Blog - Page 22 of 25 - David Morgan

Kangaroo Lace

September 10, 2010

David Morgan sells two types of lace: hand-cut and machine-cut. There are advantages and disadvantages to each. Use the information below to help plan your next braiding project.

Hand-Cut Lace:

Hand-cut lace is best for small projects, such as hat bands and lanyards. The lace is cut in our own workshop. Unlike a machine, we are able to avoid any scars in the skin. We stretch and test each roll. There is, at a maximum, only one join per 60 foot roll. Available in black and tan. Sizes: 1/8 inch and 1/4 inch.

1/8 Inch Hand-Cut Lace

Machine-Cut Lace:

Machine-cut lace is cheaper than our hand-cut lace and is recommended for beginners. However, a machine cannot navigate around scars and will include weak points in the lace. It is also not stretched and tested. There are usually two to three joins per 50 meters of lace. Available in black and tan. Sizes: 3 mm and 6 mm (approximately 1/8 inch and 1/4 inch).

1/4 Inch Machine-Cut Lace

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Lace Cutters

Kangaroo Skins

The Stylemaster: Akubra Quality in a Classic Design

August 27, 2010

David Morgan is pleased to offer an additional fedora to our line: the Stylemaster.

Although its elegant design makes it a natural for the city, it doesn’t need any pampering. With Akubra’s quality construction, this fedora will stand up to the rain, snow and sun with no worries.

The pinched telescope crown starts at 4 1/4 inches at the front, rises to 4 3/4 inches on the side and then drops to 3 7/8 inches in the back. The 2 1/2 inch bound brim snaps down in front. Pure fur felt in Akubra’s Imperial Quality. The hat is fully lined and has a 1 1/2 inch grosgrain band. Carbon Grey.

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Akubra Hats

Hat Etiquette

August 13, 2010

As the popularity in hats increases, several generations of men are now confused on how to properly wear, and, just as importantly, not wear, a hat.

Andy Gilchrist, founder of Ask Andy About Clothes and sartorial maven, offers several tips on hat etiquette:

A hat should be removed when inside, except for public areas such as lobbies, corridors and non-residential elevators. When a lady is present in an elevator, the hat must be removed.

A hat must be removed for the National Anthem, passing of the Flag and funeral processions, outdoor weddings, dedications, and photographs.

It is acceptable for women to wear hats in Christian churches, (it was once required, but the custom has all but disappeared) but disrespectful for men to wear them.

Never hold the hat so that the lining is visible.

Tip your hat by lifting it slightly off of your forehead. You should tip it when meeting a lady or to say to anyone, male or female: thank you, excuse me, hello, goodbye, you’re welcome or how do you do. Tipping the hat is a gesture of politeness.

I’d like to add one more suggestion. If you are unsure of the situation, display your gentlemanly manners by removing your hat. No one will ever be displeased by a sign of respect.

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Akubra Hats

Tilley Hats

Hat Instruction Videos Now on YouTube

July 30, 2010

David Morgan has started a new channel on YouTube. We hope you will find our videos useful. Our goal is to add more videos as they become available.

Enjoy!

In this video, David explains how to measure your head for a hat.

More videos can be found on our David Morgan site.

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The Sydney

Our Moccasins: The Hinman Tradition Continues

July 16, 2010

Moccasins have been a part of the American landscape for hundreds of years. Soft and comfortable, their popularity has never waned. Many wear them around the home or in the outdoors. The soft and supple leather fits like a second skin.

Our leather moccasins are made by the Geier Glove Company in Centralia, Washington. Geier purchased the business from the Hinman family. In 1960, Fred Hinman, a taxidermist, began crafting the moccasins using the traditional style.

David Morgan sells three types of moccasins. The Leather Moose Moccasin with the high ankle or low ankle, and the Leather Bison Moccasin (low ankle) with Sole.

High Moose Leather Moccasins

Low Moose Leather Moccasins

Low Bison Moccasins Leather with Sole

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David Morgan Moccasins

Our Western Inheritance

Karaka Whips

June 10, 2010

Although David Morgan is known for its leather whips, we understand the cost can be prohibitive for some. Since many new whip enthusiasts aren’t sure if they want to pay the price for a leather whip, we provide a synthetic version made by Karaka of New Zealand.

Karaka Products is one of New Zealand’s leading providers of whips. Because the whips are synthetic, the cost is much lower than a leather whip. They are also low maintenance. Not only can they get wet, but they work well even when wet. They can be used in the snow or mud. And if you get them dirty, water will clean them. They do not rot, will not break easily, and are maintenance free. They do not stretch, and there is no need to add any dressing. Inexperienced users can feel secure knowing that they will not damage the whip.

While you can find a cheap whip on Ebay, they will likely be too light, too loose, and a real challenge to crack. Don’t buy a wall hanger, get started in the right direction with a Karaka.

Karaka Stockwhip (6 ft)

Karaka Bullwhip (8 ft)

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Karaka Whips

Leather Whips

Akubra Heads West

May 28, 2010

Late May kicks off the summer vacation season, and what better place to have an adventure than the great outdoors, in particular the American West? Whether camping, horse riding or fishing, you’ll want a great hat for a companion.

The following pictures are from a tour of the Northwest we took with Akubra hats and Karaka whips in early May, we can personally recommend these sights and outfitter stores!

Dinkum Gear in the Reed Opera House. Salem, Oregon.

Highway 395 in Eastern Oregon

The Angler Hat. Chukar Park in Eastern Oregon

The Snowy River Hat. South of Jackson, Wyoming

Cows waiting for their hat fitting. South of Jackson, Wyoming

Beaver Creek Hat and Leathers. Jackson, Wyoming

The Cowboy Shop. Pinedale, Wyoming

Lou Taubert Ranch Outfitters. Casper, Wyoming

Looking into Gallatin National Forest and Yellowstone National Park. Outside of Bozeman, Montana.

Western Outdoor Store. Kalispell, Montana, Gateway City to Glacier National Park.

Home Sweet Home

A Memorable Whip

May 14, 2010

We recently received a whip from Mike Hines, MD for repair. It was a beautiful fifteen foot bullwhip made by Swaine Adney Brigg in the UK and in excellent condition. Along with the whip, he sent us a story on how he discovered it. With his permission, here is the story:

As a youngster growing up in Texas, I had developed a longstanding appreciation of the appeal cast by a skillfully wielded bullwhip. My fascination began with Lash LaRue movies and the marvelous circus wild animal trainer Clyde Beatty in the 1940’s and never waned. Then, in 1952, I saw a movie entitled “Kangaroo” (Peter Lawford, Richard Boone, Maureen O’Hara) filmed in Australia, and it included a long, 5 minute bullwhip fight between Lawford and Boone. I was hooked for good, except I couldn’t find a whip to own that I felt met the standards my dreams demanded.

In the summer of 1955, after my sophomore year in college, a high school classmate and I spent 2 months riding around Europe and England on used motorcycles (and using the accumulated savings account I had started in the 3rd grade for funding my part). Our stay ended in Great Britain (we flew home from Glasgow, Scotland). During our two-day stay in London, we meandered amongst the upscale shops downtown and, quite by chance, into a store specializing in leather goods (another fixation of mine). The company, Swaine Adney Brigg, is appointed as “Whip and Glove Makers” to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. The prices were (and still are) quite high and we were “running on empty”…..BUT…..there on display away from the luggage and umbrellas was “The Whip”. I don’t remember the price, but it wasn’t in the category of the other products there.

It was an epiphany; it was, at that moment, THE reason I had crossed the Atlantic Ocean. It became mine and was the single souvenir of my summer in Europe that I brought back (besides the unforgettable memories, of course.) I have promised it to my only grandson, now ten years old, who seems to share my respect for this beautiful example of the whip maker’s craft. I was told by the store representative (they aren’t “Salespersons” in upscale London shops) that it is kangaroo hide, so it is a constant connection with the dream born of my movie going youth and nourished over the decades to this day.

Swaine Adney and Brigg is still in existence, though we don’t see any whips online. However, they do still make the James Bond attaché used in the movie, “From Russia With Love”.

David has two of their whips: a bullwhip and a lion tamer whip.

The Lion Tamer Whip’s handle is 33 inches long, while the thong stretches to 88 inches. Definitely the length needed when facing a lion!

LEARN MORE ABOUT:

Whips and Whipmaking

Braiding Fine Leather

Whips of the West

New Panama Hats at David Morgan

April 16, 2010

Along with our new Tilley hats featured in the last post, we are also pleased to offer two new Panama hats. These hats are blocked in the United States. The bodies are made of toquilla fiber hand woven in Ecuador. They are reinforced in the pinch and at the base of the crown to help protect the hat at its weakest points. Teflon coats the fibers for water and oil resistance while maintaining its breathability.

The Darwin Panama takes the Panama down under. Like a true Aussie hat, the brim is turned down in the front and the back. We’ve added our own braided kangaroo hat band for a touch of the Outback. The crown is 4 inches at the front and back, rising to 4 1/2 inches at the sides. The brim is 3 inches.

The Panama Fedora is an elegant hat at an affordable price. The snap down brim has a thin hidden wire at the edge to retain your chosen brim shape. The brim is 2 1/2 inches and the crown peaks at 4 1/2 inches. The black grosgrain hat band holds a removable feather.

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Panama Hats

Fedoras and City Hats

New Hats from Tilley

April 1, 2010

David Morgan is pleased to offer two additional hats from Tilley: the Airflo Hat and the Airflo Hat with Neck Protector. Both are crushable and packable and will not shrink. And, like all Tilley hats, they are guaranteed for life.

Designed for hot weather, they are certified with a UPF of 50+, the highest UV protection rating given. But don’t think of these hats only for sun protection. Their water resistance makes them great rain hats.

The Airflo has a 3/4 inch mesh in the crown that helps you remain cool and comfortable. At four ounces, you’ll forget it’s on, even in hot weather. The hat is made of Nylamtium fabric, a strong water and mildew resistant form of nylon. Colors are Natural with Green under-brim or Khaki with Olive under-brim

The Airflo Hat with Neck Protector has all the advantages of the Airflo with two additional features: a tuckaway neck protector and Insect Shield® protection. Wear the neck protector loose over the shoulders or Velcro it under the chin. The protector can be tucked under the back brim. The odorless and invisible Insect Shield® helps keep biting insects at bay and will keep performing through 70 washings. Color is Khaki with Olive under-brim.

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Tilley Hats

Kangaroo Lace

The Stylemaster: Akubra Quality in a Classic Design

Hat Etiquette

Hat Instruction Videos Now on YouTube

Our Moccasins: The Hinman Tradition Continues

Karaka Whips

Akubra Heads West

A Memorable Whip

New Panama Hats at David Morgan

New Hats from Tilley

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