The UK makes some of the best game bags in the world. I don’t hunt but I love this style of bag for urban portage. Like the original bike messenger bag, the game bag has a dedicated use function which keeps its design simple and free of useless complications. Most game bags only have one large carrying pocket, come in a single color and are made from best quality materials: proofed canvas, bridle leather, brass fittings and heavy duty cotton web. You won’t find organizer pockets, security zipper closures, carrying handles or plastic hardware on a classic game bag. My favorite feature, of course, that is the hand knotted game net. Originally designed for carrying bloody fowl, the net game pocket doubles as easy access point for frequently accessed (or damp) items. If Archival could locate a US source for hand knotted cotton net, we might consider integrating this feature into a future bag design. Here a few examples of UK game bags with net pockets:
Quality Gunslip
Unidentified vintage bag
Holland & Holland “luxe” game bag
Chapman Solway 16
Brady Sandringham
Vintage Brady Meadow
Rebadged Barbour bags
King of kings – discontinued Brady Scot (20″ width)
Game net protects bacon cargo from thieving Weimaraner| By Lesli Larson | 2 Comments | Share:
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| Tags: chaz, game bags, print ephemera, Shopping from the UK |
We’re just so inspired by the work of Jake Davis that we had to make an homage to his Test Shots.
| By Tom Bonamici | No Comments | Share:
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| Tags: archival animals, chaz, dogs |
I stopped receiving Barbour print catalogs several years ago. Browsing the online web shop, I have a hard time tracking the ever shifting Barbour lines (Beacon, Sporting, Gold Label, Heritage, Lifestyle, Ladies, etc). Favorite styles are disappearing behind new Barbours with printed linings, updated silhouettes and Steve McQueen plotlines. Many of the Barbours made from the original, “thornproof” 8 oz waxed cotton have been discontinued. Missing from the Barbour line for several years is one of my all time favorites, the Solway Zipper Jacket.
In its day, the Solway was one of Barbour’s flagship models. Here’s a nice illustrated summary of the Solway’s principal features which include three outside patch pockets, inside game pocket, wind cuffs and a buckle belt.
Per the 1964/65 catalog patter, the Solway is well suited for use in cold, damp conditions: “The quest for the ideal coat is over, invincibly waterproof, able to stand up to endless hours of rain and not let one drop through.” Of all the Barbours, the Solway appears to have inspired the most testimonials. My favorite is the story of the gent whose Solway protected him from an enraged Zebra.
Here are a few historic examples of Solway Zipper jackets captured from ebay:
There seems to be a disturbing trend towards having the belt and belt loops removed on Solway jackets. Recent ebay auctions list this as a garment feature. Since this is a signature feature of the Solway, I strongly advise against this practice.
ST, in Solway, tramping through the W. 18th wetlands
| By Lesli Larson | 5 Comments | Share:
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| Tags: archival jackets, archival lament, barbour, chaz, print ephemera, shopping from the past, stp salvage, waxed cotton |
As a kid, despite not owning a horse, I used to mail away for equestrian supply catalogs. I would browse through the pages of bits, bridles, silks and saddles, kitting out my imaginary Man O War with a full set of racing tack. Over time, horses morphed in bicycles, but I recently found a source for dog collars and leashes made by custom thoroughbred harness goods company, Danzig Bros. I just purchased one of the Amish-made, laced leather collars for my pony sized Weimaraner, Chaz. Designed for the rigors of the track, the lace leather style collar is made from best quality bridle leather and brass hardware. The leather is hand finished and edge polished. I’ve cycled through a number of dog collars but this is the first one that actually looks like it’s going to survive our wet Oregon winters.
| By Lesli Larson | 2 Comments | Share:
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| Tags: archival animals, archival finder, chaz, dogs, equestrian fashion, horses, shopping from the present |
Bobby Short portrait at the Cafe Carlyle. Soon after we landed we headed over to the Carlyle for a dinner show featuring OFAM favorite, John Pizzarelli and his wife Jessica Molaskey. Jonathan Schwartz was in the audience.
Tom, Sara and I breakfasted in Brooklyn with Matthew from the William Brown Project.
Visit with Emil and Sandy, the kind and creative gents behind Hickoree’s/The Hill-side.
Some Hill-side wears with Brooklyn view
Exemplary packing station
Sara and Tom inspecting a Stanley & Sons conveyor belt tote
Brooklyn transport
Brook Farm General Store. Our Chaz would enjoy being a shop dog.
In constant transit. Footwear report to follow.
I emailed with this nice gent about places to stay in Brooklyn. We ran into him–by chance–at the restaurant he manages, Marlow & Sons. In addition to serving food, they sell woven towels and Armor-Lux apparel.
The Brooklyn Kitchen. Tom and Sara browsed the pickling supplies. I obsessed over the MKS Design paring knife on the left.
We stopped by Epaulet to check out their new Thorogood farm boot and Vanson for Epaulet waxed cotton motorcycle jacket. Lots of foot traffic in the shop.
A few doors down from Epaulet, we made a quick visit to Smith + Butler. Tom checked the fit on a Pointer chore coat. Just out of the frame, a reality TV couple browsed the inventory of nautical scarves, Barbour jackets and American workwear.
An all-important, end of day pause for cured meats at Los Paisanos meat market.NYC/Brooklyn field trip, part two, coming next week.
| By Lesli Larson | 9 Comments | Share:
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| Tags: archival animals, archival field trip, boots, Brooklyn, cabaret, chaz, chore coats, knives, new york city, shopping from the present, thorogood, tote bags, waxed cotton, william brown project |
| By Lesli Larson | 3 Comments | Share:
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| Tags: archival cyclists, Archival Fieldtrip, barbour, Camp Harlow, chaz, cyclocross, eugene, Filson, Oregon, Vanilla Bicycles, weimaraner |
Filson Shelter cloth dog coat
Barbour waxed cotton dog jacket
New Zealand Rover Cozy merino wool dog coat
Chaz in his Viz-Vest
| By Lesli Larson | 6 Comments | Share:
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| Tags: barbour, chaz, dog jackets, dogs, Filson, rover cozy, snow peak |
Winifred, expert obedience trainer.
The tweedy “crank and yank” handler.
Training guru in original ’82 VHS instructional tape footage: nylon shorts, white socks and deck shoes (one training module demonstrates how to train your dog to wait for you by the ice machine outside of the local 7-11).
Sara and Chaz in practice garb (animal obedience engineered by offscreen presence).
From Winifred Strickland’s Expert Obedience Training for Dogs (Macmillan 1969): “I started making my own leashes when I discovered I could not buy what I wanted. I wanted a five-foot lead, lightweight, soft, but strong, and in a variety of colors to match whatever dress I was wearing.”
| By Lesli Larson | 1 Comment | Share:
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| Tags: archival animals, barbour, chaz, dogs, shopping from the past |
