Gladstone Bags

Whenever I go away for weekends, I use my trusty Gladstone Bag* that I picked up for $160 from Marshall's.

Recently, Daisy found a vintage version. It is in very good shape. The leather was a little bit dry, so I used a double-dose of Pecard and it softened right up. The vintage one is the pumpkin colored one.

Here are some photos:









I use a Gladstone for weekend trips. I don't want to ruin the leather by taking it on a plane. Do you have any of these bags?

Out at The Cape:



*A black leather bag of various sizes, all convenient to be hand-carried. These bags have two handles, and are made so as not to touch the ground, like the older carpet bags. Called Gladstone in compliment to W. E. Gladstone... from Bartleby.com

Excellent bags there sir! I would love to have them but bags that travel with me take regular beatings...so I stick with cheapies for now.

McPeppers said:

Excellent bags there sir! I would love to have them but bags that travel with me take regular beatings...so I stick with cheapies for now.

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Thank you, Kind Sir.
Yes, I would never take these on a plane for the same reason. My regular suitcase is a big boring rip-stop nylon bag.

hah nice, mines one of the enormous plastic ones that keep your electronics safe.. Thank goodness for it too because I dont want to know what could cause a 1/2 inch deep scar in hard plastic...and what it might have done to lesser bags..

Oh good, the ink on my fingers is gone... lol I had a rather chaotic restoration session with my new-old mont-blanc pen that arrived today lol.

Hemingway Jones' Gladstone Bag

Evening Mr. Jones -

You and Miss Daisy have found handsome functional versions of this classic bag. I think the principal feature of the Gladstone Bag is the hinged opening mechanism. When opened, the mouth of the bag remains open so that items can be packed inside without constantly holding the bag open.

You found yours at a very good price. London's Swaine Adeney Brigg Ltd still handcrafts bespoke copies of this bag at 1,795 pounds sterling.

http://swaineadeney.co.uk//perl2/v2.cgi?page=/catalogue/details.html&productid=1505&sectiontoken=signature-goods



Well done HJ.

Glad you finally posted these. I just love the pumpkin colored bag, and can't believe I found it. As if it was just sitting there, waiting for me to take home to you. Definitely on the list of best vintage finds. I am particularly amazed at it's condition. It must have sat in someones closet for years, unused.

A very public thank you to Daisy for the bag.

And yachtsilverswan, I love that Adney bag. I would love to find something like that or perhaps a Louis Vuitton Steamer Trunk.

McPeppers, you must take that Mont Blanc story over to the Fountain Pen thread.

Does anybody have any good references for gladstone bags? I've seen them before, but the cheapest I've ever noticed was something like $400. For that I could actually go somewhere with my musette bag... lol

I have a bag so much like Daisy's it has to be by the same maker. Marked only "Cowhide" on the bottom. Santa brought it last year.

Baggers has a Peterman gladstone, I believe.

scotrace said:

I have a bag so much like Daisy's it has to be by the same maker. Marked only "Cowhide" on the bottom. Santa brought it last year.

Baggers has a Peterman gladstone, I believe.

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Daisy gave it to me. I thought she was going to keep it, but she wanted me to have it. She is so nice.

If I were looking for one, I would go to every Marshall's I saw.

Very nice bags indeed, HJ

Both look outstanding. The vintage bag looks fresh and new in those pics.
:eusa_clap

Thanks, Benny,
It is amazing what Pecard will do.
That bag is in great shape for having been left behind by someone who moved out of our building! You can never beat "free!"

Nice score, Daisy! And then handed it off to Hem? You're a true lady, my dear!

And Hem, you lucky sod, I've been searching for one I can afford since you first posted yours on COW, and you have them left at your doorstep! You lead a charmed life, my friend. Carry your new bag in health and happiness (but don't leave it unattended while I am nearby!).

Hemingway Jones said:

Daisy gave it to me. I thought she was going to keep it, but she wanted me to have it. She is so nice.

If I were looking for one, I would go to every Marshall's I saw.

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Aw, Golly Gee, that's so sweet. I saw it, and I did like it, but I had to give it to Hem. It is in such good shape, and beautiful leather. Even the inside is nice. I thought because of the tweed looking inside that it was Hartman, but there is no lable. Usually Hartman is marked in some way. I hope he gets a lot of use out of it. It's such a great bag, it should be used.
Yes, Marshall's and TJMaxx have great luggage departments around here. I've come across some very cool vintagey bags in both of these stores. I actually got a cool small suitcase that looks like an old leather square suitcase. It's dark brown leather, with light brown leather straps. Unfortunately the leather strap buckles are fake, and they actually close with a snap, that is not very sturdy. Also, to take away from it's vintageness it has one of those collapseable handles built into the back. It's a great looking suitcase, but I wouldn't put it on a plane, it's just not strong enough. It is great for weekend trips though. Well, back to my point, TJMaxx and Marshall's have great suitcase departments. I even bought two great Victorinox suitcases for half the price. This brand tends to be rather expensive, and I was waiting for them to go on sale at Bloomingdales, for I love this brand. They are very well made, and have lot's of neat little gadgets and pouches inside. I was lucky that I found the higher end collection at TJ Maxx, including the smaller suitcase which is carry on size, and also perfect for weekend trips.
OK, that's it for me!! I've gone on way too long I just wanted to tell you all how great some of the discount stores can be for getting vintagey gladstone bags and other suitcases. We all can't be lucky enough to go outside your apartment and just find a vintage gladstone in perfect condition sitting in the hall way

Mojave Jack said:

Nice score, Daisy! And then handed it off to Hem? You're a true lady, my dear!

And Hem, you lucky sod, I've been searching for one I can afford since you first posted yours on COW, and you have them left at your doorstep! You lead a charmed life, my friend. Carry your new bag in health and happiness (but don't leave it unattended while I am nearby!).

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The next one I find is yours, Jack!!
This is definitely one of my best vintage scores so far. Once in a while I'll find a gown from the thirties or a dress from the early 1900's for such a low price, that I take them and run out of the store before the sales girl changes her mind. But this, this was free, can't beat that