thompsonkirk Posted April 22, 2010 Share #1 Posted April 22, 2010 Advertisement (gone after registration) I found this in an ad & bought it. It happens to be the best-fitting little bag for an M camera that I've ever found (having tried/bought a couple that didn't turn out to be quite right). it measures 10" H x 6" W x 4" D & has exactly enough room for a lens at the bottom (plus battery & extra SD) & an M9 with lens & in some instances lens hood & even external finder. It looks nearly new. The label says Billingham, but with its orange plastic fittings & lack of pockets it doesn't look like anything on the website. Nor does it look like my battered 25-year-old B. leather 'purse.' Looks a bit like the Stowaway, but even more like a cheap knock-off such as you might find along with faux Rolexes in a discount booth at an airport. While I'm not sure of its parentage, it's certainly useful & worth its price. The only thing wrong is it's too clean – needs some use & dirt to become inconspicuous. Kirk Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here… Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/118976-is-this-a-billingham-bag/?do=findComment&comment=1301581'>More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted April 22, 2010 Posted April 22, 2010 Hi thompsonkirk, Take a look here Is this a Billingham bag?. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
pgk Posted April 22, 2010 Share #2 Posted April 22, 2010 Kirk Why don't you email Billingham directly and ask them. If its theirs (looks like it though the orange bits are odd) then I'm sure that they will let you know which product it is. If not then they should be aware of its existence! FYI I've visited their factory and they do or certainly did produce some adds and ends - I have an A4 Portfolio case originally intended for Kodak (it has Kodak embossed into the leather) which I bought whilst there and which I still use many years later on - and its only just looking a little used now. Excellent products - I've had many Billinghams one which became extremely disreputable and which now resides in the west of Ireland where I believe it is seeing out its days as a fishing bag! I now use a Hadley Pro for my Ms. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaapv Posted April 22, 2010 Share #3 Posted April 22, 2010 It looks like a far east copy, to be honest. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
alun Posted April 22, 2010 Share #4 Posted April 22, 2010 I agree with Jaap -- useful it may be, but it looks like a copy. The materials used don't look heavy enough. But you should email Billingham and ask, as someone else said. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
LuxBob Posted April 22, 2010 Share #5 Posted April 22, 2010 The real thing says Billingham (not billingham) England and there is no flag on the real thing. The Billingham leather is more substantial, the stitching is neater and they do not use plastic fittings to my knowledge. But if it works ...... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
spylaw4 Posted April 22, 2010 Share #6 Posted April 22, 2010 It's certainly not a current offering, and I am pretty sure it's a "fake". Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
thompsonkirk Posted April 22, 2010 Author Share #7 Posted April 22, 2010 Advertisement (gone after registration) Thank you Paul & Alun for your suggestion that I contact Billingham. Below is our correspondence, establishing that this is an ancient version of 'the real thing.' Dear Mr Thompson Thank you for your email and picture of the bag. I am pleased to advise you the bag you have is called a 'Kiron' which was made by Billingham over 20 years ago. Kind regards Bea Kirk Thompson wrote: I recently purchased this bag which is labeled 'billingham' (lower case 'b'). It has orange plastic fasteners and no pockets. Its sewing doesn't match the quality of my very old bag made by your firm. So I am guessing it is a 'knock off' or imitation. I call your attention to it especially because it is such a practical bag: It measures 10x6x4" and exactly fits a Leica M digital camera with mounted lens; also one extra lens, with extra battery and memory cards. It is the perfect fit that I'd been seeking. If this is not a real Billingham bag, then I believe you should copy its dimensions in an authentic version. Kirk Thompson ----- So I'm happy to have acquired a brand new Billingham 'antique' for 49 pounds! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
twom4 Posted April 22, 2010 Share #8 Posted April 22, 2010 Billingham has gone far from it's original design and quality. I am a fan of this brand and have a few of them. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wilfredo Posted April 23, 2010 Share #9 Posted April 23, 2010 Where can these bags be purchased? IT DOESN'T LOOK BIG ENOUGH FOR AN M CAMERA. BUT IT MUST BE :-) Can you take a picture with your equipment in it? Thanks Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
thompsonkirk Posted April 23, 2010 Author Share #10 Posted April 23, 2010 You gotta believe me, Wilfredo. here it is as I'm using it: M9, 50 Summilux, 28 Summicron; also a couple of cards & a battery. The little black leather box at left is an external finder, because I wear glasses & can't see the 28 framelines. It would also hold a 35 on the camera with hood attached, & a 75. BUT you missed the bad news: It's a bag called a Kiron & I happened to stumble on a new/antique one. Billingham hasn't made them since the 1980s. Since the size happens to be 'perfect,' i suggest you start one of those mass e-mail campaigns like folks send to their congressmen (or MPs?), asking Billingham to put 'em back in their product line. K (Whoops, sorry about image pallor – I forgot to convert properly for Web.) Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here… Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/118976-is-this-a-billingham-bag/?do=findComment&comment=1302703'>More sharing options...
LuxBob Posted April 23, 2010 Share #11 Posted April 23, 2010 Thank you Paul & Alun for your suggestion that I contact Billingham. Below is our correspondence, establishing that this is an ancient version of 'the real thing.' Dear Mr Thompson Thank you for your email and picture of the bag. I am pleased to advise you the bag you have is called a 'Kiron' which was made by Billingham over 20 years ago. Kind regards Bea Well I got that one wrong. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaapv Posted April 23, 2010 Share #12 Posted April 23, 2010 Indeed, so did I, and Billingham has come a long way since then, especially in the fittings and leather quality. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
etp095 Posted April 23, 2010 Share #13 Posted April 23, 2010 kirk glad you got the real thing,the 80's were a special decade.did you find it on craigslist,what did you give for it? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
thompsonkirk Posted April 23, 2010 Author Share #14 Posted April 23, 2010 USD $75 from RF Forum Classifieds. Looking at it carefully, I'm sure it was never used. My 'take' is that Billingham made the highest quality from the start; but as a younger company they made some cheaper products too. Also, as pgk said, they made products for other labels/companies. I have a great old purse modeled on an Australian schoolkid's book bag, ca.1980, with what would be the canvas parts of a book bag replaced with pigskin. I'm told that Billingham made these for Banana Republic (which was a better store back then). It has fine metal fittings & only in the last few years has begun to look a bit shabby, because I've worn through the edges of the webbed shoulder strap. I have a shoemaker who keeps it 'operational' for me. Thirty years of regular use is Quality! K Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
250swb Posted April 23, 2010 Share #15 Posted April 23, 2010 I have a Billingham bag that was bought new 1978 and has seen me through a professional career and beyond. Its still usable today and carries my MF kit. They always made the good bags, but as Kirk says, they did make some cheaper products as well in those days. Compared to todays Billingham bags there is very little difference in materials or design. Steve Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
earleygallery Posted April 23, 2010 Share #16 Posted April 23, 2010 I'm always amazed at how much attention bag threads get. Jimmy Choo is definately in the wrong bag business. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
thompsonkirk Posted April 23, 2010 Author Share #17 Posted April 23, 2010 Me too, James. This morning I lamented to my partner that my bag post has attracted so much more commentary than my photo posts. Just proves, I guess, that people are looking for quality. K Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ho_co Posted April 23, 2010 Share #18 Posted April 23, 2010 Ah, but Kirk! Photos are mere instants snatched from the stream, while this is history. FWIW, I never read bag threads. But this one's title is reticent, questioning. Enticing, as bag posts go (IMO). And the response is both yes and no--yes, a billingham, but no, not today's Billingham. Ah, the ambiguities of life. Moderators--Kirk's thread should be added to the Bag Hall of Fame posts subsection. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
xjr Posted April 24, 2010 Share #19 Posted April 24, 2010 Buckles are wrong,,,fake Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaapv Posted April 24, 2010 Share #20 Posted April 24, 2010 Did you read post #7? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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