With the massive expansion of railroad around the 1840’s and 1850’s, ordinary folk were traveling in big numbers, and there was a great need for cheap luggage, so a massive amount of carpetbags were made. They were made by saddle makers around the US and were many sizes and shape. They were called carpetbags because the makers would buy old carpets and make the bags from the pieces of carpet that were not completely worn out. This how carpet bags could be manufactured cheaply. They sold in Dry Goods stores for a small price.