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English travel umbrellas (once again)

Horace

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I know this has been discussed before, in part, but having just got aroud to it, I am doing some very late Christmas shopping still. I want to give as a gift, one of the collapsible Brigg travel umbrellas with Crook handle, which you can see here: http://www.classicluggage.com/GENTLE...ELLA26629.html But at $80 -- I am wondering if they're well made or not. Â Are these collapsibles, at the bottom of the page, Â the same quality as the other Briggs gear, in your experience? Â I don't mind paying twice or thrice that price for something of good quality. And I wonder if anyone has picked up a collapsible model (if made) from James Smith (for which I mistakenly wrote "Fox" in subtitle)? Â I guess I could ring them, find out what they've got. I just don't want to buy cra@p, and have it fall apart of the person I am giving it to. Â (and who knows, perhaps I 'll buy two, one for myself).
 

Horace

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I just looked through archive again. I note that the venerable Kaga-san mentions that these small Briggs come apart (though they aren't supposed to).

Anyone know if James Smith has a small (collapsible) umbrella?

By collapsible I mean the telescoping type, not the keen old style that Briggs makes that comes apart into three pieces. Though that is swell too.
 

RJman

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Like Kaga, I have the collapsible Brigg and have in fact been using the bugger for the last few days. It comes apart very easily. You can slide the shaft back together but it involves a few embarrassing and wet moments of trying. I got mine on closeout for $40. For $80 I strongly suggest trying somewhere else. Maybe the Burberry collapsibles are better made. If you're in France, buy the "Veritable Cherbourg" or go to Madeleine Gely. Cable Car sells a much more substantial- looking Brigg collapsible for $150 which may be better made.
 

RJman

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BTW, mine doesn't say "Brigg" or have the royal warrant anywhere. So the impress-your-friends factor is absent.
 

rayk

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Have you tried James Smith & Sons of New Oxford St.?  I have been dying to get my hands on an umbrella made by this venerable firm, but, regrettably, didn't have an opportunity on my last visit to London.   Has anyone owned one of these?  Is the quality equivalent to Brigg?
 

TCN

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I don't have any experience with the travel size umbrellas, but I have both a regular Burberry umbrella, and a Brigg umbrella, and the Burberry is so horribly made and has been so problematic, that I kick myself for buying it every time I see it in the umbrella stand. Okay, maybe I'm exaggerating but you know what I mean.
biggrin.gif
 

RJman

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(Horace @ 06 Jan. 2005, 02:39) I note that the venerable Kaga-san...
Whatever happened to him? Tied up as an advisor to the new Iron Chef America perhaps?
Not sure. I PM'd him a little while ago about the C&J Tavistocks, 'cuz I want some too, and got some crabbed response. I know that he keeps busy with TV spots as well as his work on the legitimate stage, but he mentioned something about New Year's -- I think the Iron Chef marathons get him really upset. As one would expect of a reclusive and obsessive gourmet, he's a moody fellow.
 

Horace

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Like Kaga, I have the collapsible Brigg and have in fact been using the bugger for the last few days.  It comes apart very easily.  You can slide the shaft back together but it involves a few embarrassing and wet moments of trying.  I got mine on closeout for $40.  For $80 I strongly suggest trying somewhere else.  Maybe the Burberry collapsibles are better made.  If you're in France, buy the "Veritable Cherbourg" or go to Madeleine Gely.  Cable Car sells a much more substantial- looking Brigg collapsible for $150 which may be better made.
Thanks to all of you boys.

I'll try to telephone Smith tomorrow.

I'll also check into Cable Car and see what they have. (Though in my experience, Cable Car is often absurdly expensive for what you can get reasonably elsewhere).

I'll also try to find the French job here in the US.

Lastly, that the collapsible Brigg doesn't have a banded crest or whatnot, doesn't bother me. In fact I prefer it that way. I do however want something that is going to last a long time, and for that type quality, I don't mind paying a bit more and spending time seeking it out.

I do wonder though, given the the reports of the collapsible, if it is not the case the Briggs farms these particular orders out to whoever makes the $10 dollar jobs that are sold on street corners in London & NYC when it rains.
 

RJman

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I do wonder though, given the the reports of the collapsible, if it is not the case the Briggs farms these particular orders out to whoever makes the $10 dollar jobs that are sold on street corners in London & NYC when it rains.
Well, it's better made than those; however, when I popped by SAB at 54 St James' with my umbrella they told me they had only supplied the handles to these umbrellas.

Cable Car is ridiculously expensive but it's the only place I;ve seen with the more substantial Brigg collapsibles.

Also try Wilkes Bashford, and say hi to Bill.
 

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