Messenger Bag and vintage clothes in UK?

Luke 42 · Oct 2, 2008

Hello Folks,
let me introduce myself first: I'm Lukas from Germany (near Cologne) currently i'm in Aberdeen, Scotland for studying Biology at Robert Gordon University. I found this forum a few days ago and I'm really amazed!
Maybe somebody can help me with my questions:

I'd like to have a classic (vintage if possible, but repro is just fine) canvas messenger bag for my way to Uni, since I only have a modern backpack, which is way too big and way to modern

Something like that:

http://blogs.knoxnews.com/knx/shopping/father's messenger bag.jpg

Also I'd like to know where to get 40s/50s clothes in Aberdeen or UK in general. I've been to some vintage shops and lots of charity shops but have not been succesful yet..

Thanks in advance
Lukas

BellyTank · Oct 2, 2008

Baron Kurtz.
He knows Aberdeen.

B
T

benstephens · Oct 3, 2008

There are a number of vintage clothing shops in Edinburgh, mixed variety though!

Ben

Salv · Oct 3, 2008

There are plenty of canvas messenger bags starting here. Or you could try the Carradice courier bag in waterproof cotton duck.

I use a Carradice Nelson saddle bag for my commute, and it's an extremely well-made product, is completely waterproof, and very tough and hard wearing. If you want something that won't fall apart after a year I'd recommend the Carradice bag. Carradice have been in business since the 1930s and all their bags are made at their workshop in Nelson, Lancashire. The label in my saddlebag is signed by the woman who assembled it - you won't get that level of care and pride in many other courier bags.

Baron Kurtz · Oct 9, 2008

for the bag, try McKay's of queen street in the city centre. Down the side of Marischal across the street from the police station. Downstairs is a wonderland of warehouse clearance clothes. Mostly 70s and on, but some gems in there too. Upstairs is camping mainly, but with some surplus thrown in for good measure. His surplus stock has decreased dramatically in the 7 years since i'd last been in (In 2001 he had the biggest box of 1950 pattern and earlier British KD trousers with field dressing pocket. Alas when i was in abdn a couple of weeks ago i bought his last pair!), but he still has some great stuff at greater prices. Ask him specifically as he has it hidden away. Some nice WWII american tunics and quite a few pieces of similar era British gear. Mostly in small sizes.

There used to be a vintage "shop" - a room really - on the top floor of a multi-business premises on Adelphi Lane off Union Street, but i don't know if it's still there. Across from Essie Mac's and towards Market Street a little way. I'm told there's a vintage shop around St Andrew St., somewhere behind the Bon Accord centre but i didn't get a chance to have a look. And there used to be a very fruitful (vintage-wise) junk shop on King Street near the Sainsbury's - well it was a sainsbury's then, i think i saw it was a Morrison's now - across from a Halal butcher. If you can manage to avoid his extensive collection of 1970s pornography he used to have a decent selection of clothes. And there was a great (for vintage) Oxfam on Rosemount Viaduct. And a thrift-type store with lots of clothes at the corner of Esselmont Avenue and Rosemount Place.

That's all i can think of off the top of my head.

bk

cookie · Oct 10, 2008

What a memory! Congrats...wow!

Luke 42 · Oct 12, 2008

Baron Kurtz said:
for the bag, try McKay's of queen street in the city centre. Down the side of Marischal across the street from the police station. Downstairs is a wonderland of warehouse clearance clothes. Mostly 70s and on, but some gems in there too. Upstairs is camping mainly, but with some surplus thrown in for good measure. His surplus stock has decreased dramatically in the 7 years since i'd last been in (In 2001 he had the biggest box of 1950 pattern and earlier British KD trousers with field dressing pocket. Alas when i was in abdn a couple of weeks ago i bought his last pair!), but he still has some great stuff at greater prices. Ask him specifically as he has it hidden away. Some nice WWII american tunics and quite a few pieces of similar era British gear. Mostly in small sizes.

There used to be a vintage "shop" - a room really - on the top floor of a multi-business premises on Adelphi Lane off Union Street, but i don't know if it's still there. Across from Essie Mac's and towards Market Street a little way. I'm told there's a vintage shop around St Andrew St., somewhere behind the Bon Accord centre but i didn't get a chance to have a look. And there used to be a very fruitful (vintage-wise) junk shop on King Street near the Sainsbury's - well it was a sainsbury's then, i think i saw it was a Morrison's now - across from a Halal butcher. If you can manage to avoid his extensive collection of 1970s pornography he used to have a decent selection of clothes. And there was a great (for vintage) Oxfam on Rosemount Viaduct. And a thrift-type store with lots of clothes at the corner of Esselmont Avenue and Rosemount Place.

That's all i can think of off the top of my head.

bk

Wow! Truly a great memory! Thank you very much. I'll have a look at those shops for sure.
That vintage shop on St. Andrews Street is called Retrospect, but they only had 70s stuff mostly, which is a little too funky for me

Thanks a lot again! Highly appreciated!

Edit: By the way: I saw a fantastic 2 piece navy blue tailored suit at Barnados at George Street for 20 pounds..Gee, I fell in love with it..but it just was way too wide for me..I'll have to start eating right now;-) So if anybody's in Aberdeen..grab it!

Baron Kurtz · Oct 13, 2008

one more i thought of: On the corner of King Street and Spring garden there used to be a surplus store which had some good old stuff. I got a 50s Navy greatcoat there back in the day.

Also check out the charity shops along Union Street (though i imagine you've done that already). I'm afraid they've been recently cleared of all their 30s/40s ties

bk

Luke 42 · Oct 17, 2008

Thank you so much Baron Kurtz!!

I've been to McKays today and came back with a 1952 RAF rucksack/shoulderbag in heavy canvas:eusa_clap
This store is so cool..I love how crowded everything is and how nice and chatty that older gentleman is.
As for trousers: I found a pair of military fireguard trouser from 1953..did not try them on, seemed to large for me..but this was the heaviest wool fabric I've ever had in my hands. Had a nice conversation with that gentleman about how this old stuff is so much better quality than new stuff

So thank you very much Baron Kurtz, I think I've found my favorite store in Aberdeen.

Regards

Lukas

Baron Kurtz · Oct 20, 2008

Ha! Another convert. Yes, it's a grand store . . . The old chap - i believe his name is Sandy, everone of a certain age in the northeast is called Sandy (Alexander) - is a hoot. His brother used to run the upsairs part of the store, but i guess he's not there any more, as the upstairs seemed to be populated by youth who didn't respect Sandy very much. I think he's great.

bk

Baron Kurtz · Nov 3, 2008

There's another shoppee i forgot about that has vintage stuff in Abgerdeen. If you go south down Bridge Street, it becomes College Street, then South College Street. It goes under the railway. Just before it goes under the railway, there's an antique shop/arcade in one of the old warehouse arch spaces. Last time i was there there was a whole buch of vintage hats in the 7-7 1/8 range at 25 quid or so. An amazing top hat, and a bunch of cool antiquey stuff.

bk

Messenger Bag and vintage clothes in UK?

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