The Case of the Merchant Navy Officer

We discover the story of a travelling radio officer in the merchant navy with a passion for collecting stickers and Globe-Trotter suitcases.

It’s no accident that some of the world’s most famous explorers, including Captain Robert Falcon Scott and Sir Edmund Hillary, have all relied on Globe-Trotter cases for their epic expeditions. It’s a testament to the resilience of their hardwearing nature – thanks to the unique use of Vulcanised Fibreboard – in even the most extreme travelling scenarios.

The Globe-Trotter’s popularity is thanks to its distinctive good looks and its unmatched durability, which was famously put to the test in 1912, when a one-tonne baby elephant stood atop the suitcase. Since then, a tiny elephant figurine has appeared as a mascot in Globe-Trotter’s flagship stores to symbolise the strength of the suitcases.

With explorers, military officers and style leaders all rushing to get their hands on the long-lasting beauty of a Globe-Trotter, there’s more than a story or two linked to the famous cases, including the tale of Mr Twist.

Owing to the devil-may-care airport handling of the 1970s, Mr Twist owned several broken suitcases before he purchased a navy Globe-Trotter. As a chief radio officer in the merchant navy, he was in the market for a suitcase that could withstand the demands of his profession travelling across the world to places such as Hong Kong, Africa, Australia and the UAE.

After reading about the elephant test in a magazine, Mr Twist was introduced to the Globe-Trotter case and was drawn to the classic design that reminded him of his grandfather’s old suitcase. He subsequently spent 20 years at sea, travelling more than 600 nautical miles a day – always armed with his trusty Globe-Trotters. In the 1970s and ’80s, he was often mistaken for a member of the BOAC (British Overseas Airways Corporation), who carried a similar style of case.

The timeless style of Globe-Trotter’s luggage appealed to Mr Twist, but he also wanted something to distinguish his cases from the airport pile and give them some extra protection on their travels – so he decided to get creative. Luckily, the naval officer is quite the collector and had amassed an impressive number of travel stickers on his journeys across the world.

He covered said cases with the stickers, transforming his Globe-Trotter collection into unique designs distinguishable from other, less decorated cases that arrived at luggage collection. The characterful cases certainly attract attention. Airport security in New Zealand insisted he remove his stickers to reveal the security tag for his flight – he refused, of course.

These stickered Globe-Trotter cases have withstood almost 50 years of adventure (often carrying more than they should) and, while admittedly they have visited the repair shop on more than one occasion, they’ve managed to retain their shape and sturdiness. Mr Twist says they’re the only cases he trusts to survive the many tribulations he encountered on his travels.

A Globe-Trotter case is more than just a suitcase, and in this case our classic Globe-Trotter has become a scrapbook for his life. Like an artefact or an heirloom, it’s a piece of history and an object of sentimental value built to last a lifetime.