Umbrella dilemmas

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Melcombe
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Tue Feb 28, 2017 11:18 pm

There’s a perennial problem with umbrellas - if, like me, you happen to use your time on public transport to be deep in thought or absorbed in the little glowing screen above your keyboard. In that state, your mind drifts, your stop has arrived, so you leave your brolly on the train / taxi to an uncertain fate at the Lost Property office.

There was a time in the 90’s and 00’s when logo-ed golf umbrellas were commonplace corporate marketing playthings. I think that went out of fashion when a trend developed among certain types of snaffling a rival’s umbrellas and then behaving boorishly in public while waving their rival's logo in onlookers’ faces.

I am down to my last few tokens of generosity from various lawyers and other consultants, so kidded myself that I needed at some point to get a proper crook handled black umbrella. In any case, many golf umbrellas are too heavy to lug around all day.

Quite by chance I had to go to New Oxford Street this afternoon and was walking past James Smith & Sons, when it began to rain. I took this as divine instruction and called in. It quite made my day.

There is a dilemma, however, with fine umbrellas. If you have an expensive umbrella and you lose it, it’s more than annoying. I have a beautiful Swaine Adeney & Brigg umbrella, but it has immense sentimental value - I couldn’t bear to lose it, so it’s actually useless as an object for full daily use.

JS&S however have umbrellas to suit every taste, pocket (many close on £300) and degree of customer crankiness, so I found a “London Umbrella with Malacca Cane Crook” for a modest £65. It’s beautifully made, thickish canopy fabric, with an elegant steel shaft - strong & lightweight. I also think mine is extra length, so a slightly larger canopy. On my criteria it is pretty much ideal : a lovely object, but not so pricey its loss would be a tragedy.

Image

Waiting for the train home.

So here’s the point of my post. If you need a new umbrella, there really is nowhere else quite like James Smith & Sons. However - although they have a lovely website - I would urge you to go there in person. The staff are delightful and professional and plainly enjoy what they do. The shop does not appear to have been “restyled” (Kilgour take note) in about 100 years, and is all the better for that. The umbrellas - are fantastic and at any price are good value for the quality.
Concordia
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Tue Feb 28, 2017 11:53 pm

Perhaps put your e-mail address on the collar. In case it is lost and found in good faith.
davidhuh
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Wed Mar 01, 2017 12:30 am

Concordia wrote:Perhaps put your e-mail address on the collar. In case it is lost and found in good faith.
Brilliant idea Concordia! Much better than the home phone number. You never know where you forget the umbrella and who picks up the phone :oops:

Melcombe: such a great shop!

Cheers, David
Luca
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Wed Mar 01, 2017 8:23 am

Yes, I thoroughly agree that Smith and Sons is the best. Best atmosphere. Great service. Affordable quality.
As for losing brollies, I've noticed that since I've been buying 'good' ones I don't forget them as much (or at ll) (famous last words...)
hectorm
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Wed Mar 01, 2017 9:20 pm

Melcombe wrote: I also think mine is extra length, so a slightly larger canopy.
Actually all men´s JS&S umbrellas have the same canopy diameter no matter the length of the stick. Although, for most models, they provide the service of cutting the stick to the client´s height, they cannot change the size of the canopy. I consider this a very minor flaw since -for the longer ones at 38¨ or so- the umbrella might feel somewhat unbalanced with that extra couple of inches (which are rather thick too) at the top or hanging down there when folded. After all, JS&S is not a real custom maker. Notwithstanding, I love their umbrellas. A bit on the heavy side, but unparalleled in sturdiness.
Luca wrote: I've noticed that since I've been buying 'good' ones I don't forget them as much (or at all)
Same here, Luca. So far, I have lost many umbrellas but never one that´s really dear to me.
Sammyo77
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Thu Mar 02, 2017 3:07 pm

I have 4 umbrellas from JS&S and have never come close to losing one. The main aim of having 4, apart from the fact that they are each lovely in their own way, is that there is always at least one at home and at least one in my office. Unfortunately, it never seems to work out that way and a few times a year I notice that all 4 have convened in the one location. It sounds like a problem for a mathemetician or something like that. Anyway, great umbrellas. What I like best is the solid stick shaft (essentially a walking stick with an umbrella built around it) which is both beautiful and functional in that it allows me to bang it on the ground a bit as I walk without causing too much damage.
alden
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Fri Mar 03, 2017 6:50 am

Traditional wisdom used to say "Fox for umbrellas and JSS for sticks." These days I am not sure there is much in that when it comes to the umbrella question. My solid stick Fox umbrellas are beautifully done and so are the JSS. But it is the JSS sticks that really shine. My root bulb Irish blackthorn and cherrywood sticks are nothing short of splendid. For walks in the country there is nothing better.

Cheers
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culverwood
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Fri Mar 03, 2017 11:47 am

Unfortunately the lovely Fox umbrella shop on London Wall is now a wine bar. http://foxfinewines.co.uk/
Luca
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Fri Mar 03, 2017 4:15 pm

At least the shop-front is listed...
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