Millar Mitts
I will admit to a certain vanity about clothing. I mostly wear a variation of the same thing everyday, which makes life easier in the mornings. I have a real issue with outerwear though. I love jackets, hats and gloves. It is probably why Summer is my least favorite time of the year. I remember as a kid in Meadville looking forward to Autumn because it meant I could wear coats again. When I lived in Ithaca in the 70s, my friend Robby Aceto had a pair of these gloves. There was a shop in the DeWitt Mall that sold outdoor kit and they carried Millar Mitts. I bought a pair and completely wore them out over a period of 5 years. Replacing my worn out pair was really difficult. Nobody in the States seemed to carry them, and I think the company went out of business. They were made in the UK by Millar Gloves, Bingham, Nottinghamshire. On one of my trips to London in the mid 80s I found a single pair in a shop in the Burlington Arcade. The backs are wool and the palms are cotton string. Wearing them is such a treat. The wool isn’t itchy, but you always know when you have them on. In an odd way they are very sensual. / I took the train to New York on Thursday for some work and since I knew I would be shooting outside, I broke out these guys. It makes me happy just to look at them.
Jon Crispin's Notebook 
Hi Jon,
I too was searching for MILLER mitts (the key is in the spelling!) to replace some long since worn out through shooting – and they ARE still available here in good old Blighty (UK)! Here is a link I hope you find useful:
http://www.chesterjefferies.co.uk/scripts/prodView.asp?idproduct=68
£19 per pair plus £5 postage worldwide – say $36 to re-acquaint yourself with some highly durable and desirable gloves acn’t be bad. Good Luck!
Graham
Graham. Thank you for the link. I’ll be in the UK in early December. Cheers on this remembrance day. Best. Jon
Jon,
The web is the way ahead on Miller mitts, I think. Having just ordered mine it seems there is a six week lead time, because they are still made by hand, but now largely to order and probably are not available in shops. I hope you strike lucky when you are next over here, but ordering remains an option if not. Fortunately I have oredered in good time and hope to have mine and 1 x wife and 2 x sos pairs in time for Christmas.
Thank you for your Remembrance Day wishes; I was at out local war memorial today for the Act of Remembrance at 1100 hours, and it was very moving to see so many young people attending.
Cheers,
Graham
Graham, this is getting interesting. I had saved the original tag on my gloves and found it this morning. They were indeed called Millar Mitts with an A and not an E. I paid 15 quid for them in a shop in the Burlington Arcade in London. I might have mentioned it in my post, but the tag says “Made in Great Britain by Craftsmen Millar Gloves Bingham Nottinghamshire England” I guess what has happened is that someone decided to manufacture an updated version of the glove and changed the name, maybe for legal reasons. I will order a new pair as I think mine might belong in a museum. Thanks again. This has been fun. Jon
Jon,
My apologies for implying or suggesting your spelling may be wrong: my own searches started with the MILLAR spelling (hence I came upon your post) since that is how I recalled the spelling of the name to be, but that got nowhere. It was only when I change the spelling to MILLER that I got just that one result that could furnish me with replacement gloves. Having seen your post in my MILLAR search, and sharing your sentiments for the gloves, I retraced my steps to let you know where to get some. I did the same on a US website forum called Ask Andy, where another devotee had been bemoaning the demise of the Millar mitt. Just trying to be helpful….
Graham
Graham,
No problem at all. As I said, this has been fun for me. I still wonder why the company is using Miller instead of Millar. They still appear to be the same quality. Do you have any idea where the new version is made? I would very much like to visit their facility and take some photos on my next trip to the UK.
Best, and again, thanks for the interesting dialogue.
Jon Jon Crispin Photography PO Box 958 Amherst, MA 01004 0958
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Thank you for the posting, Major (Retired) Graham Linney.
Thank you, Jon Crispin, for the photo and Blog.
Millar Mitts were my best favorite mountainclimbing gloves, for climbing and for belaying. I had several pair.
I would have kept getting more, but they disappeared off the market, here, in the states.
I’d bet mountainclimbers would still like them: Millar Mitts or Miller Mitts.
Hi Connie,
Well, I hope you found the thread and link useful too. That said, I was wrong on a couple of things: delivery and sizing. Firstly. I got the four pairs I ordered in very quick time – about a week. Secondly, my wife found the small too small even for her wee hands, so we up-sized hers to medium, which are a good fit – and again, the turn-around was about a week. My two adult sons and I opted for the only remaining size – large, which we were good but a little tight for No 2 son who has quite large hands. Once wet, though, theyslacken off a bit.
We love ’em. I hope you and your mountaineering associates do too. It’s a huge relief to know they are still around…sop spread the word. i guess it has to be MILLER now, though, which may still prevent Millar mitt afficionados finding them, unless they are lucky enough to stumble on this thread.
With best wishes,
Graham
Dear Jon
i was interested to read the comments about Millarmitts as my family started the company Millar Gloves Ltd from 192 Broadhurst Gardens, London NW6, and of course Millar Mitts were one of the products which they made. The gloves were made by outworkers in their own homes. They were sent the relevant pattern and wool by post and then sent in the gloves which they had made. It was a very successful, quality, family business which I believe my father’s business partner sold after the death of my father, Lauder Robert Millar, in 1978. The company at that stage had recently moved to Milborne Port, near Sherborne, Dorset where it had taken over a leather-glove manufacturing company called Silas Dyke and sons. I have some more facts and figures at my fingertips if anyone is interested!
Marcia Giardelli (nee Millar)
Marcia, I am so grateful for your response to the post. I always loved my Millarmitts and was saddened when they were no longer available. I still have my last pair bought in London at Farlows in the early 1980s. The story of the company is fascinating; I always wondered about the manufacturing process. The idea that they were made in people’s homes adds to the mystique. It is interesting that you posted your reply today, as my son and I leave for England this evening. All the best, Jon
Marcia, I am delighted you responded.
I am wondering about the material used.
As a mountainclimber, nothing was ever better than Millarmitts for rope handling.
My hands were never hurt: not abraded, not pinched. I did instruction in belaying and falling (beginners need to use static and dynamic ropes to experience the difference) for years with no injury to my hands.
I didn’t mind that Millarmitts wore out, with so much use. I had three pair, one after the other.
The “new” Millarmitts materials were never quite so good. My hands were pinched. I have had to stand aside.
I would let my hands be injured, to a point, to save a life but not for practical instruction. The fact is, many “aids” are to avoid rope handling because the rope handling gloves available today are inadequate.
Is it possible the new maker of Millarmitts could be put in touch with the provider of the original materials?
There are mountainclimbers who long for the original Millarmitts: I am not the only one.
I also used my Millarmitts for sailing. I am a Yacht Racing Association Division R Season Champion.
Their are sailors who long for the original Millarmitts: I am not the only one.
I have heard working fishermen had used Millarmitts, as well.
I believe Millarmitts could be marketed again to mountainclimbers and to people who use boats, again.
Connie and Marcia, I agree. There must be a market for a glove the quality of the original that Marcia’s father so lovingly brought to market. I still love it that the people who actually made the gloves were doing so out of their own homes and small shops. Let’s get this thing going! Jon
I too have an old pair of the Millar Mitts- I too love them- I believed I purchased mine from a company started by an American Rock Climber by the name of Royal Robbins. I purchased mine in the 70′ s but don’ recall the exact year. I have used mine for climbing, belaying, hiking, General labor- they are my go- to mitts for anything outdoors in the cold. I am sad to say that mine are fraying as well and a few of the fingers have come apart at the seam. My wife and daughter are quite accomplished at crocheting and knitting. We are on a search for just the right materials to reproduce them. If anyone has any ideas about what was used please let us know. My name is Reggie Ogg, the email is dogsgo2heaven@gmail.com.
Hi Marcia (and thank you Jon for the original post – the power of google has lead me here!) I am currently working on a book about Goalkeeping and one of the spreads we are covering are the Ron Springett Lauder Millar gloves he wore and endorsed from the 1960s. I have got an original pair from that time along with a few bits of advertising material which were in Football Magazines but it would be great to know if you have any more information about them. If so would you be kind enough to get in touch please. Many Thanks Rob Stokes
Dear Rob,
Really lovely to read your email. A real step back into the past! Although I was a young girl at the time of the Goalie gloves, I remember talk about them and that they were very popular, long-lasting and fit for purpose. It would be wonderful if I could have a copy of your article once you have written it as I have very few physical reminders of those days. I am sorry that I do not have any more information which I can provide for you nor can I direct you to anyone I know who has. I would very much have liked to give you some help.
Best wishes,
Marcia
Rob, I don’t have any information about the Lauder gloves, but would love to know more, and or course see the book when it comes out. Could you send me a photo of your original gloves? You can email me directly if you go to my willardsuitcases.com site. If you can’t find me, comment again and I will get my direct email to you somehow. Best, Jon
Thank you for your reply Marcia (and you too Jon) – I thought it was a long shot but I really do appreciate your reply, it is like you say a long time back now. Just for info the first book we did ‘Glove Story’ only showed a picture of the Gloves and an original advert from Goal magazine (circa 1963) – In our follow up Book (the aptly named Glove Story 2) we plan to include some more words on them. Just need to get my finger out and start putting more stuff down on paper now. (sadly the day job gets in the way at times)
PS Jon I have sent you my email address so if you get back to me I will send you a couple of photos you may wish to add to this post. Regards Rob
Hello All,
I bought my first and only pair of Millar Mitts about 1971 to use for rock climbing and mountaineering. I still have them and now use them for cold weather photography. They are still in fairly good shape though, alas, I see one area beginning to unravel. Hence, my search on the web brought me here to this very interesting discussion. Based on what I’ve read, I should perhaps relegate my Millars to the display case and purchase some Chinese-made replacements. But maybe not quite yet……. What a wonderful product were my Millar Mitts.
Allan
I too love my Millar mitts and was extremely happy to find this thread. I have had mine since 1972, and have used them extensively over the last 40 years in forestry work. Mine are finally beginning to fail thus my search for “Millar Mitts” and my discovery of this thread. The replacements look the same but seemingly may not perform as well. I am one more who would gladly buy the “old” mitt again. They are without a doubt one of the finest pieces of outdoor gear I ever owned. Thank you Marcia for the bit on the history of the company, any more you care to pass on would be welcome.
Steve Farris
Silver City, New Mexico.
Thanks Steve, Wow, 40 years. That is just amazing. Best, Jon
I have inherited my Dad’s Millar Mitts that he used for no doubt years in winter and outdoor walks and shooting. I adore them as my perfect glove for I suffer with cold hands and feet so even cold British summer nights and outdoor swims are backed up by this wonderful glove. So glad to find an equivalent I can buy more of. They now will serve on Dartmoor, my camping kit, swimming kit and the occasional rock climbing with friends. A quality garment rarely found anymore and one of my favourite,
RT, Ashburton, Devon, England.
Jon – Check this out. Watch for Millar Mitts in action.
http://www.youtube.com/watch_popup?v=vJRDpTUIrJI&vq=medium
I’ve still got my pair purchased in 1973 at Wild Country Outfitters in Champaign, IL. Unfortunately, the thumbs have worn through. I’m considering buying a new pair now that I know where to find them.
Gary, Streamwood, IL, USA
A little late but it was lovely to her from Marcia, I worked at her fathers’ factory in Milborne Port in the late 70s and remember the times fondly. I would be very interested in hearing from Miss Millar again.
Lovely surprise to hear from you,
Will try to email response through your website rather than write in detail on this website.
Millar Gloves of Milborne Port was closed in the early 80s. I had a glove company in Bingham, Nottnghamshire, UK but sold the company in 1989. At that time I had changed the name from Anthony Moor Ltd to Millar Gloves Ltd, based, as I said in Bingham. I see that Chester Jeffreys are now, 2017/18, selling Millar Mitts which used to be the most popular glove in the range. We also made full fingered glove in the same hand crochet technique for horse riding in the winter.
Rwgards
Anthony Moor
Note:
https://www.chesterjefferies.co.uk/
Anthony, thank you so much for posting this. I looked at the site and see that the Millar Mitts that are now being made look true to the original. I might just have to do another post. Best regards and cheers, Jon
They certainly look good to me, from the web site image. Am surprised that they are not marketing them more thoroughly. When we made them we were always short on stock. We used to sell to every gun shop and saddlers in the UK and a fair bit of export. I go into those sort of outlets now and again and have never spotted them. Certainly neither Purdeys not Swayne and Adeney stock them any more. Can’t image why unless they cann’t make sufficient quantities. It is a pity because we even supplied riding gloves to the Royal Family. It is not that difficult to sucessfully sell a premium product so I really do suspect their production is limited.
Regards.
Anthony.
My last pair, which I purchased way more than 30 years ago from a high end shop in an arcade near Oxford Street are still in great shape as I don’t wear them often. I have always been afraid of losing them and not being able to get a replacement. They were the very last pair in the shop and I was told that they were already out of production. I plan to order a new pair from Chester Jeffries. I really appreciate that you pointed this out to me. Sometimes the internet is wonderful. Jon
Absolutely. You probabably bought the mitts from Swayne Adeney who had and still do have a shop in the Picadily Arcade but we sold to about three ir four other shops within a 100 yards or so of there. Good luck with the Chester Jeffries order. Let me know what they are like. I am not sure but I’m not certain that they are made in the UK, not that that necessarily matters. Also the yarn quality. As I said the i age of C J website looked goid so hopefully the old quality has been maintained. Ridiculous, isn’t it, I still have a trace of a proprietory interest in the things from nearly 30 years ago. Haha!
Anthony, It was indeed Swaine Adeney. Thanks for jogging my memory. I love that arcade. Very high end shops, but the building is beautiful. Cheers, Jon
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