Acme Thunderer

For some years now I've also kept a whistle among my keys. I don't know why really, as it's not a safety measure, but I think I was attracted to design and the story of pilots using the whistle during WW II as a survival whistle. I don't know, if the story is true, but I do know one thing though; The Acme Thunderer is one hell of a whistle.

The Acme Thunderer is the most iconic pea whistle ever made and it's still made in England (in Birmingham) by Acme Whistles. It's made of solid brass that has been nickel plated (which will look even better, once the plating starts to chip). There are a few different make ups in the Thunderer series and some of them are even made of plastic, still if you go for the classic no 58, you should be settled.

In all honesty I've never found a genuine reason to use it which hasn't stopped me from enjoying carrying it around. But if you're a dog trainer, a referee, a pilot lost at sea, a policeman or if you frequently go to raves, I suggest you buy one straight away.

John Löfgren & Co - Beach Jacket

If you know a little about vintage clothing and particular vintage American clothing, you may know that the Brown's Beach Jacket is one of the most collectible items out there and it keeps fetching solid prices on eBay. If you know a little about buying from some of the most shops in the world, you may know that most of them are located in Japan and you may know, that it's often a hassle communicating with them and you will often have to resort to using an expensive proxy. However there is one exception and that exception is Speedway Shop (or their Rakuten shop), which is run by a very friendly American named John Lofgren (he is actually of Swedish descent).

John Lofgren is not only running a very good shop with a lot of other good brands, but he is also producing some very fine goods in his own name. Their all made in Japan of excellent materials and their all meticulously made with nice historical details.

One of the most recent pieces that has been added to the collection is John's interpretation of the iconic Beach Jacket. It's not a historical reproduction by any means, but it's a plausible remake with a nice updated fit. The fit is also something that makes Lofgren stand out, as they're much more suited for the Western consumer, as many of the Japanese makers tend to make their garbs very small and short.

The Audubon Bird Call

Writing about the Marbles Match Safe made me think about some of the great objects, that aren't exactly related to clothing, but it can still add some good to your daily life. One of these things is the Audubon Bird Call.

It's a small gadget, that can be used to imitate bird calls by creating small tweeting sounds or rather create sounds, that will make birds curious, and therefore it doesn't replicate any specific bird call. It's made of bird wood and cast zinc and was invented by Roger Eddy in 1947 (he seems like a really interesting fellow and you can read more about him in his obituary).

The Audubon has been sold in millions in the US and is still made in the US by the company American Bird Products, which is still owned by the Eddy family. 

Marbles Match Safe

I love stumbling upon great little products, that have a great story, a great design and a great functionality. I found all three things, when I stumbled upon the Match Safe by Marbles (founded in 1887 in Michigan) some weeks ago. It sort of reminded me to keep searching for good products. They might not be readily available, but if you look for them, they can still be found and that was one of the things that initially made me start blogging.

This small canister is made to keep your matches dry, safe and ready for when you might need them (or just to keep them in a better looking container, that a regular matchbox). The MR150 as it's also named is made  of nickel plated brass to exact specifications of their original 1900 patent. However some suggest that the quality isn't on par with the original or rather vintage ones, but then again what is nowadays?

Books on Menswear - ABC of Men's Fashion

There are a lot of books on men's fashion, and I think I either own or have read my fair share of them. One of the most entertaining books I've ever read on the topic is definitely "ABC of Men's Fashion" by Hardy Amies.

This book contains a lot of advice - or maybe rather commandments - on men's fashion by Hardy Amies himself. Despite its structure it isn't objective or matter-of-fact, as it's basically a collection of Hardy's rants on almost everything related to clothing and menswear. Maybe you'll learn something, I'm not sure, but I can guarantee that you'll get a good laugh. I'm sure, Hardy Amies was a fun, amusing and entertaining character.

To me this is just a perfect example of his witty brilliance, and there are plenty more.

Brocade

"A patterned silk fabric for women's dress and for upholstery. It should remain there."

Paraboot William

There's been so much hype about the double monk strap. And with good reason. It's a great shoe and a very elegant shoe that could easily hold a place in any wardrobe. But mostly many of them are just a bit too elegant with a single leather sole often. However the French company, Paraboot, makes one of the finest double monk straps available, or in fact they make some of the best shoes available. I especially like their model called William, but I will probably also feature the Avoriaz model and most importantly the Michael model.

The William model features the Norwegian construction (similar to a storm welt), which is something that is primarily used on hiking boots or rugged work boots. This can be seen on the two rows of stitches that hold together the upper, the welt and the sole and it ensures that the shoes are basically waterproof. Furthermore it gives more comfort and strength.

Another fun fact about Paraboot, besides the fact that they are still made in France, is that they are the only shoe company that also produces their own sole. They're definitely one of the shoemaking companies that aren't getting enough attention. They're just so good.

Batten Sportswear

From all of the fall collections that have been landing in my favourite stores, I think I can safely say that Batten Sportswear has made the collection that I would buy the most from. Everything seems to be just right. The theme is still very inspired by American outdoor sports like hiking and surf.

Everything could easily be incorporated into a 70's university look. It's wearable, somewhat utilitarian and simply just great. It's definitely one of my new favourite brands. 

On the Topic of CPO Shirts

As the season begins to change and the weather takes a change for the worse, I find myself thinking about the small updates, that the wardrobe needs for fall. One thing I've been wanting for quite some time now is a sturdy woolen overshirt or rather a CPO shirt or CPO jacket. What got me started was probably seeing some from Engineered Garments or Post O'alls make-ups years ago, but then I read this small anecdote from a member on the forum AskAndyAboutClothes 

"Back in the early 60's most young people I knew wore a wool CPO shirt on very casual fall occasions, typically with khakis, penny loafers and an OCBD. While it will never replace a Shetland sweater, I've recently grown nostalgic and thought I might like to wear one again."

After reading this it all made sense and fell into place. Or maybe it didn't, but I felt that I wanted one even more. It's going to be a perfect layering piece over a OCBD shirt.

Right now I think my best bet is one  by Fidelity, which can be had for pennies in the US, however I'm a bit unsure about the fit. It might just have very short sleeves and a billowy fit judging from the poor pictures, I've been able to find. But the quality is definitely good - 22 oz melton wool (basically the same weight as a heavy commercial peacoat) and made in the US by a company that has been handling contracts for the US navy.

I got really excited, when I saw one from something called Fidelity by Gerald and Stewart in a shop in Denmark. I don't know much about this brand, if it's a private label, designer collaboration or some sort of Fidelity fashion offshoot. But the fit was awful. It was tiny  and I could barely fit into a size XL, though my normal size is something along the lines of L or M. It wasn't any good as an overshirt at least.

Another option I quite like, although it isn't authentic in any way, is the collaboration between the Woodlands Shop in Oregon and 3Sixteen. It's obviously not a CPO, but it's very wearable as an overshirt. Furthermore the fit looks a lot better than the aforementioned options and the quality is still good using Pendleton wool. Another plus are the colours - They're great.

Again, I realise, that this isn't a CPO either, but I've over the years created a saying, that goes "When in doubt, go for Filson". Filson is just great and their Jac-shirt looks like it fits the bill. They basically never do anything that isn't good - but they do quite a lot of things nowadays that aren't made in the States unfortunately.

Other options include Japanese repro brands like The Real McCoys and Buzz Rickson obviously, but they come with a hefty price tag.

Like this one from Buzz

If you want to read more about the CPO, you can gather more information here and if you've got some information on a good and hopefully better alternative, please do share them.

Jungmaven Tie Dye T-Shirts

Today I was sitting in the sun contemplating on whether or not I should start tie dyeing some t-shirts, as I saw this really old hippie walking past me in the streets wearing this really old, tattered, yet vibrant tie dyed t-shirt. It probably wouldn't work for me, but I felt inspired and in the end, I think, that's what it's all about sometimes.

Unfortunately - or fortunately - I discovered, that I didn't have to tie dye anything. I could just buy these Jungmaven t-shirts, which I've also been seeing on the Hickoree's webshop. From what I've been told they're pretty good value for money, however not in any way spectacular. I these colours I would however like to add the spectacular.

In case you were wondering, these are made of a cotton and hemp blend and they're cut and sewn in the United States of America

The Soda Pop King

There's nothing new about this video, but I re-watched it a couple of days ago, and I can honestly say, that I'm thinking about switching trades to selling soda pops or at least leaving this continent, as it's so hard to find anything that isn't made by Coca Cola or Pepsi.

John Nese is one of a kind, that's for sure. I like his passion, his knowledge, his wits and his spirit. Unfortunately I feel like trying all of the different pops because of the way he  talks about them. But I wouldn't be able to find any of them. I have however tried the Fentimans Curiosity Cola and some other pops from Fentimans, and I have to say, that they're delicious. And I'm sure that I would also enjoy all of the other brands and types, that he talks about.