My Blues Bros. Briefcase/Props

[Lightning]

This last Halloween my friend and I went as Jake and Elwood Blues. I looked for a similar briefcase locally with no luck. Costumes looked fine without it. Today, I was at a Antiques and Collectibles show and found a briefcase like I had been looking for in September. I had wanted one anyway, regardless of the costume. This one was structurally sound, if a bit beat up, so I bought it.

After I got home I decided to see how it matched up to Elwood's.
see for yourself

Needless to say I was extremely happy. I checked the movie and this closeup is accurate to what was in the movie. Mine is not an exact match but it's 95% at least. Biggest difference is the width of the strap. The only information available about the originals online is that they made 7 for the movie some of which were either destroyed while filming and the survivors auctioned off. If that's true and they were custom, I guess mine is what they were based off of.

Unfortunately, I have no idea who made mine just that the latches were made by Crestlock. And it looks like both are still available so I'm assuming the originals had Crestlock hardware too.

Interestingly, In person they look silver but they photograph brass, they look brass in the movie.

 

[Funky]

Re: My Elwood Blues Briefcase

Great find! Is there a makers name anywhere on or in it?

 

[The Wolf]

Re: My Elwood Blues Briefcase

Nice find.
Among the things to put in it would be a harmonica, a long Yankee screwdriver and marine epoxy (glue, strong stuff).

Wolf

 

[Agent RayBans]

Re: My Elwood Blues Briefcase

Nice find.
Among the things to put in it would be a harmonica, a long Yankee screwdriver and marine epoxy (glue, strong stuff).

Wolf

I've got the same model Yankee screw driver from in the movie, I just can't find any bits for it

 

[Lightning]

Re: My Elwood Blues Briefcase

Great find! Is there a makers name anywhere on or in it?

nothing for the bag itself, just the clasps as mentioned previously. The only other information is the patent number which led me to this page.

http://news.google.com/patents/about?id=ZxljAAAAEBAJ

but no leads on a manufacturer

 

[DrMcoy]

Re: My Elwood Blues Briefcase

This is one of my all time favorite movies -- nice find on the briefcase.

I actually got to see Blues Brothers perform a concert with entire band and Paul Schaffer I believe up in Detroit area not too liong after first movie came out. They were GREAT.

As for the briefcase, I trust you know that 99 out of 100 people would never know the difference between what was used in movie and even a plan old rectangular briefcase -- most people just don't pick up on the details.

I know I searched long and hard for the Ray Ban Wayfarer sunglasses -- they were only $20 at the time and then shot up to $70 and $90 when RISKY BUSINESS came out. I was never able to find an exact match for Elwood's sunglasses.

I trust you have the Hot Wheels Bluesmobiles that came out - if not, they are still on ebay from time to time.

Glad to see a fellow Blues Brothers fan on the rpf.

YOU GOT MY CHEESE WHIZ, BOY??

 

[Laffo]

Re: My Elwood Blues Briefcase

That's great. I have one just like it, but mine's hammered. Great score.

Here's your bits:
http://www.goantiques.com/detail,stanley-yankee-phillips,1267780.html

Laffo.

 

[Lightning]

Re: My Elwood Blues Briefcase

Nice find.
Among the things to put in it would be a harmonica, a long Yankee screwdriver and marine epoxy (glue, strong stuff).

I've got the same model Yankee screw driver from in the movie, I just can't find any bits for it

I'm working on the collection. My screwdriver came with the right piece, luckily. I'll be drawing up the the label for the spray glue soon. As far as I can tell it's not a found item.

 

[Beechy McFly]

Re: My Elwood Blues Briefcase

Nicely done.. Love the fact you are filling with the items too..

 

[Rhett J Martin]

Re: My Elwood Blues Briefcase

Did you trade the Caddy for it? Sweet score!!

 

[Zodou]

Re: My Elwood Blues Briefcase

Right on! Nice score, I love the BB. Now all you need is a Dodge monaco ex-police car!

 

[Funky]

Re: My Elwood Blues Briefcase

Now where does someone aquire a set of handcuffs with a really long chain?

 

[Lightning]

Re: My Elwood Blues Briefcase

This is glue, strong stuff

I did the back too, with real information harvested from an epoxy MSDS sheet
Label will be appearing in the Paper props forum soon.

 

[tk5378]

Re: My Elwood Blues Briefcase

The handcuffs with the really long chain weren't handcuffs at all. They are actually leg irons. A search of police supply sites ought to serve you well for them...look for the ones with the rounded blade, not the angled. Overall the design hasn't changed much in in 30 years.

 

[Ghostsoldier]

Lightning...that's a sweet find, man. :thumbsup

I've got a brown one I picked up off eBay that looks similar, but not dead-on...I've just gotta try to dye it black, so it fits with my other props...gotta be as close as possible, when I leave it in the front seat of my Bluesmobile! :cool

BTW...if anyone is looking for one, try "lawyers attache" or "legal briefcase" as a search..."briefcase" usually just turns up the standard clamshell types.

And, now that I know they are out there, the search goes on for one like yours, Lightning! :thumbsup
Rob

 

[Brigandia36]

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Just waiting for the briefcase and the screwdriver. They're flying overseas.