Pre 1900 Tam's

[super8mm]

What were the pre 1900's Tam how were they made and from what material?

[figheadair]

What were the pre 1900's Tam how were they made and from what material?

Do you mean pre-1900 military Tom O'Shanters, or civilian ones, or are you thinking of Balmoral bonnets, or Kilmarnock bonnets?

[super8mm]

Do you mean pre-1900 military Tom O'Shanters, or civilian ones, or are you thinking of Balmoral bonnets, or Kilmarnock bonnets?

More along the lines of what a civilian might have worn in the 1700's to 1800's. I have read on here where they might have been 11-12" in size. Something that might have been worn with a Great Kilt - Feileadh Mor - Belted Plaid

[figheadair]

More along the lines of what a civilian might have worn in the 1700's to 1800's. I have read on here where they might have been 11-12" in size. Something that might have been worn with a Great Kilt - Feileadh Mor - Belted Plaid

http://nms.scran.ac.uk/database/reco...-100-002-860-C

[jhockin]

So: 340mm = 13.3 inches

[super8mm]

http://nms.scran.ac.uk/database/reco...-100-002-860-C

Thanks, very interesting. So it would have been knitted with wool yarn and then felted?

[figheadair]

Thanks, very interesting. So it would have been knitted with wool yarn and then felted?

Correct, not cut from cloth as modern ones are.

[OC Richard]

Yes traditional Highland bonnets, now called "Balmoral" bonnets, have always been knitted and shaped, somewhat like a beret. The Balmorals you could have bought until recently, by Robert Mackie of Scotland, were made in the traditional way.

So Highland bonnets (Balmorals) made in 1720 and 2020 were made the same way, knitted and shaped.

Here's a Highland bonnet in 1714.



Here's a recent one. As you can see they've not changed much.

[OC Richard]

A quite different thing, the military Tam O Shanter, was introduced around 1914.

It was constructed in a completely different manner, being made from a length of flat woven wool cloth which was cut into several pieces according to a pattern, just as a cotton shirt is made from a length of flat woven cotton cloth.

Here's the newspaper article heralding its invention. Interestingly the article calls them "Balmorals" which name didn't stick- they were soon dubbed "Tam O Shanter" referencing Robert Burns' famous character.

BTW about the "time-honoured Glengarry" it had only been adopted for Highland soldiers 45 years earlier.



In this photo you can clearly see the seam running round the hat's circumference. Traditional Scottish bonnets have no such seam.



A traditional bonnet, now called "Balmoral" bonnet, showing the lack of seam around the circumference.

[OC Richard]

What did NOT exist historically are the enormous floppy Rastafarian hats seen in the show Outlander.

The top image shows Highlanders present at the Battle of Culloden, 1746. The artist's subjects were actual participants in the battle, dressed in the clothes they wore when captured.

As you can see the bonnets are blue and fairly small.

Also note the kaleidoscope of bright tartans.

Below that painting is a photo of the depiction of Culloden in the show Outlander.

As you can see the bonnets are ludicrous.

Also note that all the tartans are grey and brown, and the clothes quite muted colours.