Perhaps an unusual request but - I'm hoping - within the wide range of knowledge of the members here.
Does anyone have a lead on where to have a canvas bag made up?
I am looking to have a couple of canvas bags made up - a satchel to take to work when a leather case would be too formal and a couple of more luggage-like bags.
Not waxed canvas or sailcloth (though the latter could be interesting) just plain ole' canvas.
Thanks,
Cantab
custom canvas bags?
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Cantabrigian
- Posts: 278
- Joined: Mon Oct 24, 2005 1:26 am
- Location: New York, NY
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Here are two...the first is, I believe better quality. I have seen and examined the bags, but do not own either:
http://www.foggspecialistbags.com/range.htm
http://www.chapman-bags.co.uk
Both have a bespoke service.
http://www.foggspecialistbags.com/range.htm
http://www.chapman-bags.co.uk
Both have a bespoke service.
http://www.bradybags.co.uk/
I have always owned Brady Bags and they have served very well. I am not sure if they do custom work but their range of products covers most needs.
The company history as written by Helen Brady is particularly interesting and explains to a large degree the interest of the brand and products, the styles of which were born in the golden era of men's dressing:
"THE HISTORY OF BRADY BROTHERS
Three generations of the Brady family were involved in a business which for over a hundred years produced unique and high class sporting leather goods.
The first Brady brothers were John and Albert who in about 1877 started making leather gun cases in Price Street, Birmingham for 12/6 each, that is about 75p in today’s money. Eventually John’s son Ernest and Albert’s son Leonard, worked in the business. In 1923 John died aged 55 and Ernest left the business. For several years Ernest worked elsewhere including a job making the trunks that went on the backs of motor cars. Then in 1928 with £500 that his father had left him and £100 borrowed from an aunt, he began in business on his own with his uncle Frank Brady travelling for the business. Eventually they moved to larger premises in Shadwell Street in Birmingham’s gun quarter, in the 1930’s. It was there Ernest first designed and made game bags, and a large selection of sporting accessories, but most particularly he designed and made himself a range of fishing bags all named after English rivers. These bags were to become the mainstay of the company and the source of its prosperity and fame in future years. Handmade Brady gun cases were also greatly prized throughout the world, particularly by those who had Purdey guns. Oak and leather cases were made for movie and theatrical celebrities and royalty including the Sultan of Oman and the Duke of Westminster. As a girl (the writer is Ernest’s daughter) I well remember going into work one day in the 1950’s and finding the hallway full of what looked like a lot of broken-down cases and in some instances blood-stained game and fishing bags. Thinking they were all rubbish and that I should be deputed to put them in the dustbin, I luckily made some enquiries about the matter first. I discovered that they belonged to the Duke of Westminster and his son, who had just inherited them and we were to repair them and suitably initial each item. I soon learned that sportsmen do not like anything to look new or brightly coloured and made only of natural materials.
In 1920 Leonard went to Hollywood, California. Like Ernest, Leonard was well armed with the various skills learned from uncle and father. Leonard arrived on a Sunday evening and by nine o’clock the following morning had obtained a job in a harness shop making saddles and bridles. At that time Douglas Fairbanks Snr. was about to embark on a series of pictures with an English historical background. He called at the harness shop to enquire whether anyone could make English leatherwork. Leonard was promptly hired. He worked exclusively for principal actors whose customers were to be seen in close up. Eventually in 1929 Leonard opened a shop called “Brady, The Leather Man”. The shop was next door to Warner Bros studio. He got to know Jack and Harry Warner and was commissioned to do all the leatherwork for their wardrobe and property department. Leonard contributed to the costumes of many movie stars, including Clark Gable, Greta Garbo, James Cagney and Shirley Temple. In 1947 Leonard returned to England and retired to the Cotswolds.
Just before the 1939-45 war broke out Ernest took his younger brother Philip, a redundant car salesman into the business. During the war Ernest was forced to move the business into his house with the help of one stitcher and one part-time machinist. Both ladies, incidentally had worked for John and Albert, and went on to complete over 50 years with Brady Brothers. It was a blessing that Ernest had an understanding wife who was willing to have her household disrupted with workers and business callers at the door and on the telephone. My mother contributed a great deal to the welfare of the business in the war years, for these were lean and difficult days. Our house was bombed and so was Birmingham very extensively. The city was going to have to be reconstructed and Shadwell Street was to be demolished, so Ernest decided to start up in business again by moving in 1946 to Halesowen, a small and ancient town, once a nail-making centre and part of the industrial Black Country, yet close to beautiful countryside. It was vital at this time that new outlets should be found for all our products. With this in mind my parents and I went to London for a month in a caravan Ernest had built a year or two before, and every day my father went into London with a large wheeled truck he had constructed, loaded with samples of all the things that Brady Brothers made. He called at all the big stores and as many small fishing and gun makers shops he could find, showing them his goods and taking many orders. This undertaking caused quite a stir and not a little amusement and was often referred to by our customers during the passing years.
Gradually in the Great Cornbow, Halesowen premises, the staff were increasing until they numbered about 40, including out-workers who made nets for game bags among other things. I became one of the out-workers too.
In the next thirty years apart from recessions, Brady Brothers prospered. Our goods were exported to the USA, Japan, France, Sweden, South Africa and Italy, we also enjoyed a healthy home trade. Several Brady fishing bags became sought after fashion items, particularly the Severn. Many celebrities were photographed at airports carrying them, and news men and photographers found the bags convenient to carry their heavy equipment around in.
As the years past Ernest was anxious to integrate some young people into the company to take his and Philip’s place as they both grew older. Three or four candidates came and went. In 1983 I was elected as a director of the company in the hope that along with two other working directors the business could continue after Ernest and Philip’s departure, principally to ensure the jobs of those in the company, many of who, had been with us for up to thirty years and more. Ernest died soon after in 1986.
The company continued on under Philip’s management until 1993 when Mr Michael Goold of Goold Holdings, Walsall came along and purchased the business. It is at his request that I have written this short history of my family’s company. I am happy and grateful for the opportunity to do so and I offer him my sincere thanks.
Helen Brady 2005"
I have always owned Brady Bags and they have served very well. I am not sure if they do custom work but their range of products covers most needs.
The company history as written by Helen Brady is particularly interesting and explains to a large degree the interest of the brand and products, the styles of which were born in the golden era of men's dressing:
"THE HISTORY OF BRADY BROTHERS
Three generations of the Brady family were involved in a business which for over a hundred years produced unique and high class sporting leather goods.
The first Brady brothers were John and Albert who in about 1877 started making leather gun cases in Price Street, Birmingham for 12/6 each, that is about 75p in today’s money. Eventually John’s son Ernest and Albert’s son Leonard, worked in the business. In 1923 John died aged 55 and Ernest left the business. For several years Ernest worked elsewhere including a job making the trunks that went on the backs of motor cars. Then in 1928 with £500 that his father had left him and £100 borrowed from an aunt, he began in business on his own with his uncle Frank Brady travelling for the business. Eventually they moved to larger premises in Shadwell Street in Birmingham’s gun quarter, in the 1930’s. It was there Ernest first designed and made game bags, and a large selection of sporting accessories, but most particularly he designed and made himself a range of fishing bags all named after English rivers. These bags were to become the mainstay of the company and the source of its prosperity and fame in future years. Handmade Brady gun cases were also greatly prized throughout the world, particularly by those who had Purdey guns. Oak and leather cases were made for movie and theatrical celebrities and royalty including the Sultan of Oman and the Duke of Westminster. As a girl (the writer is Ernest’s daughter) I well remember going into work one day in the 1950’s and finding the hallway full of what looked like a lot of broken-down cases and in some instances blood-stained game and fishing bags. Thinking they were all rubbish and that I should be deputed to put them in the dustbin, I luckily made some enquiries about the matter first. I discovered that they belonged to the Duke of Westminster and his son, who had just inherited them and we were to repair them and suitably initial each item. I soon learned that sportsmen do not like anything to look new or brightly coloured and made only of natural materials.
In 1920 Leonard went to Hollywood, California. Like Ernest, Leonard was well armed with the various skills learned from uncle and father. Leonard arrived on a Sunday evening and by nine o’clock the following morning had obtained a job in a harness shop making saddles and bridles. At that time Douglas Fairbanks Snr. was about to embark on a series of pictures with an English historical background. He called at the harness shop to enquire whether anyone could make English leatherwork. Leonard was promptly hired. He worked exclusively for principal actors whose customers were to be seen in close up. Eventually in 1929 Leonard opened a shop called “Brady, The Leather Man”. The shop was next door to Warner Bros studio. He got to know Jack and Harry Warner and was commissioned to do all the leatherwork for their wardrobe and property department. Leonard contributed to the costumes of many movie stars, including Clark Gable, Greta Garbo, James Cagney and Shirley Temple. In 1947 Leonard returned to England and retired to the Cotswolds.
Just before the 1939-45 war broke out Ernest took his younger brother Philip, a redundant car salesman into the business. During the war Ernest was forced to move the business into his house with the help of one stitcher and one part-time machinist. Both ladies, incidentally had worked for John and Albert, and went on to complete over 50 years with Brady Brothers. It was a blessing that Ernest had an understanding wife who was willing to have her household disrupted with workers and business callers at the door and on the telephone. My mother contributed a great deal to the welfare of the business in the war years, for these were lean and difficult days. Our house was bombed and so was Birmingham very extensively. The city was going to have to be reconstructed and Shadwell Street was to be demolished, so Ernest decided to start up in business again by moving in 1946 to Halesowen, a small and ancient town, once a nail-making centre and part of the industrial Black Country, yet close to beautiful countryside. It was vital at this time that new outlets should be found for all our products. With this in mind my parents and I went to London for a month in a caravan Ernest had built a year or two before, and every day my father went into London with a large wheeled truck he had constructed, loaded with samples of all the things that Brady Brothers made. He called at all the big stores and as many small fishing and gun makers shops he could find, showing them his goods and taking many orders. This undertaking caused quite a stir and not a little amusement and was often referred to by our customers during the passing years.
Gradually in the Great Cornbow, Halesowen premises, the staff were increasing until they numbered about 40, including out-workers who made nets for game bags among other things. I became one of the out-workers too.
In the next thirty years apart from recessions, Brady Brothers prospered. Our goods were exported to the USA, Japan, France, Sweden, South Africa and Italy, we also enjoyed a healthy home trade. Several Brady fishing bags became sought after fashion items, particularly the Severn. Many celebrities were photographed at airports carrying them, and news men and photographers found the bags convenient to carry their heavy equipment around in.
As the years past Ernest was anxious to integrate some young people into the company to take his and Philip’s place as they both grew older. Three or four candidates came and went. In 1983 I was elected as a director of the company in the hope that along with two other working directors the business could continue after Ernest and Philip’s departure, principally to ensure the jobs of those in the company, many of who, had been with us for up to thirty years and more. Ernest died soon after in 1986.
The company continued on under Philip’s management until 1993 when Mr Michael Goold of Goold Holdings, Walsall came along and purchased the business. It is at his request that I have written this short history of my family’s company. I am happy and grateful for the opportunity to do so and I offer him my sincere thanks.
Helen Brady 2005"
I have several fine old leather suitcases and wish to have covers made for them (canvas with leather trim). The sites referenced don't mention custom orders. Fogg and Brady seemed more likely to accept the job so I sent them emails and await their reply.
Thanks for the tip. I sent them an email. Haven't heard back from the sites previously contacted.
I have a bag from John Chapman which I am very pleased with, the quality and workmanship is top notch. The only drawback of the bag is its weight, about 1.2kg empty, which I attribute to the brass fittings and canvas coated rubber material.
They do bespoke bags now, you can contact them through their website here: http://www.chapmanbags.com/ChapmanBagsS ... efault.asp.
Another option is Ghurka (http://www.ghurka.com/), I do not own any of their bags but have examined them at their swanky 5th Ave boutique. Ghurka is American although most of their products look and feel very British. Quality is excellent, but they are priced higher than Chapman or Brady.
They do bespoke bags now, you can contact them through their website here: http://www.chapmanbags.com/ChapmanBagsS ... efault.asp.
Another option is Ghurka (http://www.ghurka.com/), I do not own any of their bags but have examined them at their swanky 5th Ave boutique. Ghurka is American although most of their products look and feel very British. Quality is excellent, but they are priced higher than Chapman or Brady.
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