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What makes a Billingham bag ?

 

First and foremost, meticulous attention to detail. Billingham embodies the true meaning of Old World Craftsmanship, where every step of the manufacturing process is carefully and critically monitored.

As Billingham is truly a handmade product, the steps necessary to the completion of any single bag might take several days. And even though many of the stitches needed to make a bag are done by machine, there are many instances where, when it comes to important areas of a bag, ( such as the bottom pieces of leather which ‘ wrap around “ the corners of many of the bags ) nothing but hand sewing with a stiff needle and steady hand will do. In a day and age where less than perfect has become acceptable by many, Billingham refuses to compromise.

Billingham in located in Birmingham England, where traditional craftsmanship is still cherished and nurtured.



LEATHER

Martin Billingham himself travels Europe to hand select only the best top grain leather, one of the key components to any Billingham bag. And, where a second “ cut “ of leather might not be discernable to most people, the difference in quality would start to show 5, 10, and 20 years down the line.Billingham hand dyes all their leather at factory level, rather than having this done commercially. Then, according to the bag and the placement of the particular piece of leather, hand waxes, or hand oils the leather until it reaches a deep patina.

 

BRASS

All metal components on a Billingham bag are made of solid brass, which comes from a local foundry located in Birmingham, England. These fitting are either cast or machined. Solid brass has many advantages over steel or any other metals. The first, and most obvious is that brass will not rust. Also, unlike plastic, brass doesn’t become brittle when the temperature drops, and certainly doesn’t break if accidentally dropped or stepped on. According to the finish required, the fittings are lacquered, or nickel plated ( in the case of Black Bags, which sport Black Leather Trim with Nickel fittings)

 

CAMERA BAG LININGS

Billingham uses a smooth AntiFray material for the linings in all their bags. This is important, in that it is imperative that no tiny material fibers from the lining should find their way into the camera bag itself or your valuable gear.

 

INSERTS AND DIVIDERS

Only closed-cell foam is used in all dividers and inserts. What this means is that, over time, these components will not disintegrate, creating harmful “ dust “ that can ruin sensitive photo gear.

 

ZIPS

Conventional zip fasteners are not really tough enough for Billinghams’ standards. Therefore, they use strong 8mm zips, where the coil teeth are sewn into the supporting tape. Not only is the resultant fastener stronger then a conventional zip, it is also flatter and less prone to abrasion. The “ pulls “ used on Billingham zippers are stronger than normal also…this helps to prevent them from creeping and slipping, as well as giving the user a good purchase on them when accessing their bags’ interior, especially when wearing gloves.

 

SHOULDER STRAP WEBBING

Billingham has pioneered the use of spun polyester in their shoulder straps. This is a military specification material, similar to that used as parachute webbing on the Space Shuttle, and is made by the same people. Spun polyester stays flat, wears extremely well, does not absorb water as quickly as cotton, and will not rot.

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THE PEOPLE

Oddly ( or not ) we mention the folks who make the bags at the Billingham factory in Birmingham England. These people are dedicated employees, who take pride in producing a truly unique, handmade product. And, where many of the steps used to make a Billingham bag utilize heavy duty sewing machines, there are many times when only hand stitching will do to ensure a proper fit of leather to canvas.

 

Many of the Billingham workers have been with the Billingham family for many, many years. To ensure the future of the same quality that goes into each bag, however, the company recruits younger workers on a regular basis and spends hours and weeks teaching these new workers the craft of making their fine products.

 

Billingham bags are a product of pride…pride in their manufacture, and pride of ownership.

 

CARE & MAINTENANCE

Your new Billingham Bag will provide years and years of use. As they get older, the leather trim

will begin to take on a certain “ patina “, due to the natural oils in your hands, as well as pollution, and general handling.

The canvas exterior is rather resilient to dirt and grime. However, if you ever feel the need to "clean" the exterior of your bag, simple use a DAMP ( not wet ) washcloth, no detergent, and quickly whisk the dirty area….do not rub, until the dirt diminishes. Metal finishings do not need to be cleaned. These too take on a patina over time. This is the natural, beautiful aging of the metal. No other maintenance should ever be required.