Robert Mackie bonnets on Ebay

[OC Richard]

Yes Mackie bonnets are back in production.

For those on a budget, pre-shutdown Mackies, ranging from worn to new-looking, are regularly available on Ebay.

I'm only listing Mackies that have the Mackie label shown in one or more of the seller's photos.

I'll start with this navy blue Balmoral size 58 for $34.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/16736925504...102140.m167418

Another navy blue, also size 58, $25

https://www.ebay.com/itm/18627186673...Condition=3000

[OC Richard]

Size 53, $25

https://www.ebay.com/itm/33359425933...Condition=3000

A really small one, size 50, $25

https://www.ebay.com/itm/23513026000...Condition=3000

[jsrnephdoc]

Yes Mackie bonnets are back in production.

For those on a budget, pre-shutdown Mackies, ranging from worn to new-looking, are regularly available on Ebay.

I'm only listing Mackies that have the Mackie label shown in one or more of the seller's photos.

I'll start with this navy blue Balmoral size 58 for $34.

Hope you won't mind a (slightly) derivative question. I have both a Glengarry and a Balmoral bonnet. Both are black, both have red tassels, and both are diced. Does the dicing affect their appropriateness for wear by a civilian with no band OR military connections? No one here in MT would even think about that, but if I were to wear one in the UK would it matter?

[Jock Scot]

As long as you don't put a military cap badge on it, you will survive.

[jsrnephdoc]

As long as you don't put a military cap badge on it, you will survive.

OK, stealth mode! I assume a clan or thistle cap badge is OK. I'm clueless about some elements of branding or announcing one's associations.

Example: when my son showed up for a visit at our local Montana airport in Robertson Tartan trews, that registered, but when he arrived for the next one in Ukranian military fatigues (he'd been "in country" training volunteers for six months), not even the Ukrainian flag gave away the fact that his trip "to Poland" was only a way-station on his way to his real destination. He just hadn't wanted me to worry while he was gone!

[OC Richard]

I have both a Glengarry and a Balmoral bonnet. Both are black, both have red tassels, and both are diced.

Does the dicing affect their appropriateness for wear by a civilian?

First, I don't think "tassel" is what you mean, rather "tourie" (the little pom-pom).

Second, I'm wondering if they're black, or blue. They're difficult to tell apart unless you have a blue one and a black one side-by-side outdoors in direct sunlight.

I just ask because I see dozens of blue ones for each black one, black didn't ever seem to be very popular.

The military ones are always blue, and civilian ones usually are too.

About dicing, to my eye the Mackie bonnets in Fawn, Lovat Blue or Lovat Green, etc look equally tasteful and civilian whether plain or diced, while the dark blue ones look tastefully civilian if plain, but look a bit over-the-top if diced, due to having red/white/black dicing.

This is because the dark blue bonnets with red/white/black dicing look like army hats.

(The black ones have two-colour black & white dicing and are worn by Police Pipe Bands.)

About Glengarries, they've not been popular with civilian Highland Dress in over a century.

[jsrnephdoc]

First, I don't think "tassel" is what you mean, rather "tourie" (the little pom-pom).

Oops! Right you are. Apologies.

Second, I'm wondering if they're black, or blue. They're difficult to tell apart unless you have a blue one and a black one side-by-side outdoors in direct sunlight.

I just ask because I see dozens of blue ones for each black one, black didn't ever seem to be very popular.

The military ones are always blue, and civilian ones usually are too.

About dicing, to my eye the Mackie bonnets in Fawn, Lovat Blue or Lovat Green, etc look equally tasteful and civilian whether plain or diced, while the dark blue ones look tastefully civilian if plain, but look a bit over-the-top if diced, due to having red/white/black dicing.

This is because the dark blue bonnets with red/white/black dicing look like army hats.

(The black ones have two-colour black & white dicing and are worn by Police Pipe Bands.)

About Glengarries, they've not been popular with civilian Highland Dress in over a century.

Both my Balmoral and my Glengarry are black, even in the bright Montana sun. There's no label in the 3-color diced Balmoral; the red-white diced Glengarry is from Gaelic Themes "Piper Range."

Both get uniformly "thumbs up" reviews here in Bozeman. They're my favorite winter hats.

[Jock Scot]

The military ones are always blue, and civilian ones usually are too.

Errrr not quite. From an imperfect memory, the Lovat Scouts wore a black bonnet with black and white dicing.

[OC Richard]

Errrr not quite. From an imperfect memory, the Lovat Scouts wore a black bonnet with black and white dicing.

Good to know, I've always heard the two-colour black/white dicing called "police dice" and associated it with police. Though in truth, it wouldn't surprise me if the "police" headgear was actually extremely dark blue.

Here's the photo I've sometimes used to show the difference between police 'blue' (the shirt) and black (the tie).

The Mackie standard "blue" is pretty much like this.

[OC Richard]

Here's a dark blue with the red/white/black civilian dicing in size 57, $46

https://www.ebay.com/itm/356676683855