MacLellan Tartan; can we get a quaorum

**WClarkB** · 17th March 10, 09:26 PM

I am wondering if we can get a group together to buy a minimum of 30 yrds of MacLellan Ancient 16 oz double width 100% wool woven by F&K in British Columbia.

If we can do this we can get it for ~61$USD per yard. I plan to us 5-7 yrds myself so I am needing 4-6 additional buyers. How many people out there are interested?

**Hothir Ethelnor** · 18th March 10, 06:54 AM

I am not a MacLellan but the price is better if you order from D.C. Dalgliesh in Scotland.

F/K have a poorer reputation for the quality of their woven products. (i.e. their 16oz is supposed to be more like 13oz or lighter)

In many people's opinion Dalgliesh makes the best tartan in the world. (Comparable to LochCarron, HOE and Strathmore...)

Just sayin...

Dalgliesh will deal with the general public. You can call them up and they'll send you a price list. Or of course you could go through the tartans museum for $65 per yard.

**WClarkB** · 18th March 10, 07:26 AM

Originally Posted by Hothir Ethelnor

I am not a MacLellan but the price is better if you order from D.C. Dalgliesh in Scotland.

F/K have a poorer reputation for the quality of their woven products. (i.e. their 16oz is supposed to be more like 13oz or lighter)

In many people's opinion Dalgliesh makes the best tartan in the world. (Comparable to LochCarron, HOE and Strathmore...)

Just sayin...

Dalgliesh will deal with the general public. You can call them up and they'll send you a price list. Or of course you could go through the tartans museum for $65 per yard.

Thanks for your interest.

I bought from F&K some Maple Leaf and was pleased with the weight which to my hand feels as good as Jura. I have not been able to evaluate the "square" of it as my table is currently occupied by some Black Watch.

However, I have to take exception with your statement about the price.
F&K is about 61USD for dbl width (58inches) while the price quoted me by Dalgliesh is for single width at 31BP and at the time was equivalent to over 50 USD. That almost 2/3 more expensive. (not even counting the shipping.

The price for MacLellan, I presume due to it being a low use product, is generally 85-90 USD all told. As I live in the southern USA and have a few tanks already, a lighter (altho, judging from the Maple Leaf, I cannot say it is ANY lighter) than a Jura is not all that unwelcome.

**davidlpope** · 18th March 10, 07:52 AM

Originally Posted by WClarkB

I bought from F&K some Maple Leaf and was pleased with the weight which to my hand feels as good as Jura. I have not been able to evaluate the "square" of it as my table is currently occupied by some Black Watch.

"Jura" fabric may not be the best comparison. It's reasonably priced, but has a very chunky selvedge, and tends to be "shinier" than some of the higher-end tartans.

Originally Posted by WClarkB

However, I have to take exception with your statement about the price. F&K is about 61USD for dbl width (58inches) while the price quoted me by Dalgliesh is for single width at 31BP and at the time was equivalent to over 50 USD. That almost 2/3 more expensive. (not even counting the shipping.

For what it's worth, Ken Dalgliesh will weave double-width for the same price as single-width if you have a minimum order of 16 yards. He weaves in 12oz. and 15oz., so it's not an issue if you don't like heavyweight fabrics. After seeing tartan from F&K, Lochcarron, HOE, Strathmore, Marton Mills (Jura, etc.), Batley, GT in-house range, Hector Russell in-house range, etc., I believe Dalgliesh to be the very best out there. If you like the F&K, then you'll probably go with them, but I'd encourage you to see some Dalgliesh tartan in person before doing such a huge order with F&K at a higher price.

**Hothir Ethelnor** · 18th March 10, 08:28 AM

The prices I got a few months ago were 18.70 GBP per 54" wide YARD. Minimum order of 30 yards. (not 16 anymore unfortunately.)

The price for shorter lengths of single width is more per yard, but not 31. (at least from the brochure I have. (dated 20th December 2009)

**davidlpope** · 18th March 10, 09:26 AM

Originally Posted by Hothir Ethelnor

The prices I got a few months ago were 18.70 GBP per 54" wide YARD. Minimum order of 30 yards. (not 16 anymore unfortunately.)

The price for shorter lengths of single width is more per yard, but not 31. (at least from the brochure I have. (dated 20th December 2009)

Hmmm. I emailed with Mr. Dalgliesh on March 4, 2010. He quoted me 15 metres or 16 yards for the minimum DW run and £30.50 per metre for price per yard.

David

**Hothir Ethelnor** · 18th March 10, 10:17 AM

Well perhaps the jump in price will let them run only 16 meters for you.

I just have their official sale brochure.

But still, 30.50 GBP is better than 61 USD. Shipping will be quite a bit but not enough to make it a worse deal, I don't imagine.

Well, for a quorum now, you only need one or two people to weigh in on the 10 or so remaining meters.

I tried to start something like this with McDonell of Keppoch Tartan but it hasn't worked out.

Best of luck.

**WClarkB** · 18th March 10, 10:42 AM

Surprisingly, given the title of the thread, I was not in fact asking for a throw down in re to various weavers but rather whether there was interest in going in together on a purchase. Somehow this seems to have been overlooked. I apologise for being obfuscatatory.

As far as I can say, from the email I received, I have not been informed of the advantageous pricing you enjoy. It appears that there is no interest in this venture and I will close the thread.