The Scottish Mountain Heritage Collection
094.2008.1
Cresta/Brown Best Rucksack
10/10/2008
Hermione Cooper
10/10/2008
Cresta 'H' frame canvas rucksack with metal frame. Leather straps with metal buckles. Two zipped pockets on either side. Holes for drawstring but no rope.
canvas, metal, leather
50(l) x 31(w) x 12(d) cms.
1
Label on back reads "THE HIGH B.B PACK CRESTA ALL BRITISH RUCKSACK"
green blue khaki
Cresta
Britain
Brown Best - makers of this rucksack, were nineteenth century luggage manufacturers who seemed to have capitalised on the ever growing outdoor market in the early twentieth century by branching out into rucksack making - a logical step considering that they already had the necessary skills of working with leather and canvas and the ability to stitch them together.
The Norwegian Bergan rucksack was Brown Best's main rival and together they seem to have dominated the market for nigh on 50 years in the middle of the twentieth century. It was only when firms like Karrimor and Berghaus started producing good, functional rucksacks without matal frames that Brown Best, Bergans and many other similar brands disappeared - though Bergans did re-invent themselves and are still going strong today(2013)
So this is a high quality metal framed rucksack dating from the 1960's and is one of the many collected by Mick Tighe somewhere along the way - another interesting addition to our collection.
Doanted by Mick Tighe
10/10/2008
28/04/2009
Spectrum : UK Museum documentation standard, V.3.1 2007
28/04/2009