Ruth Porter swipes her fob and types in a four digit access code. The mandatory white gloves absorb the sweat from my palms as I grip my heavy Canon. The air-tight door opens with a sound like the popping of a can of Pringles. The stale air, erie tangerine light, and all-white surroundings make me feel like I am preparing to negotiate with Hal for the survival of the human race, not go play in LL Bean's Art and Archives department.
Special Pipe Tobacco for Hunters and Fisherman.
A lunch box and leather case from the 40's.
Geese decoys from the 30's.
They even have triple stitching, good luck finding these.
For him, Bean Boot Roller blades from the mid 90's.
A collection of LL Bean knifes including a Gerber from my home town.
Fishing reels from the 20's on.
This was one of my favorites, A Hamilton, mechanical pocket watch from 1962 in mint condition.
LL Bean's stamp that Mr. Bean used at the bottom of the introduction of the old catalogs.
Visiting the LL Bean Arts and Archive was the highlight of my day. I could have spent weeks in there and I am sure we just skimmed the surface. Max posted a bunch of vintage footwear on All Plaidout. Check back in tomorrow to see clothes from the Archive.
Here are some more links,
Hunting-Fishing and Camping by LL Bean (Google books),
From the LL Bean Archive (Picasa),
All Plaidout,
Fishing reels from the 20's on.
This was one of my favorites, A Hamilton, mechanical pocket watch from 1962 in mint condition.
A matchbook protector from the 50's.
LL's office chair.
LL Bean's stamp that Mr. Bean used at the bottom of the introduction of the old catalogs.
Visiting the LL Bean Arts and Archive was the highlight of my day. I could have spent weeks in there and I am sure we just skimmed the surface. Max posted a bunch of vintage footwear on All Plaidout. Check back in tomorrow to see clothes from the Archive.
Here are some more links,
Hunting-Fishing and Camping by LL Bean (Google books),
From the LL Bean Archive (Picasa),
All Plaidout,
Posts
10 comments:
This is a great post. Thanks for putting these great pictures up. I really wonder what that tobacco tastes like. And who knew matchbooks needed protecting?
thanks Conor. The matchbook protector was awesome, talk about a cool accessory.
foster
Great pics, man. Love the Blahniks!
JP
JP,
the blahniks are amazing. it was hard to capture them. I am glad you like them,
Foster
Conor, Mrs. Porter said Mr. Bean gave those silver matchbook covers away as something of a calling card. I'm sure there are hundreds of them floating around loose in desk drawers all over Maine.
JP, when the women in the office saw the Manolos, they all asked each other, "What would you wear those with?"
Foster, knock 'em dead, kid!
That's pretty awesome Max. That would definitely be a cool thing to have.
tear
whats the tear for nick?
geez, Foster....I hadn't gotten past the river driver shirt to get to this...just saw the rest...
Gorgeous. Incredible.
So jealous. So happy you captured it, have to go see what else I've missed...
Love the Blahniks the best. How could you not?
I really like the tobacco LL Bean blend, it is exquisite, my grandfather left me when he died a smoking pipe, that I have been using everyday.
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