Gladstone bag

A Gladstone bag is a small portmanteau suitcase built over a rigid frame, which can separate into two equal sections.

[1] The first Gladstone bag was designed and manufactured by J. G. Beard at his leather shop in the City of Westminster.

[2] The patent for "An Improvement In The Frames Of Travelling Bags" was registered by Edward Cole on 4 February 1854, and sealed 14 July 1854.

At the end of the 19th century, the business of Edward Cole was taken over and run by two of his sons, James and Edward, and subsequently changed to Cole Brothers in 1907, being located at 24a Floral Street, Covent Garden, after the earlier demolition of the Hemmings Row site in 1886 to make way for the extension to the National Gallery.

By the end of the 19th century, the Gladstone bag had been adopted by doctors to carry their medical equipment.