The Original Trav-L-Bar by Ever-Wear, Chicago

Now, those are the sort of endorsements I like to see on my Booze Luggage! :D

Now, those are the sort of endorsements I like to see on my Booze Luggage! :D

The idea of "Booze Luggage", "Hooch Suitcases", "Portable Pubs", whatever you choose to call 'em, is largely gone - but these things were crazy popular a few decades ago. I run across them fairly often in the thrifts, and always pick them up if they are in good condition with all of the furniture intact. For $4.99 this one was missing it's deck of cards (middle slot), so I substituted a thematically-appropriate deck from my collection of vintage nudie-cuties.

The idea of “Booze Luggage”, “Hooch Suitcases”, “Executive’s Lunchbox”, “Portable Pubs”, whatever you choose to call ’em, is largely gone – but these things were crazy popular a few decades ago. I run across them fairly often in the thrifts, and always pick them up if they are in good condition with all of the furniture intact. For $4.99 this one was missing it’s deck of cards (middle slot), so I substituted a thematically-appropriate deck from my collection of vintage nudie-cuties.

They are quite specific about how many uses this item has: 1002. However, they only list a handfull, and of those, they count "Ski Trips" twice. I suspect the sobriety of whoever put this list together.

They are quite specific about how many uses this item has: 1002. However, they only list a handfull, and of those, they count “Ski Trips” twice. I suspect the sobriety of whoever put this list together.

Included in this Trav-L-Bar was this 1973 freebie "Mixology" booklet published by Southern Comfort. It includes a handy guide to Astrology - great for picking up chicks in the 70's. Hey baby, what's *your* sign?

Included in this Trav-L-Bar was this 1973 freebie “Mixology” booklet published by Southern Comfort. It includes a handy guide to Astrology – great for picking up chicks in the 70’s. Hey baby, what’s *your* sign?

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Me? I'm a Capricorn, married to a Pisces. Make of that what you will. (:

Me? I’m a Capricorn, married to a Pisces. Make of that what you will. (:

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Updated: February 8, 2022 — 9:01 pm

13 Comments

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  1. It is probaly not politically correct to use these or travel with them. After all someone may get to thier hotel room and have a few.

    I do remember them. I like the cards also.

  2. Yeah … there are lots of uses for this trav-l-bar … like getting plastered on a bike trip … or getting plastered on a bike trip.

    1. That’s the spirit. We’ll get to 1002 the NanoWrimo way: by repetition and lack of proofreading! :D

  3. Only 1002 uses, Gracie?*
    If I were travelling, that would be my carry-on luggage.
    Cheers, Ted!

    *obscure George Burns/Gracie Allen reference.

  4. Interesting. Pity my horoscope (Aries) is bullshit! :)

  5. My typing and drinking (simultaneously and moderately) habit came under fire recently but I couldn’t think of anything two better things to do at the same time. So, I guess that makes 1003 uses.

    1. someone dissed you for tipsytyping? The CAD! Don’t they know that tipsytyping has a long and storied tradition? At some point I’m going to build a typewriter case that incorporates the functions of booze luggage as well as holding an ample paper supply. Two birds with one stone, and all that. (:

  6. I got more than a couple of chuckles at the repeated ski trips comment. But how could you have a bar these days without a blender?

  7. I some how have held on to the mixology book shown above – is it worth anything? Thanks

  8. My wife picked up one of these for me yesterday in a local shop. It is in great condition, has all of the pieces and tags. Now I’m curious about what year the one I have was made. Do you by any chance happen to know of a resource where I might be able to determine that? So far, all of my googling has turned up a lot of sale listings, but no history.

    1. I haven’t found any specific manufacturing dates, But I would wager that most of the wooden-sided ones were made before the mid 1960’s, and the plastic, rounded ones between then and perhaps the early 1980’s. That’s around when plastic became cheaper to use than wood in manufacturing things like typewriter cases, suitcases, and other luggage-type things.

      A little googling tells me “Holiday” magazine closed shop in 1977. “Playboy VIP” launched 1961. This and the wooden construction would lead me to believe that this example is early-mid 1960’s.

  9. I am interested in the mixologist booklet. I have the travel.l. complete minus this mixologist booklet.

  10. I worked a few summers in high school there in the office. I remember those cases well. My aunt was the owners secretary/office manager. I think we still have a couple of them packed away in the basement!

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