Early 1950s leather satchel

[Dagenham Dave]

Hi,

I'm looking for an early 1950s leather satchel. Does anyone know where I can buy a great reproduction.

Cheers,
Dave

 

[Seb Lucas]

1950's specifically? Or do you simply mean old school 1920-60's style?

https://www.cambridgesatchel.com/ These do a good traditional version (and some terrible fashion versions)

http://www.saddlebackleather.com/business make incredibly robust satchels - I have one - but it is cumbersome and heavy; like wearing a brick around your neck.

I find that Crumplers are hard to beat if you walk around a lot. Aesthetically not very nice. It's useful to work out what you need specifically - I get driven mad by satchels that require buckling up. IMO it's fiddly and annoying.

 

[Dagenham Dave]

1950's specifically? Or do you simply mean old school 1920-60's style?

https://www.cambridgesatchel.com/ These do a good traditional version (and some terrible fashion versions)

http://www.saddlebackleather.com/business make incredibly robust satchels - I have one - but it is cumbersome and heavy; like wearing a brick around your neck.

I find that Crumplers are hard to beat if you walk around a lot. Aesthetically not very nice. It's useful to work out what you need specifically - I get driven mad by satchels that require buckling up. IMO it's fiddly and annoying.

I meant a satchel that looks like it could be from (or before) the early 50s.

Yeah that traditional satchel from the Cambridge Leather Co. is pretty cool, but damn pricey.

Are there any places in Australia to get a nice looking one?

 

[Edward]

The Cambridge style have gotten expensive here in the UK as they got fashionable again. Used to be around £50, now double that.

 

[Benzadmiral]

Earlier this year on eBay I found a traditional attorney's briefcase, probably 1960s, with the single strap that latches and the single handle. It has 3 compartments inside, and except for a little cracking on the underside of the handle, looks almost new. Member Atticus Finch here proclaimed that he has one just like it, and it's been serving him for years. Maybe that kind of satchel?

 

[tropicalbob]

When Coach made their big push in the early 90's, one of their signature products was a men's messenger bag, styled after the mess. and postal bags of the past. My wife got me one at the time, and, with one refurbishment, I still use it daily. Top-grain cowhide and, for my purposes, a really functional design. I see one for sale on Ebay every so often.

 

[Lotsahats]

http://www.saddlebackleather.com/business make incredibly robust satchels - I have one - but it is cumbersome and heavy; like wearing a brick around your neck.

I use a Saddleback messenger bag every day as my go-to-work bag, and I love it. It's definitely a substantial bag, although I wouldn't call it, myself, cumbersome. It also doesn't hold as much as my old Northface backpack, but I love the aesthetic of the Saddleback bag, so I'm willing to make that change. I think Seb's point is a good one: decide what's important to you, and go for that.

A

 

[Seb Lucas]

Hey Aaron, glad you like the Saddleback. I use mine a lot now but only when I drive places because it really doesn't sit comfortably on my shoulders. It certainly has The look which is what attracted me.

 

[Dagenham Dave]

Here is a (supposed) 50s one:

http://m.ebay.com.au/itm/181623300401

Do any of these look early 50s?

http://m.ebay.com.au/itm/111554780777

http://m.ebay.com.au/itm/201212461337

 

[Dagenham Dave]

After doing some internet research, here are my absolute favourites:

SATCHEL & PAGE MAILBAG (RRP: $435):

http://www.satchel-page.com/products/mailbag



Dimensions: height 12", width 16", depth 5"
Weight: 4 lbs​

WHIPPING+POST THE VINTAGE MESSENGER BAG (RRP: $295):

http://www.whippingpost.com/products/the-vintage-messenger



Dimensions: 11.5” x 18.5" x 4"
Weight: 3.5lbs​

 

[wdw]

I use this one from MacKenzie Bags, in oil-pull. It's obviously new, but has a simple classic style. Twice the price of your Satchel and Page one, but it's made by a real human only a few miles from me. As he's a one-man band, he's open to modifications. I see plenty of cheap, nice looking "aged" bags in the shops, but I suspect many are made in far Eastern sweatshops which I try to avoid supporting.

Having said that, I see Lawless Denim in the US make cheap leather totes and I suspect messenger bags might eventually come. Anyway, here's my MacKenzie satchel:

 

[Dagenham Dave]

I use this one from MacKenzie Bags, in oil-pull. It's obviously new, but has a simple classic style. Twice the price of your Satchel and Page one, but it's made by a real human only a few miles from me. As he's a one-man band, he's open to modifications. I see plenty of cheap, nice looking "aged" bags in the shops, but I suspect many are made in far Eastern sweatshops which I try to avoid supporting.

Having said that, I see Lawless Denim in the US make cheap leather totes and I suspect messenger bags might eventually come. Anyway, here's my MacKenzie satchel:

I do like your MacKenzie Bags LARGE SATCHEL (damn, at £385 they ARE pricey!), but I think I prefer the SATCHEL & PAGE MAILBAG and WHIPPING+POST THE VINTAGE MESSENGER BAG.

 

[Dagenham Dave]

After doing some internet research, here are my absolute favourites:

SATCHEL & PAGE MAILBAG (RRP: $435):

http://www.satchel-page.com/products/mailbag

View attachment 21843
View attachment 21844
View attachment 21845

Dimensions: height 12", width 16", depth 5"
Weight: 4 lbs​

WHIPPING+POST THE VINTAGE MESSENGER BAG (RRP: $295):

http://www.whippingpost.com/products/the-vintage-messenger

View attachment 21846
View attachment 21847
View attachment 21848

Dimensions: 11.5” x 18.5" x 4"
Weight: 3.5lbs​

Any opinions on these would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Trotsky]

I have a wonderful modified USAAF briefcase from a leather website I recieved in 2007.

http://www.customhide.com/

I have this one

http://www.customhide.com/1945-US-Army-Leather-Briefcase-p/9101.htm

My parents bought it for me when I was working on my PhD. It's still going strong, minus a small repair to the base of the shoulder strap (too many heavy books, no joke!). I could fit a laptop in it, lunch, moleskins, books and wiritnig utensils with no issue. It's aged beautifully.

 

[Dagenham Dave]

I have a wonderful modified USAAF briefcase from a leather website I recieved in 2007.

http://www.customhide.com/

I have this one

http://www.customhide.com/1945-US-Army-Leather-Briefcase-p/9101.htm

My parents bought it for me when I was working on my PhD. It's still going strong, minus a small repair to the base of the shoulder strap (too many heavy books, no joke!). I could fit a laptop in it, lunch, moleskins, books and wiritnig utensils with no issue. It's aged beautifully.

I like this one by them:

 

[Edward]

Brady Bags of England make a nice, all-leather variation of their Aeriel Trout model:

http://www.bradybags.co.uk/shop/Shoulder-Bags/178/Ariel-Trout-Leather-/

Twice the price of the canvas version, though if my experience with the latter is anything to go by, it'll be a very sound bag that will last a long time. I've recently won one of the smaller Brady styles in a competition with the Chap magazine, and it's a superb daybag when I'm not in the office. I hope to pick up another couple in the future (different sizes and colours).

 

[Dagenham Dave]

Brady Bags of England make a nice, all-leather variation of their Aeriel Trout model:

http://www.bradybags.co.uk/shop/Shoulder-Bags/178/Ariel-Trout-Leather-/

Twice the price of the canvas version, though if my experience with the latter is anything to go by, it'll be a very sound bag that will last a long time. I've recently won one of the smaller Brady styles in a competition with the Chap magazine, and it's a superb daybag when I'm not in the office. I hope to pick up another couple in the future (different sizes and colours).

Beautiful bags.

I actually prefer their bags in triple layered waterproof canvas in khaki. I really like all of these:

Ariel Trout Canvas – Large:


Grasmoor:


Dart:


Gelderburn:


Severn:


Thanks Edward.

 

[Dagenham Dave]

I decided to buy this one from ASOS - SANDQVIST Leather Messenger Bag:



It was reduced from AUD450 to AUD318, with a further 10% off today, so I paid only AUD286.20.

My favourites still are the SATCHEL & PAGE MAILBAG (RRP: US$435) and the WHIPPING+POST THE VINTAGE MESSENGER BAG (RRP: US$295), but once you include shipping and factor in USD to AUD conversion, they came in at approx. AUD560 and AUD450 respectively - too much I think.

Thanks to all for your suggestions/help.

Dave

 

[Edward]

Beautiful bags.

I actually prefer their bags in triple layered waterproof canvas in khaki.

Funnily enough, I do too.... for anyone looking for a durable manbag and who isn't wedded to leather, I think they're an even better deal in the canvas... Mine is an Andare http://www.bradybags.co.uk/shop/Shoulder-Bags/180/Andare/ - same size aqs the Small Aeriel Trout, but different pocket arrangement. Just big enough for a 10" tablet, a novel, an ipod and maybe a camera. At this size I have to think what I want to pack to carry all day, but that's not a bad thing by any means. I've already got my eye on the larger Aeriel Trout in black and the one in green.... My favourite detail is that big, brass ring. I've no use for it yet, but ****** is it a nice detail just to be there.... :lol:

 

[Dagenham Dave]

I decided to buy this one from ASOS - SANDQVIST Leather Messenger Bag:

View attachment 22450 View attachment 22451

It arrived, but I don't like it... So I sold it to a colleague - she loves it.