Emeth On A Saturday?

Let's call it a special!

I don’t usually publish Emeth on Saturdays, but I’ve got a couple little things to mention, neither of which merit a full post. So, I thought I’d write a couple little snippets and send them out today.

Photo by Kelly Sikkema on Unsplash

First off, I’m really excited to have received the latest edition of Heredom today! The fine book of wonderful Masonic essays published once a year by the Scottish Rite Research Society.

You are a member of the Society, right?

If not, please take my recommendation that you become one. It truly is the very greatest value in all of Freemasonry. A few dollars, extremely well spent.

You can join by clicking the link below:

SRRS

I’m not lying, this really is the best bang for the buck in all of Freemasonry.

Secondly, I must write of Sri Lanka. Specifically about the new Filson hat made in Sri Lanka.

Now, here’s the deal. I think it is a bunch of crap that Filson moved manufacturing overseas, particularly at it’s rather extreme price point. I also think it is a bunch of crap that they are slapping the fine old Filson name onto a bunch of random junk. The new ownership has taken an extremely old and honored Seattle brand, and seemingly done all that they can to degrade it.

But, I have to be honest. I’ve gone over this new hat with a very critical eye for a few days now. That has included careful comparison with the same hat from Filson’s golden age, made in Seattle.

Here’s the thing with the imported hat. There isn’t a stitch out of place. The construction is absolutely perfect. And the Tin Cloth is just as thick and strong as it has always been. It was a bit soft when I brought it home, but that’s understandable, it had sat on the shelf and been pawed for awhile. Once I gave it a good waxing, that baby is thick and hard just as it should be.

So, as much as I hate to see such a fine old brand go overseas, especially a brand priced at a level at which there is no reason that it must go overseas beyond greed, I have to admit that the overseas quality is just as good as that produced in Seattle.

Actually, if I’m completely honest, the band is better. The bands have always been the poorly done bit on Filson Tin Cloth Packer hats. For some reason, they seem poorly attached far more often than not. That’s not the case with this new import.

So, there you go…

If you are a Mason (or even a non-Mason with an interest in Masonry) I strongly suggest that you join the Scottish Rite Research Society.

And if you need an effective rain hat, I suggest that the Filson Tin Cloth Packer will serve you wonderfully, despite it being an import.