There were two brothers (I don’t know their names) way ahead of the curve in the late 40′s. Harley-Davidson didn’t offer hard bags for their motorcycles until 1952. “Royalite Plastic” bags first appeared on the 1952 “K” model Harleys and then on Big Twin models in 1954.  

Back to the two brothers; they came up with this mock-up and offered it to the Harley Davidson Motor Company sometime around 1949. The H-D Motor Company declined the brother’s hard bag idea, due to the effort and popularity they had in their leather bag line. Harley-Davidson offered about five different leather saddlebags in 1950. The brother’s Handcrafted these bags for the 1948 Panhead using  Cadillac fender and bumper shapes as the core. Then incorporating the Caddy’s glove box door and lock. Way ahead of their time, don’t you think?