esantoro Report post Posted February 22, 2008 (edited) Which spacing between straps do you like better, that on the black Ralph Lauren bag, or that on the Ghurka bag, whose spacing is narrower? Both bags are about 17" wide and 12" tall. Ed Edited February 22, 2008 by esantoro Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rdb Report post Posted February 22, 2008 I have no preference...BOTH look great! I'm no good at guessing, BUT, if I was to guess, I think the straps on the black bag are closer, maybe only a quarter/half inch diff. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
esantoro Report post Posted February 22, 2008 (edited) I obsess over such details. Should the outside strap line be 3" from the edge, or should it be 3 3/8" as on the Ghurka bag. I was tempted to go into the Ghurka shop in Manhattan with a tape measure. I ended up emailing someone who was selling this very Ghurka bag on ebay. I asked her if she wouldn't mind measuring for me. She was very helpful. Ed Edited February 22, 2008 by esantoro Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rdb Report post Posted February 22, 2008 There are a lot of optical distractions going on here, to consider comparisons. On the black bag, the clasp already makes the straps look closer. On the brown one straps narrowm aking the edge look further than it is. On the black one, the strap holders also make things look closer together. The whole front of that bag has a lot more than the brown one. I miss Manhattan. Bryant Park in the summer. Hey they just had fashion week there not too long ago. Did you get to go see anything. Any new leathers? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jordan Report post Posted February 22, 2008 I like the brown one it looks more well proportioned than the black one Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Peter Ellis Report post Posted February 22, 2008 Which spacing between straps do you like better, that on the black Ralph Lauren bag, or that on the Ghurka bag, whose spacing is narrower? Both bags are about 17" wide and 12" tall. Ed I think the spacing on the straps is a trivial difference between those two bags. I prefer the Ghurka for the proportion of the top flap. I like the way it comes further down the face of the bag. The Ralph Lauren bag looks like it came up short, didn't close all the way or something, because of the short top flap. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
esantoro Report post Posted February 22, 2008 I think the spacing on the straps is a trivial difference between those two bags. I prefer the Ghurka for the proportion of the top flap. I like the way it comes further down the face of the bag. The Ralph Lauren bag looks like it came up short, didn't close all the way or something, because of the short top flap. I also like the longer flap on such bags, as I like to stuff sweaters and whatnot underneath and strap it all down and go. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kevin Report post Posted February 22, 2008 I think the black bag has all that hardware to make it look "sexy", like exposed zippers on jackets. The Ghurka is a much more classic utilitarian design. I see a lot of bags with the center clasp and the straps are like an afterthought and are actually just snaps or some other next to useless fastener,(just for looks, no adjustment). I get to see lots of expensive bags that are not made all that well. Yesterday I got an Italian purse,Milano Odini, I think. The leather work is nice but hardware is junk. It has 3 3/8" brass plated pot metal dees to hold the shoulder strap and one broke about the second time she used it. I made dees out of 3" brass rings, very heavy, but when she loads that bag I don't think it will make any difference. Blahblahblah, sorry , Kevin Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TracyMoss Report post Posted February 27, 2008 (edited) It is really hard for me to tell, without carrying it. I put the straps on the gusset on my briefcases, but they are made from leveled skirting/tooling sides. Notice the forum in the background? My wife tells me I'm Addicted! Edited February 27, 2008 by TracyMoss Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TracyMoss Report post Posted February 27, 2008 Ed do you ever make any out of skirting/tooling sides. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
esantoro Report post Posted February 28, 2008 (edited) Ed do you ever make any out of skirting/tooling sides. I have used tooling sides and am ready to get back to the tooling sides, 5/6/7 oz. The reason at least for going to the chrome tan is 1.) I got a pretty good price for about 20 sides; 2.) the market seems to go more for the softer leather; 3.) it is easier to store. I'm looking to get back to the veg tan and even start in on bridle leather, which is why I got into the various needle plates and presser feet. Here are some pics of my veg tan bags, Though the style I'm going with now is that of the pic I posted recently. Ed Edited February 28, 2008 by esantoro Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TracyMoss Report post Posted February 28, 2008 Nice bags, I can see where the chrome tan might not be suited for strap on the side. Thanks for sharing. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
esantoro Report post Posted February 28, 2008 Nice bags, I can see where the chrome tan might not be suited for strap on the side. Thanks for sharing. You think with chrome tan, it would be good to go without a shoulder strap? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TracyMoss Report post Posted February 28, 2008 You think with chrome tan, it would be good to go without a shoulder strap? Let me clarify. If the dees or rings for the strap are sewn on the side of the gusset in chrome tan, it might be more likely to tear out. Especially if the dees or rings are sewn on with chrome tan/chap and not veg tan. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
esantoro Report post Posted February 28, 2008 Let me clarify. If the dees or rings for the strap are sewn on the side of the gusset in chrome tan, it might be more likely to tear out. Especially if the dees or rings are sewn on with chrome tan/chap and not veg tan. I'll have to post my signature method for stitching on these dees. Actually, if you want, you can go to www.waldenbags.com and read the section where I detail the shoulder strap dee construction. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TracyMoss Report post Posted February 28, 2008 I checked out the website, and it If that bag is stuffed it will hold a lot of weight. Do you have problems with the chrome tan stretching at the loop that the dees are in. Not, trying to insinuate anything about the quality of your bags, they are really nice. I am just thinking about structural soundness in the dee retainers. Could be that there is no problem at all. But I have seem some lower quality bags fail at that point, and they were not cheap in price...just in production. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
electrathon Report post Posted February 28, 2008 The spacing on the grown bag looks better than that on the black one. Aaron Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rdb Report post Posted February 28, 2008 Ed, I don't think there is another person on this board who has examined large bags more than you. Your attention to the details shows in the bags you make. They not only look beautiful, but the details indicate a piece of leatherwork capable of lasting a lifetime, as they once all were. The test of time has always been in the little things that hold...dee ring straps, corner/end stitching, etc. Yours shows every indication of passing the test. Don't forget, that in the old days there was quite a good business for people who repaired things...i.e cobblers. Imagine that...jobs! Shoes were meant to be repaired/refreshed. They were not throw aways like today. If your straps were to fail at some future date, although I doubt they would under normal use, they are easily replaced. That to me, is an indication of something made well, and accessible to repair and modification. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
esantoro Report post Posted February 28, 2008 Ed, I don't think there is another person on this board who has examined large bags more than you. Your attention to the details shows in the bags you make. They not only look beautiful, but the details indicate a piece of leatherwork capable of lasting a lifetime, as they once all were. The test of time has always been in the little things that hold...dee ring straps, corner/end stitching, etc. Yours shows every indication of passing the test. Don't forget, that in the old days there was quite a good business for people who repaired things...i.e cobblers. Imagine that...jobs! Shoes were meant to be repaired/refreshed. They were not throw aways like today. If your straps were to fail at some future date, although I doubt they would under normal use, they are easily replaced. That to me, is an indication of something made well, and accessible to repair and modification. Thanks so much for noticing this. There's a whole philosophy behind these bags, and their construction is therapeutic as well. It just feels so good in one bag to trump all the crap that exists today in films, music, fashion, politics, education, the full spectrum of society. After I complete a bag, I just stand back and realize that I've actually done the very thing so many people seem no longer interested in doing. I love Ghurka bags, but even they lack a certain integrity and ruggedness. Little ol' me in my workshop has done what Ghurka has either forgotten or is no longer interested in. It's all about appearances now, not about the deeper lying ideas and questions. Your notice of all this thrills me and helps me in the conviction that I'm on to something and should stick with it. Other people are noticing too. There's something in these bags that comes out, that one just feels, and it has to do, I think, in the honest and rather simple way they are constructed. I also like that you noticed that because they are constructed the way they are they can be fixed and mended in the future to really last a very, very, long time. Thanks, again, as it's so wonderful to know that my obsession is pointed in the right direction. ed Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
esantoro Report post Posted March 20, 2008 I checked out the website, and it If that bag is stuffed it will hold a lot of weight. Do you have problems with the chrome tan stretching at the loop that the dees are in. Not, trying to insinuate anything about the quality of your bags, they are really nice. I am just thinking about structural soundness in the dee retainers. Could be that there is no problem at all. But I have seem some lower quality bags fail at that point, and they were not cheap in price...just in production.I think I've precluded this problem from appearing by saddle stitching with thick thread and riveting through 4 layer's of 5/6 oz chrome tan and a metal clip.EdWhich spacing between straps do you like better, that on the black Ralph Lauren bag, or that on the Ghurka bag, whose spacing is narrower? Both bags are about 17" wide and 12" tall. EdI just got in two sides of the leather used in this ghurka bag. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
