Re-post from 2012 and a 2024 update.

Just a little something for Saturday. I have a slight obsession with all things vintage and especially travel luggage. Maybe in a future post I’ll show you all the old radios and “Thermos” I’ve collected too!

Over the past couple years I’ve found a few of these hard sided suitcases and a couple train cases that I couldn’t leave behind.

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These days we are happy packing our clothes and toiletries into some type of carrier that meets weight, liquid, and size restriction. We want our luggage to survive what ever it may face once it leaves our hands headed for TSA.

These suitcases that I’ve found are well traveled and looks to have been loved by their owners and treated with respect by airline luggage handlers. I wonder what stories they could tell?

I picked up a train case at a local thrift store for $7.  It was sad and coming apart.  On the inside the lining had pulled loose and the outside had lost its shine.  A little hot glue gun, some cleaning and everything looks good again.  It reminds me of the one my mom had when I was young.  I think I have a new overnight bag.  Totally cool if I say so myself.

*UPDATE:  The mirror is in the snap case that is shown in this picture.  The mirror is fine, but the backing that makes it a mirror has aged and isn’t very useful.  I’m going to try and find a replacement the same size so that the case is fully functional.  Would you travel with it?  I know it’s heavy compared to my little soft sided bag that I hid away inside our check bag. 

Would you use a case like this when traveling?   Maybe I need an outfit as retro as my case for traveling!  Wouldn’t that be a hoot!

Meet Mister Black – a.k.a. a $2 American Tourister train case from the 1970’s.  I’m thinking for this one I’ll add some white or pink transfers on to the outside and spruce it up a little.  This case has an adjustable and removable mirror inside and also a tray.  The handle doesn’t lay down flat like my blue one and it’s missing the key for the lock, but it will do just fine for storing small items or just sitting out as a type of decorative tote.

How do you think it will look with maybe some white flower or maybe even some light pink or red graphics? Too hip for someone like me to use as a carry-on bag?   My last trip through the airport I didn’t notice any bags like these, but I might next time.  It’s kind of like when you purchase a vehicle that seems to be not so common and then you see them everywhere you go.

For this case I did not have to do any major cosmetic work and the inside is in great shape.  Here’s a few tips and tricks that I used to perk up Mister Black:

• Wipe down the exterior and interior using a mixture of mild soap and warm water
• Use a magic eraser to take off any paint transfer or sticky places on the exterior.  Don’t rub too much or you will dull the  exterior
• Wipe down with Armor-all wipes or leather cleaner to treat the exterior and help bring back the shine
• Fill with four cups unscented cat litter – place in a sealed garbage bag for three weeks to help remove any odor – if there is still a smell change out the cat litter and leave it for a couple more weeks
• Decorate and have fun with your new train case

Mr. Black Tourister has done a little traveling since my original post.

I’m still working on ideas on what to do with this vintage brown leather Taperlite suitcase. Currently it is helping me store vintage fabrics for a quilt project.