Trying to find the oldest kilt

[David White]

Matt, I'd really like to see a picture of your MacGregor kilt- hint, hint.

[The Wizard of BC]

Here is a kilt that came into the shop a couple of weeks ago.

All I know about it's history is that it survived WWI and WWII, was worn regularly till about 1955 when the gentleman passed it to his son.

The son promised to bring me more information. Anyone want to guess the Tartan?

Along with the kilt were a horsehair sporran with very thick hand-made chain, a belt with regimental buckle, a pair of hand-knit hose, Black flashes about 10" long, and a sgain dubh with silver fittings. All in perfect condition for being worn that much and stored for that long.


This shows the apron and the straps. One short hip strap and one loooong waist strap which goes all the way around.


This shows the back. There is one loop centered in the back to hold the long strap from shifting. This also shows the inside of the aprons.


A detail of the one loop centered at the back.


Pleat depth is right at 1 3/4".


This shows the straps and how they fasten. Note the loop on the front apron.


Here is the label. It reads Thos. Gordon & Sons. Ltd. Glasgow.

[pdcorlis]

Wow Matt - that's simply amazing - thanks for the photos.

[McMurdo]

Steve
That is just amazing, great photos, I bet that kilt could tell some stories.

[MacWage]

Steve, it's Gunn, right. Do I win it now??
And in a tartan I WANT too . . .

Also, the belt is JUST like the one Matt discussed in THIS blog:
http://blog.albanach.org/2006/05/nov...ilt.html#links
AND
http://blog.albanach.org/2006/05/str...two.html#links

[The Wizard of BC]

Bingo McWage. You have won a certificate printed on my own real color printer with the title Tartan Guesser Extraordinair Second Class. With my endorsement signed as 2nd Laird of Lochaber, in ink.

Now for the hard question. Does anyone know which unit wore this?

[pdcorlis]

Dang... I wanna be a tartan Guesser Extraordinair Second Class too - lets play again Steve!

[Chefdave]

I've got an MOD Seaforth Highlanders (MacKenzie) knife pleated to the stripe.

It's had straps added to it which are stamped "1943" but I wonder if it might be even older than that. It's definitely in great conditon for its age.

[macwilkin]

Bingo McWage. You have won a certificate printed on my own real color printer with the title Tartan Guesser Extraordinair Second Class. With my endorsement signed as 2nd Laird of Lochaber, in ink.

Now for the hard question. Does anyone know which unit wore this?

The label that is in said kilt appears to be a civilian label; I had a ex-army kilt in Government Sett from Thomas Gordon, and the label looked completely different -- the most glaring thing missing from that label is the MoD's "broad arrow".

I don't know of any regiment that wore the Gunn tartan either.

Regards,

Todd

[M. A. C. Newsome]

Steve,

That kilt is definitely a civilian kilt. No military unity that I know of wore the Gunn, but even if they did, it would not have been pleated to sett and would not have been in the ancient colors.

The coloration of this tartan leads me to beleive some mistake has been made in the dating of the kilt. Ancient colors (lighter versions of the standard tartan colors) did not get introduced into the market until shortly after WWII. Therefore this kilt would either have to be post-WWII, or if it's date or origin can be documented to before that time, we need to go back and rethink when the ancient colors were first introduced by the industry.

By the way, I really like that wrap around belt closure. I've been tempted to try it since I saw the one mentioned in my blog post that MacWage linked to. I'm told it gives the kilt a real "snug" feeling in the back. I just haven't gotten around to doing it yet.

Aye,
Matt