Wheels on suitcases who invented it

We need wheels on luggage. Sadow was in the luggage business and is the former president and owner of U. He attached four casters, like those used on trunks, to the bottom of a suitcase and added a flexible strap, and off to market he went, with a suitcase trailing behind him.

After weeks of rejection from department stores, including Macy's, Sadow had a meeting with a Macy's vice president who was impressed with his idea. The Macy's buyer who had recently shown him the door agreed with his boss, and a product was born. Sadow applied for a U. Macy's sold the first suitcases in October Sadow held the patent for about two years until competitors banded together and successfully broke the patent, opening up the market to wheeled luggage.

Granted, those first wheeled suitcases were, well, unwieldy. It was invented by a Northwest Airlines pilot named Robert Plath who added two wheels and a telescoping handle to a suitcase that could then be rolled upright. Initially, Plath sold his rolling suitcases to fellow flight crews, but as soon as airport travelers spied the new suitcases, they clamored to have them. Plath gave up flying and started the company Travelpro International, which made the wildly popular Rollaboard suitcase. Today, the Duchess of Sussex, Meghan Markle, is a proponent of one trendy wheeled luggage brand Away, and she gifted suitcases to attendees of her baby shower in February Everything you need to go everywhere.

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By subscribing, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You may unsubscribe at any time. By Marcia Wendorf. The first wheeled suitcase , The inventor Alfred Joseph Krupa 1 , 2.

View this post on Instagram. Follow Us on. What Is A Rollaboard Suitcase? Sadow innovated a traditional suitcase on wheels attached to a long strap. In , Sadow patented his invention as the Rolling Luggage. You might also enjoy. See All Articles. Register your bag to receive our comprehensive worry-free warranty. Register Now. We offer discounts and savings to those in the airline industry!