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Who remembers Globe Canvas, makers of the real original messenger bags in New York?
Do you all make any mention, or ever acknowledge the fact that the real original messenger bags were made by a little Italian couple that worked below a Chinese cookie manufacturer down on Mott St. I know because I got my first bag there: from GLOBE CANVAS, on Mott St. a long time ago, and then a second one a few years later....way before Manhattan Portage was around. This is not to say that MP doesn't make great stuff, because you do, I just think it is a little disingenuous to say that it is the original messenger bag, when some of us, whom grew up biking around manhattan, know that it is not.
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Inappropriate?I of course remember the old Italian guy on Mott street. I actually have photos of him holding a messenger bag that he made that I totally wore out. He made the original messenger bags for all NYC messengers for years and years. The first one I got (in 1980) cost $15.00. It was the aqua-blue color which was the color bags the messenger service I worked for (Good Rush) used. I still have one of these bags which I use every day despite it's being in really beat up shape. Does anyone know where I could get my hands on another one of these fine "original" bags?
Karl2 Comments
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demartini was the man's name. he passed on a couple of years ago, not before selling his bag design to MP and his name to an outfit either in nj or connecticut. try demartinibags.com -
Karl, Would like to email you regarding the photos of Frank and your time with Good Rush. I am researching messenger bags. Drop me a note at roy.caldwell@mantech.com. Thanks Roy H. Caldwell
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Inappropriate?Huh. I didn't think of it as being disingenuous. Sounds like splitting hairs to me. I certainly don't expect every product maker to detail the history of their industry. I'm all for authenticity, but everyone borrows when they create new things. I'm okay with that.
I’m creative
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Inappropriate?Yes, the DeMartini's did sell Globe Canvas messenger bags in Chinatown and those were made specifically for Bike Messengers. We were the first messenger bag manufacturer to make our bags out of Cordura, which is a Military grade fabric.
Unfortunately Mr. DeMartini has been retired for nearly a decade, and I do not believe his products are made any longer (I could be wrong, however).
"Original Messenger Bags from NYC" is a tag line of ours, and I do not believe this to be false, as we did provide many firsts. There are a lot of messenger bags companies that have come and gone, and we are one of the few that are still around!1 Comment Add a comment
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Would you happen to know where I could get some of that Cordura Military Grade Fabric?
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Inappropriate?Neat. I didn't even know about this slice of New York history, but then again, I live in San Francisco. I'll look around online and see if I can't learn more about the Globe bags. Sounds interesting. Does anyone know where I can see what those bags looked like?
I’m curious
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Inappropriate?demartinibags.com -
Inappropriate?LOL. They call them "original New York bags" and they're located in Connecticut. They look kind of lame. Sorry, but they do. And the Web site is just an image.
I’m not impressed
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I've owned two for twenty years and was a seriously nutty bike messenger years ago before they started taxing us. I now am an Accessory designer and can honestly say THERE IS NO OTHER LIKE IT. So sometimes your right but now you couldn't be more wrong that is unless they changed how they make them.
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Inappropriate?Nothing against Globe Canvas or anything; we worked with them in the past. I'm just not sure currently WHO is making the products right now (I believe it might be my bosses former partner, but I'm not 100% sure).
Their website hasn't changed in YEARS which is why I'm not even sure of their status.1 Comment Add a comment
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I purchased my bag before the there was an internet so who knew. There was only two people making the bags in a basement on Mott Street The Old man and his daughter who was burning out the last time I purchased a bag so we'll see.
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Inappropriate?whoa. that bag on the dm-bag site is even uglier than the demartini bags.com bags. are they even waxed or lined with polyurethane? no description of any kind.1 Comment Add a comment
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They're actually really nice and tough as nails its just a really really crappy picture. I think I'm gonna get a green and red one if they make them the same way.
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Inappropriate?Globe Canvas bags is still in production. One of the few remaining brands that are still manufacture in the US. The brand and their root was founded in NYC in 1946. the above user is wrong as the site provided description and pictures.1 Comment Add a comment
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my apologies. i retract my statement about there being no description. still an ugly bag though.
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Inappropriate?Form Follows Function 666
Rode with Globe Canvas bags for two years in sunshine and in rain/snow in DC and RVA and never had a problem or delivered a soiled package.
It was a solid piece of gear, and in its ugliness dwells the beauty of nostalgic utility. It is not one of your metro-sexual bannana republic style totes.
It is a piece of working gear for folks who generally don't have a need for modern chic in their gear.
R/
WB -
This reply was removed on 10/07/08.
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Inappropriate?I was a bike messenger 20 years ago before they taxed us out of existence and am currently an Accessory Designer and there hasn't been and will not be another messenger bag in current existence that could float and in a pool of water and still stay completely dry and be tossed inbetween your wheels as a break stop after your cable snaps and survive. Or be used as a shield on your back as you fly through a New York City Yellow Cab like a crash vest. So really spare me the cheap shill talk and commentary. I have two original custom bags from Global Canvas one in really, really crappy condition from action. Every body else produces cheap and short sighted garbage bags that don't even come close. I knew the daugther who worked like a dog and I knew she wasn't going to last with that work load back then. The old mans (Founder) hands weren't any good any more when I had my bags made it he screwed up the first one up royally and daugther had to redo it so I felt bad about for her and him. But they were good folks and I don't know what happened to them. I'll just have to copy the bag myself to recreate if I want a new one. I found the clip manufacturer and now I need to locate the water proof lined fabric. Here are a few pictures of a 15 year old Global Canvas bag mad by DeMartini's daugther her self and its still as tough as I am. Take it lite baby I'm going riding with the animals again from NYC to LA. YAHOOO!
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Nice! Sounds like you used the bag as a messenger would...
I still have an original from around '92. I've been using it for the past few years to carry around about 50-60 lbs of stands for my drum kit - it's the only bag that I could find that worked as a gig bag for my hardware... -
Inappropriate?Aren't Manhattan Portage bags mass produced in China now since the founder , John Peters, sold the trademark?
At least the Dimartini bags are made here in the US. -
Inappropriate?Hey folks Savage Monkey up in here making indecent proposals again to everybodies body.
Just came back from a mad ride to The Mets New Citifield and picked up a Mets Cap and blew by three NYPD cars on my bike. Must have been doing 40 MPH on my Campagnolo and Durace on my DeRosa.. BOOM!!! BOOM!!!
Anyway if you jokers are looking for Demartini's Messenger Bags I actually spoke to the bone head who's now the owner. He's doing that mass production order nonsense that you don't like on the old mans Demartini bags. The old man and his daughter made everyone of the bags by themselves. So it went from a basement in Mott Street in Little Italy, Downtown NYC to some little crappy fold up operation ordering office in Connecticut.
Here's the Website: http://www.demartinibags.com/catalog/
Later.... BALL"N!!!!
P.S. Don't even include Manhattan Portable in this conversation its all serious garbage
I’m amused
