Walkin' Around Checkin' Stuff Out. #68
Things that are able to last, and worthy of keeping.
Here’s something a little different…I felt like documenting some of the things I own, and have owned for a really long time. Things that are able to last, and worthy of keeping. In a world where we buy cheap shit and throw it away it’s getting harder to find good things of real value that are made well.
I don’t consider myself a material person…all of these items are useful, practical. Some are also beautiful objects (in my eye).
I saw an interview with Jerry Seinfeld where he talked about something that had ‘quintessence’…which is something that is perfect in quality and class…the perfect example of a thing. I love that word. All of these things have a level of quintessence that makes them simple and perfect. The world needs more of this.
Swiss Army Knife - Champ.
The ‘Champ’ is the big one...33 functions all crammed in a small knife...how cool is that? I remember when I bought this thing, I was a few months into my first job and there was an old school shop downtown that sold knives and electric shavers. I’d had my eye on the Champ ever since I was a kid. I used to go look at it and hold it over lunch hours. When I finally pulled the trigger I couldn’t really afford over $100 for a jack knife, but I did anyways. Glad I did. Almost 35 years later I still use the knife at least once a week, Not all 33 functions of course, but I love the small pliers, those are super handy. It also came with a cool leather snap pouch which has aged beautifully after all these years.
Postman’s Bag.
Speaking of stuff I couldn’t afford with my first job...The Counterfeit Mailbag offered by the J. Peterman Company (don’t laugh, this is before J. Peterman became a punchline on Seinfeld) in the early 90’s captured my imagination with some of the best copy I’ve ever read...they use the same copy to this day (see above). I’ve alway loved bags (and mail) and reading about the leather bags mail carriers used was too much, I had to have one. $295 was an insane amount of money for me to spend on anything, let alone a bag...but I’m glad I did. I remember opening the box when it arrived and smelling the leather before I saw the bag. I loved the illustrations of J. Peterman products, they left much to the imagination, but this bag exceeded all I’d hoped it would be...raw leather, big stitching, cooper rivets...it was built like a tank and started my love of leather bags (and making them) that continues today.
Redwing Postman’s Shoe.
Keeping with the theme of the postman’s bag, I introduce you to the postman’s shoe. Made by Redwing here in Minnesota these were standard-issue postman’s shoes back when they were carrying those beautiful leather bags down tree-lined streets. Those mail-carriers were well outfitted and stylish. I’ve had this pair for at least 15 years and they are on their 4th pair of soles. At this point maybe they should be called souls.
I mentioned the leather postman’s bag started my love for leather bags...in fact it was that very bag that I brought to Schatzlein Saddle Shop to have modified (I wanted to add an inside pocket) that got me making my own bags. After about the 3rd modification on that mailbag Gary Schatzlein told me I could and should (because he didn’t want to) do it myself. A few months later I found out he was right and so began my crazy obsession with making leather goods. All hand-stitched and built to last a lifetime. Able to last? Yes. Worthy of owning? I think so. (Sorry…it’s 1 of 1 and I’m not letting it go.)
Brass Fountain Pen.
Made by the Traveler’s Company out of Japan it arrives all shiny and new and with use gains a patina that makes it your own. It’s a shame my handwriting sucks so bad, a pen like this deserves better, but I’m glad to have it. (For you kids out there, you don’t throw something like this away...when it runs out of ink, you refill it. When the tip wears out, you replace it. As it should be.)
You really should get yourself a good pen…my good buddy Barry sells all kinds of crazy cool pens from $10 to $10,000…hit him up: penstore@gmail.com
Put, Take Brass Spinner.
Lots of brass in these posts...pens, zippers, snaps, clasps etc. It’s a great material. Heavy, strong, looks great, sounds great. yes, sounds great...I always loved Filson bags and one of the things I like best is the sound of the hardware when carrying the bag...it’s like highly tuned musical notes...a jingling sound. Anyways...where was I...oh yeah, this brass spinner. I won’t get into specifics of the game, but these spinners are usually just 6 sided, this one, handmade by some crazy person with a great imagination is 10 sided...giving it even more heft. It’s a joy to roll.
Swivel Bolt Snap.
I started hooking my keys to this thing 30 years ago and it’s been with me ever since. Simple, hefty...it does the job. Clip it to a belt or leather strap and D-ring hook-up that slides on a belt and the keys tuck away nicely in a front pocket. Sure to set-off metal detectors a mile away.
Benrus Sky Chief.
I’m not really a “watch guy”...but I do admire them and marvel at the mechanics. I’ve had this one for quite a long time, and while I haven’t worn it in years, it will last several lifetimes. Mine is inscribed ‘G. Hartley”. I often wonder who that is and what his story was. It’s a pilot’s watch, so I’m assuming he flew...maybe even in World War 2. There’s a story in there somewhere. As much as I love the Apple Watch, there won’t be stories attached to those. I got my Apple Watch to last 9 years...I bet that’s damn near a record for an Apple Watch...and about 2 seconds in the lifetime of something like the Benrus Sky Chief as it will continue keeping time for as long as we ask it to.
Tube-Wringer.
In the early 90’s there was a zine called ‘Beer Frame’ that reviewed quirky cool products that were worth owning. That’s where I saw the Tube-Wringer and had to have one. Large, metal, made in the USA and built for one purpose: tube wringing. I can’t tell you how satisfying it is to reach the point in a tube of toothpaste where you have to start squeezing it harder to get the toothpaste out...that’s when I pull this sucker out at roll the tube through with the metal crank and get probably an extra week of toothpaste out of that damn tube. 35 years later it might even be close to paying itself off.
I remember in the early 90’s a buddy of mine had an old pick-up truck. Well, I guess it wasn’t that old...maybe 15 years old, but that’s old by most standards. I loved that he’d owned the truck since day one. He knew everything about the truck...where every dent and scratch came from. He didn’t baby it...in fact it was in pretty rough shape, enough to earn the name “Rusty”. I’d always wanted a small pick-up from when I was a little kid so when I walked on the Toyota lot back in 2001 and saw this black stripped-down number, I had to have it. Crank windows, no power locks, no tinted windows, manual transmission, nothing extra...simple, basic...as it should be. 24 years later I still own it. It’s about to break in half from a rusted frame but I’ll drive it to the bitter end, and probably shed a tear when it’s gone. Many years ago it earned the name “Trusty”.
Hello! Paul Lukas here — the guy who published 'Beer Frame'! Although BF no longer exists, I'm a fellow Substacker, under the Inconspicuous Consumption name. My work isn't as product-focused as it was in the BF days, but it's still about minutiae obsession as its own reward. You can check it out at inconspicuous.info. (One of my readers spotted the BF mention in your post and let me know about it, which is how I became aware of your Substack.)
As for the Tube Wringer: I don't think I ever wrote about that! But I did write about a similar product called the Ex-Squeeze-It -- which I still use!
As someone who just finished making a their first hand-sti hex leather bag I would love to see pictures of your other leatherwork.