Duke Mantee

Injection moulded plastic frames are probably best avoided if possible - you’ll be better served with acetate (or metal depending on style). Barrel hinges are strong - more barrels (generally) means more strength … 5 and 7 barrels are now fairly common. I guess though you’ve got to identify how you use your glasses … eg do you take them off and put them on often or leave them for long periods, handling can cause them to warp and or weaken; do you use them for work (what’s the environment); do you use them for sport etc I had some Dita frames for about 10 years and my current Jacques Marie Mage frames are about 8 years old - all had lenses swapped as my prescription changed … no significant issues with any other than clumsiness

Sedgwick bridle, snake, onyx and malachite, nickel plated brass hardware

https://www.marrkt.com/collections/duke_mantee-freewheelers-and-co-collector-sale

A variation of the tote bag I made for @srudy - leftovers of the same materials (CF Stead Repello suede for the main construction , with Horween CXL straps and edge binding and crust calfskin roughout for the lining); so it’s a little bit smaller and a simpler strap arrangement Hand sewing multiple layers of such soft materials isn’t a lot of fun, especially since the suede also camouflages/detracts from the work, but I think it’s still a good bag and probably worth in the end

The original is from 12 years ago, which in itself was a variant of the Sasquatch (1131026) from the year before. It was released in Dark Tan (1221004) and Deep Black (1231005)

They look real enough to me - tag, flat rivets etc … plus as Double 0 says, it’s a lot of work (cost) to replicate such little initial cost

Did you take them out before using the mangle?

Almost brand new 👍

There seems to be a lot sold but I’m astonished at some of the things not sold v what has been

Too slim for me too 😂 … but long gone

I think he’s screwed up the description - they’re all 95% cotton / 5% wool - well spotted

Probably stopped posting then to get on with designing that patch for his jeans 😂

That was less than half … but no I’ve not kept much (a couple of pieces only)

He’s never enjoyed a Glesga’ kiss 😂

… another beautiful pair 😂

All on Marrkt now https://www.marrkt.com/collections/duke_mantee-freewheelers-and-co-collector-sale

He’s had a few outbursts - I chinned him publicly on IG after a rant about (Chinese) businesses ripping off some coat MF issued (I think the Hudson), which was just exactly the same as the FW Thompson … or basically a vintage design

That’s correct mate - never FW but Bootleggers as you say … I consider them the same company though especially since many designs survived through the arc fiasco

Arcs, labels on shirts … there’s a bit of a list. Some things they were issued with desist notices, some they were sued for. I have sympathy for this in some respects, some parts of the world seem to encourage litigation (good money for the attorneys), but in the world of repros there’s little point in trying to defend someone who is deliberately trying to match a particular set of criteria

I’ve forgotten how my tees I’ve had over about 15 years or so - I only had that happen once, and the t-shirt was really well worn so I wasn’t much bothered by it … I expect holes to appear or buttons fall off every now and then, that’s what happens to well used clothing, regardless of how well made you think it is. However, @vlad_III you seem to be cursed with sizing issues and construction failures - you’re a jinx

Freewheelers suffered this more than once

Sedgwick bridle, snake, nickel plated hardware, malachite and onyx gemstones

Mine probably

Sedgwick bridle with brass and nickel hardware, calfskin and smoky quartz jewels