glove to slide along a non-smooth stick. Even a well-folded umbrella could do better.

If I may ask, Sir, what do you mean by a full, circular swing? As the way a drum major swings his mace or the way the propeller of a prop plane turns? Or, is it in a back to fore motion similar to a baton charge?

storeynicholas wrote:I would suggest that tight, unlined gloves provide a better grip on the handle and also sense of balance with the whole length. Of course, balance, with umbrellas, as with canes, fishing rods and guns is very important in the first place. The heavier whole hard woods are more difficult to sustain in a prolonged swing but the malacca and whangee could be more difficult to control. I find that the best swing is achieved by concentrating the grip on the index finger and thumb and using the rest of the hand just to guide movement.

Anyone have any thoughts on
1. the slow, nonchalant, full circular swing (obviously not in a crowded place), and

2.the places where an umbrella is out of place? On the last, I suggest: the countryside, even in provincial towns (except, maybe, on the golf course, or going to and fro' a country church and at the races).
Nicholas.