A Tartan for "A Company of Adventurers"

[The Wizard of BC]

A little History;

The Hudson's Bay Company is the world's oldest company. You cannot speak of the history of Canada without including the HBC.

I was in "The Bay" store a few months ago and noticed some girls' skirts made from one of the most beautiful Tartans I had ever seen. Then I noticed other items for sale with the same Tartan. So I inquired how I could buy some of the fabric and was told "No way, no how!".
Then I did a search for the HBC Tartan and found that it was designed by "West Coast Woolen Mills". A quick phone call to Gordon Kirkbright and he confirmed that indeed he is the designer of the Tartan.
I inquired what Copyright or restrictions were on the fabric and if it was indeed limited to Licensees of the Hudson's Bay Company. His response was "I designed it and can weave all I want. How much would you like?"

A couple of weeks after Gordon delivered the X Marks the Scot Tartan he sent me this.

The perfect Tartan for anyone with a sense of adventure.
The Hudson's Bay Company Tartan



Note the fine pin stripes of Green, Red, Yellow and Black just as are found on the Hudson's Bay Company Point Blankets.



It is in 16 oz. Australian Merino Wool with a lovely kilt selvedge.

I have 17 meters of this beautiful Tartan. Does anyone need a new kilt?

$68.00cdn per yard, double width.

[MacWage]

OK, now your just MAKING us WANT more tartan then I REALLY NEED!

Cruel.

Very nice looking one. If only I had more cash!
That would be a nice worsted kilt number 9, 10, or 11 (depending on what I do with wool I have).
I AM STARTING TO HORDE! HELP!!!

Cruel, Steve, JUST CRUEL!

[Kid Cossack]

Oh, Steve, wow! That is an absolutely stunning tartan. For some reason (umm, pure American parochialness?) although I have long been familiar with the Dutch East Indies Company and John Company (Honourable East India Company), I wasn't aware of the Hudson's Bay Company, and certainly wasn't aware of the rich tradition I've googled up in the last few minutes.

Dang my flat wallet!

This is one i'm going to have to keep an eye on.

[ccga3359]

Just the stuff I need for kayaking down the mighty Grand River, now if Improv1 just bought his kayak insted of worrying about his labret, we could really get an adventure going.

[pdcorlis]

Well lets see... During David Thompson's adventures mapping Canada he journeyed into Montana and Idaho and all while working for Hudson's Bay... I live in Idaho and fish the rivers and streams outside of Thompson Falls Montana... yeah that's close enough...

Great looking Tartan Steve!

[macwilkin]

Kid Cossak: Peter Newman's "Empire of the Bay". That's all you need to remember.

Steve, that is indeed one handsome tartan, and very, very tempting. I love the history of the fur trade, especially all of the Scottish connections to the HBC and their rivals, the Northwest Company.

Regards,

Todd

[ardchoille]

Oh wow, that is a beautiful tartan.. makes me wish I had some money right now.

[Racer96]

Hi Steve,

That's just a gorgeous tartan.

You have a new private message

Mike

[macwilkin]

Further Information:

http://www.electricscotland.com/hist...r_trappers.htm

From the book Scots in the North American West 1790-1917 by Fernec Szasz.

And, a great article about Dr. John Rae, who worked for the HBC:

http://www.orkneyjar.com/history/his...rae/index.html

Ray, along with Alexander Mackenzie, is one of my heroes. His biography, Fatal Passage by Ken McGoogan, is a book you cannot put down once you start it.

Regards,

Todd

[Kid Cossack]

Kid Cossak: Peter Newman's "Empire of the Bay". That's all you need to remember.

Steve, that is indeed one handsome tartan, and very, very tempting. I love the history of the fur trade, especially all of the Scottish connections to the HBC and their rivals, the Northwest Company.

Regards,

Todd

Todd:

It's on the way from Amazon! Besides, I needed to shamelessly bump this thread back up to the top, so people will see that WONDERFUL tartan again.