Not clothing - but vintage luggage history question

P

Patentleathershoes

VFG Veteran
VFG Past President
Can anyone point me to any sort of reference material that documents the years American Tourister made specifically the Escort line of luggage, or at least has a mention of it? I know it was definitely around in the 1960s, and own some myself, but I am in need of a source that states the information aside from my own brain either as the entire production dates of the line or merely that it existed. I can't use ebay listings or etsy, etc.

Also, I am trying to come up with the estimated years that the line ran just for my own brain.

I have tried searching on the internet and have come up empty because of the volume of ebay listings and modern american tourister sites.
My other thought is calling or writing the company. Maybe that's really the way to go.

Much thanks in advance.
 
The earliest references I found to American Tourister and Escort (and I don't know if this is the same Escort) was from 1961 to about 1970 when there was mention of American Tourister luggage and Escort hat boxes. I was not able to see the ads without paying for them, but the four references all mentioned Escort hat boxes.

The next reference was in a 1972 ad that said "...Escort luggage, a product of American Tourister." and another 1972 ad that said "Escort luggage is made by the same complany that makes American Tourister and reflects their high quality."

A 1978 The Wall Street Journal article started with: "BATESVILLE, Ind.--Hillenbrand Industries Inc. said it completed its previously announced agreement to purchase American Luggage Works Inc., Providence, R.I., maker of American Tourister and Escort Luggage, for $85.4 million cash and the assumption of certain liabilities."

The last American Tourister Escort luggage ads I found in this quick search were in 1986.
 
I am always amazed at what you come up with. Hmm...so they made it into the 80s. Wonder if that's a fair discontinuation date. I wonder when the beginning would have been. I want to say they were around in the 60s - but prior I find little mention to the name of the style but just to "hardsided luggage"

What site were these ads on if you don't mind sharing? The hat boxes were the round suitcases I would say. I actually own one myself. I am wondering if I have to go to the company for a specific production date range but maybe they wouldn't have anyone who would have delved into records like that.
 
Originally posted by lkranieri
Originally posted by Patentleathershoes

What site were these ads on if you don't mind sharing?
Click to expand...

I found the ads by searching Google's news archives and there were many of them.
Click to expand...

ok - when you said you couldn't see them without paying I thought it was a specific archival site - off to search....
 
I'm trying to locate some information on some American tuorist luggage. It is a marble color with the code on top as well as a a small garment rack inside. I found many things like it but not identical to it.
 
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