Originally Posted by Stacy
I probably had one of the original messenger bags - circa 1969-70 -- and it wasn't made by De Martini or Manhattan Portage.
A long gone canvas bag maker, wholesale only - once located on the east side of Broadway, somewhere between Houston and Canal, agreed to make some custon bags that were available on green canvas with, if memory serves, khaki webbing. Price was about $40 and the bag lasted well beyond the six months I worked as a messenger.
From what I've been told DeMartini had been making those bags since the 1950s. Originally for lineman but then used by messengers from the 1970s on. Both Demartini(aka Globe canvas) and MP were east of b'way between houston and canal.
There's a short documentary on Frank DeMartini, but I've never seen it. Anyone have, or have access to it?