Drooko Umbrella and The Glasgow Umbrella Factory

Ownership of the first umbrella in Scotland is attributed to a Dr Spens of Edinburgh. 

In 1872, a Dr John Jamieson imported a yellow umbrella from Paris. It seems that this was so unusual that it 'attracted universal attention' and he would be followed around on wet days by crowds of people who were amazed by the strange spectacle of his unfurled umbrella.

In 1786, an enterprising individual, John Gardiner, started to manufacture umbrellas in Glasgow, perhaps inspired by the one introduced into the city by Dr Jamieson. It seems, however, that it was constructed from waxed linen, with cane ribs and a massive handle. It was cumbersome and a load to carry, and was soon overtaken by a lighter version made in Manchester.
 
Joseph Wright, a Glasgow lay preacher, philanthropist and writer, was also the manufacturer of the 'Drooko' umbrella in Glasgow between 1885 and 1912. 

The Drooko Umbrella ( the name is inspired by the Scots word "Drookit" meaning soaked ).

Wright published many of his own works and was able to include long advertisements for the 'Drooko' in his books. So renowned were his umbrellas that a verse was dedicated to them:

'I walk the world a raintight fellow
Beneath the Joseph Wright umbrella.' 

There are a series of advertising posters produced by the Macdonald sisters, Margaret and Frances. At one time they were known in artistic circles as the "Spook School" 

Margaret Macdonald married Charles Rennie Mackintosh. 

One such advert made by them in their unique style promoting "The Drooko Umbrella"

This image was taken frm the Huntarian Art Gallery online images.

Click Here for more information

The Power of Colour

Colours are basically divided into:

• Primary colours – red, yellow, blue
• Secondary colours – colours, composed of two primary (e.g. orange)
• Warm colours – red, orange, yellow, brown
• Cold colours – blue, green, purple
• Neutral colours – white, brown, beige
• Strong colours – intensive colours, not diluted with black, white or complementary colour
• Pale colours – less intensive colours due to mixing with white, black or complementary colour

Psychology of colours and colours in a space

Colours are very important in our lives as they directly influence our well-being and mood, and this in turn could help on a dull rainy day when you choose the colour of your umbrella. Everyone is different, and The Umbrella Shop has a huge range for everyone.

Each of us has their own range of popular colours and colours that they do not respond to. Consequently, the colourful world around us affects our health. Perception of colours depends on several factors: shade, type of light (daylight or artifical, intense or dim…) our general welfare, biological rhythm etc.

Influence of basic colours to our feelings:
 
Red colour       

Red is optimistic, vital colour of activity, heat, movement, struggle, of passionate life. It is the most human expressive, extraverted colour associated with fullness of life, courage, sacrifice, love, strong emotions and acts of passion. Red leaves nobody cold. You can love or hate, but it is hard to stay indifferent at red. Red increases muscle tone, promotes the pulse, raises blood pressure, promotes blood circulation, excretion of adrenaline and hepatic function. Deepens breathing, can cause headaches, but it is not suitable for fast and emotionally unstable persons.

 
 Lulu Guinness Red Lips Birdcage Umbrella


Orange colour  

Orange is a bright, shiny, warm colour of fire and sun. It is associated with sunrise or sunset, delicious fruits such as apricots, mandarins, oranges… To Indians it symbolizes courage and sacrifice. No more so aggressive and passionate as red, but as an emotional stimulant happy, nice colour, which helps to overcome fatigue. Due to the foregoing points it constitues a useful additional aid in treatment of depressions. Orange reflects warmth, generosity, it is light and playful. It also promotes appetite and helps in the morning to stand up.
Orange colour strengthens the lungs, pancreas and spleen and stimulates the activity of the heart. Digestion, increases appetite, it can either calm or excite.This colour can stabilizes emotions, some individuals get depressed. All shades of orange have the same meaning and effect depending only on the dominant component (yellow or red).

Black and Orange Golf Umbrella


Yellow colour   

Yellow is the colour of sun, light and optimism, which stimulates, activates and frees from fear. It retains the alertness and promotes concentration, symbolizes the creativity and wisdom. Promotes motor skills, her strong feature is communicative (reason why mail boxes are yellow). On the walls and elsewhere in the house it has a positive effect on welfare.
Yellow has the greatest impact on the respiratory organs, helps in treatment of psychonevroses,increases blood pressure, accelerates pulse and breathing rate, has positive effect on nervous system. The most common shades of yellow are: cloudy yellow (calming, thinking), live yellow (agility, boldness, relaxation), olive yellow (gloomy mood) and citron yellow (alertness, vivacity, liveliness, perfection).

Yellow Sunflower Umbrella
 
Green colour    

They say the colour of health. With green colours they try to cure hysteria and nervous fatigue as it has calming influence on nervous system and is effective for depression, migraines can be mitigated. Light green expands capillares, reduces pressure, induces internal secretion juices. On the other hand the colour of peace, calmness, rest, reflection and study. Its symbolism affects human emotions, soothes and relaxes. It is a sign of balance.
It is best for soothing bathrooms and bedrooms, it may also take the form of vegetation. It has adverse effects to red: lowers blood pressure, calms nervous system, migraines, establishes a personal balance, eliminating fatigue and insomnia and expands capillaries.

Olive Green Umbrella


Blue colour      

Blue is a basic colour. Its opposite is yellow, a mixture of both is green, which combines features of both: in nature it is widespread in the azure sky, which is reflected in the water. The symbolism of blue: wisdom, intelligence, immortality, infinity, depth, nobility, spirituality, mysticism. Its psychological associations: clear, fresh, light (colour atmospheres), transparent, airy, distant, quiet………… Psychological effects of blue: slowing heart rate, reducing respiratory rhythm, sothing, encouraging mental activity, introspection, concentration, focus inwards – they say it is the colour of peace and rest.

Blue Umbrella with white spots

Violet colour    

Violet colour is a mixture of blue and red, more of one or the other you add a more characteristic colour shade you get and thus also an appropriate share of both – blue peace, remoteness, spirituality …. And red colours of movement, passion, vitality, heat, energy... Because it combines features of such extremely different primary colours (hot, cold… ) it works somehow mysterious.

Violet / Purple Umbrella

White colour
 
White is the colour of clarity and is a mixture of all three waves of natural colours: yellow, red and blue. As a result, to white we respond positively. It symbolizes clarity, innocence and purity, as well as a new beginning, rebirth. In conjunction with light blue shades it works very cold. It is also a symbol of divinity, perfection, pride, kindness and the eternal.
White house is light, it looks spacious, but much white looks lean, sterile and almost like in a hospital, it is recommended that white walls are adorned with paintings, posters or framed pictures. At the selection of colours in your room we try to combine colours, which reflect best our character, as in this way we shall create environment, in which we shall feel comfortably and homely.

White Umbrella.

 White Umbrella

White Umbrella

Alterative uses for an umbrella

Our guest blogger obviously had the Friday feeling in his office last week......

Alternative Umbrella Uses

 

As I sat over yet another coffee, I decided to come up with alternate uses for umbrellas.

Some of the things I came up with are as follows:

Self Defence Weapon

If, by some horrid twist of fate, your involved in a mugging or some similar crime, you could use the brolly as a weapon to give the potential criminal a right old whack.

Childs Poncho

If you have an old brolly or one where the ribs have snapped, why not take the material off and cut a hole in the centre of the fabric? Hey presto – a kids waterproof poncho!!

Some of the designs we have would make a very snazzy poncho

Leak Cover

If you have an annoying drip (no, I don’t mean the husband or boyfriend ladies!!) in the ceiling, drill a small hole next to the leak, put a hook in place, open the brolly upside down and catch all those annoying drips…just be careful to monitor the weight of the water.  Maybe not one for the superstitious though!!

Lamp Shade

Like the poncho, if your brolly is broken (and you have just bought a new one from www.theumbrellashop.co.uk) why throw away the fabric?  With the great designs we have on offer, recycle the fabric as a lampshade!!

Clothes Dryer

Take the fabric off, hand the brolly upside down and open on a shower rail…hey presto, a place to hang you wet clothes to dry, and not leave huge puddles of water anywhere apart from the shower/bath

Plant Stakes

The ribs make fantastic stakes to which to tie any top heavy plants in the garden.

Garden Trellis

Remove the fabric, push the handle into your garden and you have an instant trellis for any creeping plants.

Protect your seedlings

The umbrella makes protection for your seedlings from frost, slugs, birds etc etc.  Just open the brolly, and push it into the ground, covering your precious seedlings!!

Light Sabre

You can tell I am the guy in the office – all the above were thought of by the ladies (cough cough).  Each of the above is practical.   

However, the 'best' idea from my male perspective was as my light sabre or golf putter!!!

Umbrellas in films

Well we held off as long as possible.

When we think of umbrellas one of the images that always comes to mind is the image of Julie Andrews floating to earth in the 1964 Disney classic Mary Poppins.  There can’t be anyone that hasn’t enjoyed this film. 

However, after a quick scan of the news this morning while waiting for the kettle to boil, I noticed that “extreme athlete” Erik Roner free fell for 10 seconds under an umbrella over California before deploying his parachute and floating safely back to earth.   There can’t be many people that haven’t given a little thought to doing this whilst deploying their brolly.  It must be the kid within all of us.

Another feature of the film (apart from a very dodgy cockney accent of course) is the horse race sequence…topical given the forthcoming Grand National.

The image of Mary Poppins got me to thinking of other films where an umbrella plays a leading role and another sprung to mind…Singing in the Rain.

Is there anyone that hasn’t pretended to be Gene Kelly when no one is around, swinging the brolly round, hoping on and off kerbs and generally splashing around?  I think it’s one of those guilty pleasures we have all done, but wouldn’t admit to!!  Especially after the popular TV programme, Glee, with Gwyneth Paltroe took a starring part. Also, Morecombe and Wise made a fantastic parody of this wonderful scene too.

Don’t forget we have a virtual sweepstake for all our twitter followers.

For a chance of winning a folding umbrella, just follow us on twitter (@umbrellashops) and retweet our message dated 2^nd April for your chance to be included in our sweepstake for the Grand National 2013..

Good luck to all

National Fever - Grand National 2013

As we approach the 2013 Aintree Grand National, the traditional office sweepstake started.
  
One of our colleagues said they planned on going this year and asked what should they wear (you know woman have to plan for these things and what a major malarkey that can be)

After a little research, it seems that the punters like to get all dressed up for the day.  Suits for the gents and short (very short) dresses for the ladies.  

Currently, the weather forecast is fine (but cold) but with the great UK weather at present we all know it can change quickly.

So, umbrella or no umbrella this year?  If so, which would be the best one to take?

Will we have a National like the Ballabriggs race of 2011 where Jason Maguire rode his gutsy mount to victory on what was a scorching early spring day?  Or will we see scenes reminiscent of a mud splattered Richard Guest nursing Red Marauder home in the 2001 National where only 4 runners completed (with two remounting!!).  We certainly don’t want scenes like the 1997 National when a bomb scare caused the mass evacuation of the racecourse.

It would be a crying shame for people to turn up in all their finery, only for the heavens to open and ruin their clothes, make up, hair and fake tan!!

After a little debate in the office during an impromptu coffee break, we came up with some thoughts.

You’ll want a compact, lightweight but strong umbrella – after all Aintree is a wide expanse of a course.  

After a quick poll we came up with the following suggestions:

For men it has to be the Fulton Open and Close Superslim brolly in black.  A robust umbrella that can be slipped into a suit pocket at just 25cm long if not needed, leaving your hands free for the racecard and pint!!

For women it’s a little more difficult of course – it has to “go” with the outfit.

In the end we agreed on any of the Fulton Clear Birdcage range.  It will go with any outfit while keeping you and the new hairstyle, dry from the elements.  It has the added advantage that you won’t miss a moments racing as it’s clear – perfect for a spectator sport.

Or if you want to make a statement, come rain or shine, have a look at these umbrellas for special occasions.

So, whatever the weather, you can enjoy the day to the full and shout your selection on.
Oh, and for anyone that’s interested, I drew Seabass from the sweep – seems it’s a family affair this horse with Ted Walsh training for his daughter Katie Walsh to ride.  Come on Katie, do it for the girls and be the first female to ride the winner of the National.  Of course, the chance for me to gloat in the office for the next 11 months has nothing to do with it ;-)

Just for fun, who can spot the name of the other horse I pulled from the sweepstake? It’s mentioned in this blog – and not Ballabriggs……