putees...tartan???

[Carolina Kiltman]

My father had puttees, they were leather, moulded to fit his legs, and fastened with a looooong leather strap about 1/2" (13mm) wide. The strap went through slots on one side. Many if not most, men wore high-top shoes, (as did the kids), and the puttees covered the top of the shoe.

He only wore them when out hiking, as they were not considered proper for normal day wear. For riding, a tall boot was always worn.

I can see wearing them for rugged outdoor work, but not otherwise.

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

Back in the day when my family employed a chauffeur, he wore the same kind of leather leggings as part of his uniform. They allowed total freedom of his ankles so he could easily operate the clutch, brake, and throttle pedals. They made stepping in and out of the car easier (for the same reason) and provided a smart, "military" appearance. As a lad one of my acquaintances was Ray Hines, who had been a chauffeur in Hollywood back in the 1920s and 30s. Ray still had his uniform and leggings, and was a font of useful knowledge about "driving". Here's one of his gems of wisdom:

In hot dry climates, like Los Angeles in the summer, the wooden spokes of your wheels will shrink slightly, and road dust will settle in the cracks around the spokes, causing the wheels to creak, which will annoy your passengers. To prevent this from happening, pack wet rags around the spokes every evening at the hub and at the rim of the wheel. Be sure to remove them before driving out the next day because not only will they look unsightly, dogs snapping at the wheels of the car will catch the rags in their teeth with the result that they will suffer broken necks.

Betcha didn't know that!

[Derek Conley]

Just for the record, lads, I must report that the wristwatch is now completely out of fashion. If you ask an 18-year-old for the time, the look at their PHONE!

Actually, ask a certain 33-year-old (me), and I'll do the same thing. I only wear one of my wristwatches when I'm wearing something decent anymore.

[pdcorlis]

You know I carry a cell phone everywhere and NEVER use it to check the time... Man I'm old!

[Jock Scot]

Just for the record, lads, I must report that the wristwatch is now completely out of fashion. If you ask an 18-year-old for the time, the look at their PHONE!

Good lord do they? Can you tell the time from your mobile phone?

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

Good lord do they? Can you tell the time from your mobile phone?

Yes, it can be done. Here's how:

1) hold your phone perfectly flat in the palm of your hand, with the screen facing up.
2) now point your phone due north.
3) balance a golf tee in the centre of the screen.
4) the mobile phone will now work like a sun dial, and the shadow of the golf tee will indicate the approximate time.
5) be sure to take into consideration whether or not you are on summer time.

NB: after dark it is advisable to use a wooden match or a paraffin cigar lighter to create enough light to cause the golf tee to cast a shadow. The results obtained using this method may, however, be less accurate than those obtained by following the above instructions.

I hope that helps.

--Scott

[Bugbear]

Neither the screen nor the sun dial would work for me. Such is my life.

[An t-Ileach]

Just to keep you right, the arrow on the Puttee should be above the ankle pretty much where it is (unless you're doing the Cameronian thing IIRC). The tape should be wound round on top of its self so you only see one width and tucked in at right angles at the end of the point so its neat and tidy like...

I was going to make the same observation.

We used to wear black puttees, and the Light Infantry wore rifle green ones, but the rest of the Army wore khaki: I've never seen tartan ones, though. But, as this isn't the Army...

Actually, I take on board what Rathdown's been saying especially about leggings/gaiters; but I used to find that puttees gave a lot of ankle support. And even the over-ankle boots that I wear when hill-walking or climbing don't give as much support as puttees. I think if I'd been wearing puttees this summer when hill-walking in Kintyre I wouldn't have sprained my ankle.

So, if you find puttees a help and like tartan ones,... 'carry on' (as we used to say in the service).