The Gladstone bag is a small suitcase with a metal frame and two equally sized pieces that can open completely. It was invented by JG Beard and named after British Prime Minister William Ewart Gladstone. Doctors often used it for medical equipment due to its large space. The bag can be made from various materials, including leather and waterproof cotton. It has been associated with fatal crimes in Victorian-era London and has been referenced in literature and movies.
A Gladstone bag is a small suitcase that is built around a rigid metal frame and is capable of opening into two equally sized pieces. Leather is commonly used for the body of the case and leather strings and a buckle are used to tie the pieces together. The stock exchange was created in the mid-19th century in the Westminster region of London, UK. Gladstone bags are also known as doctor’s bags due to the popular use of this item by doctors.
JG Beard is credited with inventing the Gladstone bag and naming it after 19th-century British four-time Prime Minister William Ewart Gladstone. Beard, a leather trader, was an admirer of Gladstone and knew of his love of travel, so Beard named the bag after Gladstone. This type of bag became a fashionable accessory to carry in the second half of the 19th century and into the 20th century.
Doctors often carried the bags, and some still do due to the large amount of space it has for medical equipment. The zips allow the two pieces of the suitcase to open completely, which gives the user access to the entire area of the bag. External pockets offer additional storage space. The high quality leather allows the sides of the bag to fold and fold around the items inside.
Originally made from leather, Gladstone bags can be crafted from other materials. Some manufacturers create their designs using waterproof cotton materials for use during outdoor activities. Other materials that can be used include wool knitted into the shape of a Gladstone bag and attached to a rigid frame. Many times, the frame is built by a craftsman who specializes in this craft.
The murder is often associated with the Gladstone stock exchange due to its ties to many fatal crimes committed in Victorian-era London. For example, Patrick Mahon committed a murder in 1924 in the UK which became known as the Gladstone Bag Murder. Police discovered the blood-stained clothes of Mahon’s lover Emily Kaye in a Gladstone bag. This discovery led detectives to Kaye’s home and her body.
Literature and movies have been responsible for increasing and prolonging the stock exchange’s popularity after its initial creation. Works by authors including JD Salinger and Oscar Wilde referenced Gladstone bags. Movies popularized the view of the suitcase as a prop used by assassins, especially Jack the Ripper.
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