Bonafide Ventilating Hat

A stroke of Victorian design genius to keep your head perspiration and oil free

Design for a Bonafide Ventilating Hat , 1849, Inventions That Didn't Change The World, by Julie Halls, published by Thames & Hudson

Throughout the 19th century no respectable person would go outside without wearing a hat, and for most of the Victorian period top hats were worn by middle-class men. They became a symbol of urban respectability. Early Victorian top hats were heavy, and the 'Bonafide Ventilating Hat' was one of several designs registered which attempted to tackle the problem of a build-up of steam, perspiration and hair oil that resulted. 

This is an extract from Inventions That Didn't Change The World, by Julie Halls, published by Thames & Hudson.

It is a book that tells the story of 19th-century enterprise, enthusiasm and, above all, optimism.
 

A brief history of the Mackintosh

With spring showers due to make an appearance in the coming weeks, we thought we'd look back at the origins of the Mac, or Mackintosh; a name synonymous with shielding us from the heavens

Mackintosh Dunoon Raincoat, Lissom & Muster, £790

Scotland is undoubtedly a very wet country, its Highlands averaging over three meters of rainfall per year, so it’s no wonder the waterproof coat was born within its borders. However, attempts to prevent water penetrating cloth date back as far as the 13th century, when Amazonian tribes would extract milky substances from rubber trees to paste on their clothing. 

But it wasn’t until 1823 that young Glaswegian chemist Charles Macintosh (the 'k' crept in later) developed his waterproof fabric, produced by sandwiching naptha (a by-product of tar) and rubber between two pieces of cloth. The cloth had its flaws – it was easy to pierce when seamed, it became stiff in cold weather and sticky when hot, but after vulcanised rubber was invented in 1839, Macintosh's fabrics were vastly improved and could withstand temperature changes without warping or perishing.

The Mackintosh company was founded in 1895, producing the iconic rubberised coats we're familiar with today. We're rather enamoured with this Mackintosh Dunoon raincoat from Lissom & Muster for its simple, traditional, understated design and pleasing horn buttons. It is a true Mackintosh, made in the Mackintosh factories in Cumbernauld, Scotland and Lancashire, England. It's handmade in rubberised cotton, expertly cut and the seams glued for a watertight seal. Not only will not only keep you dry during the spring showers but is an investment that will keep you dry for decades of rainy days to come. 

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This is a sponsored blog post, created in collaboration with Lissom & Muster. For more information on partnerships and joining our directory please email advertise@ernestjournal.co.uk.

Home brew

With this nifty bit of kit, which wouldn't look out of place in a Victorian chemistry lab, you could be sipping bottles of homemade beer within two weeks

Microbrewer one gallon kit, Box Brew Kits, £98

Last time Ernest brewed his own beer he found himself with enough condiment to scatter over his chips for three months. Perhaps he needed one of these splendid kits from Box Brew Kits duo Mike Langone and Matt Gorman. This one gallon kit is the smallest of their range and comes with everything you need, including a recipe book with over 25 recipes, to brew 8-10 bottles of hopefully awesome-tasting beer that will impress your friends/partner/father/chippy.

Microbrewer one gallon kit, Box Brew Kits, £98

Timeline of a handmade bike

From tube bending to silver soldering, Mark Meadows talks us through the production of his Series 01 – a small production run of 12 unique city bikes almost entirely made in Britain

Frames & forks

We're proud of the fact that Series 01 of Milk Bikes is almost entirely made on British soil. Firstly, the frame and forks are made by an up-and-coming frame builder called Jon Davis, who founded Fresh Fabrications last year, based in Croydon. Jon has an impressive bike building background (including working with the likes of Brompton), an eye for detail and is meticulous in his work. The frames he produces are always beautifully finished, which is why we were keen to work with him on this project – our first homemade frame.

Tube bending

One of the key visual aspects of the bikes is the curves, which are nicely highlighted by the paintwork. The bending is very hard to get right. If anyone has ever bent a tube, they'd know how easy it is to make ripples or crush the tube. There's also a varying amount of spring-back, depending on the size and type of tube. It took a couple of attempts before we were happy.

Silver soldering

The frame is fabricated using a combination of TIG welding and silver soldering. You've got to be on the top of your game for this, particularly on the TIG side of things, because the weld bead remains visible on the finished frame. Any dodgy bits will be there for the world to see.

Tube mitring

We use a CNC milling machine to do most of the drilling and tube mitring so we know the accuracy will be fantastic. We also CNC custom dropouts and plates for the fork and chainstay crowns.

Spray the frame

The frame is then sprayed by the chaps down at Argos Cycles, then Simon from Woodguards adds the wooden parts. Once the wheels are added - that's it. We have a Series 01 Milk Bike.

Discover more about Milk Bikes in our online directory.

This is a sponsored blog post, created in collaboration with Milk Bikes. For more information on partnerships and joining our directory please email advertise@ernestjournal.co.uk.

How to wear shirt stays

Ever wondered how the protagonists of Mad Men and Suits always have immaculately tucked in shirts? We wouldn't be surprised if they had a sneaky secret concealed in their trousers

Shirt stays work by attaching your shirt to your socks with adjustable elastic braces. Hidden beneath your trousers, they make sure your socks will never slip down and – most importantly – your shirt will stay immaculately tucked in all day long.

Sharp & Dapper's shirt stays are one-size-fits all and are handmade in England. Watch this video to see how you wear them...

“A minor life-changing experience” Fantastic Man Magazine. Browse our range of Shirt Stays: http://www.sharpanddapper.com/collections/shirt-stays Shirt Stays are a game-changing product, which work by comfortably attaching your shirt to your socks with adjustable elastic braces. Hidden beneath your trousers, they make sure that your socks will never slip down and - most importantly - your shirt will stay tucked in the whole day long.

Discover more about Sharp & Dapper in our online directory.

This is a sponsored blog post, created in collaboration with Sharp & Dapper. For more information on partnerships and joining our directory please email advertise@ernestjournal.co.uk.