There is something beautiful about well-built camping gear- it holds up incredibly well after years of use and abuse. Take the old steel kerosene lantern for example; it is so much sturdier than today’s plastic variety, which is toy-like in comparison.
Coleman Catalog 1955
Car visors are hardly known as the most trend-setting of objects. Usually made of plastic covered with sort of synthetic fabric, their main purpose is to hold CDs. I saw this leather made visor at last week’s Santa Monica Flea Market. It doesn’t help much with CDs. But it sure looks stylish.
A hammer is, closely followed by a screwdriver, one of the tools you will most likely find at everyone’s house. Most wouldn’t give their hammer a second look. But this can be changed easily.
The Estwing family probably makes the best hammers you can buy. Founded in 1923 by Ernest O. Estwing (a Swedish immigrant), they still manufacture their hammers in Rockford, Illinois. I love that it says on their website that they want to make “attractive striking” tools. What a great company goal. I was happy when I found this Rip Hammer a few month ago at the Long Beach Antique Market.
Estwing Hammer
Swiss Army Bread Bag
I found these great vintage Swiss military bread bags at an Army-Navy surplus store the other day. Amazingly well-made. I was immediately drawn to them aesthetically, and seeing how I’ve been building up a vintage Italian road bike as of late, I thought they’d be perfect candidates for panniers.
Vintage Swiss Army Bread Bag
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