James Smith & Sons Umbrellas
A couple of years ago I was given an umbrella for my birthday by my good lady. Without being brashly materialistic, it was probably the one of the finest things I have ever owned. It was termed as being ‘walking length’ – perfect for leaning upon in a dandy Dorian Gray style . The grip was a traditional crook-style made from a wood called Whangee cane and once in your hand it wasn’t leaving until you consciously let go. It was pencil thin, sharp at the end and strong as an Ox. This gave it a dual-personality; a sort of Jeckyl and Hyde character that made it your most loyal friend in a rasping storm, but also gave it the wherewithal to be used to rap angrily on the door of a bus that has just closed its doors on you. I was attached to this umbrella and the absolute wonderful handmade workmanship of it was something to be in awe of. So, to the utter bastard that took it from me so deftly – I hate you.
This umbrella of mine was a product of possibly the oldest and finest umbrella workshop in the world: James Smith and Sons of 53 New Oxford Street, London. These chaps have been turning out the grandest umbrellas, canes, swagger sticks and walking sticks since 1830. They still do too and their spectacularly grandiose Victorian shop front is something to behold in itself. In fact just being inside a shop that sells nothing but umbrellas and canes is a fantastic experience: Rows of polished wood standing like sentinels, huddled conversations about grips, people measuring arm lengths and most avoiding the age-old faux-pas of opening an umbrella indoors. The next time the cruel British drizzle seeps through your coat and you remind yourself to buy a nice umbrella, head to James Smith first. Even if all you do there is observe and set your benchmark.
Check the James Smith & Sons website for styles and prices and maybe you could read up about some of their long history too. In the sometimes careless, disposable, machine-built world we live in today, it’s reassuring that some things are still made like this.