Luggage?

[Ed Bass]

Hi All,
I am on the (casual) search for some vintage luggage and I'm wondering if there is source for information regarding different American brands, models and their quality? I am interested in the time period 1940's-1960's if that should make any difference. As a long shot I searched for "Vintage Luggage Forums" but, as I figured, that just didn't pan out.
Appreciate any and all input.
Cheers,
Ed

 

[3fingers]

1950s Samsonite is hard to beat if you want usable good quality luggage. There are several nice colors to choose from and it is relatively easy to find at estate sales and the like.

 

[tonyb]

I have a modest collection of old suitcases and trunks, bought cheap, mostly decorative at this point. Even though they do function as tables and such now, they’re still luggage, unmodified.

There’s some discussion on these things in various Facebook groups, but I couldn’t locate one devoted to old luggage only. Maybe you could start one?

FWIW, I find these things undervalued. And perhaps the prices will drop even more, in the wake of the pandemic economy, as likely will many other things with little intrinsic value. (Actually use a vintage suitcase without wheels and you’ll soon appreciate why just about all modern suitcases have them.) But I’m guessing the prices will rise in coming years. They’re cool looking. Window dressers often use them. My bet is that interior decorators ain’t far behind.

 

[belfastboy]

I have a modest collection of old suitcases and trunks, bought cheap, mostly decorative at this point. Even though they do function as tables and such now, they’re still luggage, unmodified.

There’s some discussion on these things in various Facebook groups, but I couldn’t locate one devoted to old luggage only. Maybe you could start one?

FWIW, I find these things undervalued. And perhaps the prices will drop even more, in the wake of the pandemic economy, as likely will many other things with little intrinsic value. (Actually use a vintage suitcase without wheels and you’ll soon appreciate why just about all modern suitcases have them.) But I’m guessing the prices will rise in coming years. They’re cool looking. Window dressers often use them. My bet is that interior decorators ain’t far behind.

I have a vintage leather luggage hat box. Picked it up for next to nothing a few years back. I have it in the living room as décor next to the cigarette box and ashtray....they don't get used either.

 

[Ed Bass]

Thanks all.
3fingers, I have looked at several Samsonite sets and I agree, they are of a very nice quality and offered in a good array of color choices. In particular I have looked at a few American Tourister sets and I'm trying to figure out the differences in some of their lines/models . Like the difference between the "Tiara" line and the "Tri-Taper" line. I cannot seem to find if this is an actual design difference or merely a color choice option.
Ed

 

[3fingers]

I am guessing here but it appears the tri taper came first and the tiara was its replacement sometime in the early 60s. Again, that is a guess.
Unless you have them side by side it may be difficult to tell them apart unless you are a luggaphile or whatever you would call a vintage luggage expert.

 

[tonyb]

It seemed that grey Samsonites were half the suitcases on the carousels at SeaTac in the early 1970s, when I worked there.

An online discussion with a friend a while back turned to old luggage. I mentioned that I recently acquired another old cardboard suitcase. He said he’d never heard of such a thing. I told him he had probably seen and handled scores of them — hundreds, maybe — seeing how his dear old mom had an antique/vintage/interesting-old-junk store. Ain’t the same kinda cardboard the stuff from Amazon comes in, I told him. It’s often covered in other materials. Some examples have leather corner protectors and binding at the seams. It’s pretty sturdy stuff.

Some of my old suitcases gotta be at least 80 years old. I doubt any of it got the kind of use luggage gets today, so it isn’t that my pieces were put through several decades of hard, regular use, tossed about my airline baggage manhandlers. Rather, like most consumer goods, the stuff from way back when that survives in reasonably good condition got put away in an attic in 1940- or ’50-something.

 

[Ed Bass]

Luggaphile
You just coined it!

 

[robrinay]

Have you considered vintage Rimowa suitcases - the vintage ones can be bought for reasonable prices on eBay

 

[Ed Bass]

I have not , solely because I am not familiar with the brand, but I will certainly look. Thanks

 

[robrinay]

I have not , solely because I am not familiar with the brand, but I will certainly look. Thanks

They’re made of thin aluminium/aluminum similar on design to Halliburton luggage. They’re German well made and very Art Deco.

 

[Steepleman]

I use a hand-held lid-over leather suitcase from I guess around the 30s for travelling. It's fine to carry as long as you don't need to carry it for miles and if you pack relatively lightly. I need to replace the “hinge” leather, because it's cracking. I got the handle “hinge” leather replaced because it was cracking, but the cobbler replaced it with some rather rubbish polyurethane leather. Going to go to a better place next time.