Feather bonnet tails

[Snowbear]

I was piping yesterday when someone nicked a pair of tails from my feather bonnet. Any chance I can get some replacement tails from somewhere, or even make them myself?

(Not sure where to put this but I'll try it here.)

[Bigkahuna]

That's going to be a tough one. I think you may have to go back to the manufacturer to get a satisfactory repair.

[Lachlan09]

How many tails do you have left ? I believe a lot of feather bonnets only have 4 foxtails nowadays, similar to the Black Watch, so that would leave your bonnet pretty sparse !

At least in the old days, the Black Watch had 4, Seaforths, Gordons, Camerons had 5 and the Argylls had 6, so you had a couple to spare !

You might have to do a night-time raid on the ostrich enclosure at Oslo Zoo.

Good luck.

[Snowbear]

I only have 2 tails left now. Sendt a request to a store that sells feather bonnetse, and he would check if he could get spare tails.

If I can't get some, I have to make them.
Any idea of how ho make some? Can't find any instructions the internet, but did find some cheap feathers around that I can buy.

[Bigkahuna]

I just came up with an idea that should work. Find a feather boa in black and cut that into sections. That should work very well.

[NorCalPiper]

I can help you with this-I'll PM you

[Lachlan09]

I only have 2 tails left now. Sendt a request to a store that sells feather bonnetse, and he would check if he could get spare tails.

If I can't get some, I have to make them.
Any idea of how ho make some? Can't find any instructions the internet, but did find some cheap feathers around that I can buy.

Not sure, but in Napoleonic times, the feather bonnets worn by Highland regiments had shorter, less voluminous tails. If I remember correctly, the Black Watch had what was described as “flats” or un-curled ostrich feather tails. So they were fastened to the bonnet at the base of the feathers and allowed to lay over each other. The other regiments wore, what I understand to be, feathers rolled into “cigar” shapes and fastened in layers according to regimental taste and recent-tradition. I think the voluminous tails of Victorian times and ever since are possibly a case of more feathers fastened together and rolled. Some ostrich feathers are pretty long, so that might explain the fashion for longer feather-foxtails. Mind you, the longer tails are also wider, so maybe it’s one feather per tail after all ? I don’t know how they keep the roll from unraveling – perhaps you can look at the two remaining ones on your bonnet and get an idea.

As for where to get big ostrich feathers, my joke about Olso Zoo is maybe possible after all. If they have ostriches, perhaps they shed feathers now and again. Why not ask them ? Also, exotic meat companies in South Africa and Australia who harvest ostrich meat must have to do something with all the feathers. Maybe they can send you some.

In the meantime, maybe you can find a couple of stray black cats, drug them and tie them to your bonnet ! But careful when they wake up, they might be a little grumpy !

[Lachlan09]

BTW Snowbear, has your pipe-band ever performed at Jakarta Highland Games ?

[Lachlan09]

I went to the Games in 1996, when I lived in Sumatera and drove to Jakarta via the ferry.

Good crack ! There was a Norwegian band there.

[Snowbear]

Will try what you sugested.

And no, my pipeband have not been over there. The band I am playing in was formed in 2002. Could be the Oslo pipeband that was over there.