Nicole, First off I LOVE those vintage suitcases (you’re not surprised are you?!)! I have several that I use in my craft room to hold fabric! I love how they look stacked up. Using the train case for your knitting supplies is fabulous. I love that idea.

As for the Stewardesses. I just finished a book written by my mother’s childhood friend and later college room-mate, Argie Hoskins. She was an American Airlines Stewardess in 1957 until she married in 1960. (Back in those days when you couldn’t be married and be a Stewardess.) Anyway, her book is fabulous – it is all about her experiences as a Stewardess. She was on the Inaugural flight of the first 707 commercial jet flight and it is so interesting to read about. The name of the book is: More Than A Ticket, by Argie Ella Hoskins. I have read it twice I loved it so much.

So… once again, here we are on the same wave length, Nicole – Farmgirl minds think alike?! 🙂

Hugs – Dori, the Ranch Farmgirl –

Very interesting blog, Nicole. Nice story about Andrea’s mom and life in the early days of being a stewardess. It was more fun to fly or ride a train to my grandmother’s farm in the forties. I remember dressing in a suit and high heels to fly in the 60’s and even 80’s!
When I was younger I had a train case too but I do not remember what I did with it. Also a Neiman Marcus makeup travel bag with their white and beige designs on it.
Enjoyed reading this very much. Love you
Mother

Hi Nicole,
One of my favorite memories is receiving American Tourister luggage set for my High school graduation. Mine were blue also. I loved that set. I found out it was made in Seattle Washington which I had a Grandmother and two Aunts that lived there. I have lived in Oregon most of my life. We went to Seattle in the summer most of my growing up years. When I found out they were made there I called them and told them how much I loved them. They sent me some special tags that only there workers got. Through the years they got lost and so when my husband asked me what I wanted for our first anniversary, I told him some American Tourister luggage. Well, he bought me a beautiful maroon colored set. I still have the small plane case and the “make up case” that you have. We used to put our makeup and all the other products that would spill in it. Along with our hair things. We were aloud to carry that one with us and put it on the floor. When I was out of school I wrote to United to become a Stewardess. I was 5′ 8″ tall and weighed 120 lbs. I never heard from them until one night a phone was for me and it was one of the ladies from United. They wanted me to go with her, take the schooling ( which was 3 months) and become one of there attendance’s. It would cost $300.00, which at the time was a lot of money and no one in my family had it so I had to decline. I have never forgotten it. I would have loved it.
Hugs Farm/Ranch girl style
Kay

I just bought a red hard cover American Tourister at the Flea Market :). I worked for TWA before they closed, and we would hear great stories. Our oldest international stewardess who flew into Frankfurt was 88!!! 😉 Great piece, love the pictures!

What a lot of great info you have provided with your post. I love your train case. I also have one I have re-purposed to carry hand stitching with me. Although mine is not as nice and the insides had to be re-done. The outside is more of a fake alligator paper look. I may one day recover with mod podge.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading the information regarding flight attendants. I never aspired to become one but I did know of some girls in high school who had attaining that profession as their goal. Many of my high school friends had applied to the telephone company to be telephone operators. Good job, Good pay. I was a little girl in the Fifties and when I see something from that time period in a thrift store or in images online, it takes me back to those little girl days. That period was the last of what I consider the “elegant years” where besides dressing up to fly, you dressed up to go shopping in the big department stores in downtown Philadelphia and elsewhere. Men were well-mannered gentlemen and held doors for ladies who were respectful and considerate as well. The age we live in today is far too casual, I think. I hate to admit it but I remember my parents buying some of that “vintage” luggage in brand new condition when I was preparing for my first flight to Jamaica with my friend, Denise — the year? 1971.

Nicole,
Oh I love your vintage suitcases! Not long ago, I was lucky enough to find 4 matching ecru ones. The insides are a beautiful satin fabric, with gathered pockets along the sides and a separate compartment for hanging clothes. I use 2 of them for matching night tables in my bedroom – i just stood them on their ends. They are the perfect height! The other two have been holding out of season clothes and shoes in my closet, but now you have given me some other ideas for them!! Thanks so much!

Nicole, Thanks for your interest in that which is near to my heart. My vintage suitcases are at the moment holding my Christmas decoration and will continue to do so until I make my journey to the real Christmas. Nicole, you will see one of my suitcase in my Inaugural Flight picture. Are we friends on facebook? I will look for you. Thanks, again, Argie