I’m sure I don’t have to tell those of you that are keen to collect something similar that it can be tough to find something that’s
an actual antique
AND
reasonably priced
AND
looks good on the outside
AND
isn’t torn up or growing mold on the INside
… usually you find you’ve got to give up (at least) one of these things when shopping (online or in person) for this sort of Indy-ish item.
So, I was pretty pleased when I picked up this nice piece of luggage at the start of this past weekend.
Strangely, it had been a few months since I’d been looking online for such a suitcase… I was on my lunch break and sitting in front of my computer when I suddenly had an impulse from out of nowhere to look up “antique (or vintage) suitcase” once again.
The seller had place an ad calling it an “antique reproduction”. I immediately sent him an e-mail and he replied a short time later. It turned out that he lived only a block or two out of my way from my regular route home. I stopped by after work on Friday and did my best job of playing it cool when he brought it out to show me (hope I didn’t push the cash into his hand TOO hard before I beat a hasty retreat out of there!)
The fella selling it made it clear that he’d only ever used it a few times for travelling and afterwards just kept it in one of the rooms in his house as a cool, decorative piece. He also said he’d paid a lot more FOR it than what he was now asking for it (said his wife wanted it gone because they were re-decorating the room and “it was taking up space”) …Luck was with me! He even mentioned that he’d had the ad posted for several weeks and I was the first to reply to it!
It had a good layer of dust on it, mind you… but once I got it home and spent a couple of hours wiping it down and giving the dry leather a nice even application of Pecard Leather Dressing, the hide really began to get some “life” back in it. I also gave the inside a little vacuuming, but it seemed almost unnecessary. The inside looked almost untouched and seemed completely dust-free.
I’ve included photos below (apologies in advance for my attempt to create and arty/moody IndyGear shot… I know what I was trying to capture, but my camera just doesn’t seem interested in co-operating in low lighting.
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I’m really happy with this suitcase… It’s a well-constructed and sturdy leather piece that has a nice, adventurous “feel” to it…
“and I even like the color”
May it serve you well on many adventures.
We're recovering valuable artifacts! Maybe they should be in a museum!
