Coach Rehab and Rescue Club

[noshoepolish]

Try silver-coach on ebay for the spring lock and for something you can use for the zipper pull. They can probably point you in the right direction if they don't have the push button closure.

http://stores.ebay.com/SCECKERT-SILVER-COACH?_trksid=p2047675.l2563

On another subject I just called Coach and they dont have the parts im looking for...
I was looking for a red zipper and tag for this little red Olympics sling pack I found, made for 96 Atlanta games. They dont have anything of that...

Also I was looking for the bottom part of this hardware... They only have turnlocks. I am kinda bummed out, as this one I was hoping to rehab and offer m best friend for Christmas. Shes a minimalist and she doesnt like big bags or anything colored or patterned. I know she would have loved this one, she loves leather and timeless classic things.

Bummer...

I might put on a turnlock instead, I dont know... I feel like it would be a sacrilege since it wasnt a turnlock on the bag in the 1st place....

 

[Esquared72]

I"d LOVE this bag as is! She's a beauty!! I love "patina" on the brit tan and putty bags the best!! This is such a nice classic color.

Thanks! I'm being too much of a perfectionist, I think. DH looked at it and couldn't even notice the issues I'm seeing. I'm too Type A for my own good sometimes! It is a really functional bag in a great size and she's my first BT bag. I'm sure once I start using her I'll love her...patina and all.

 

[noshoepolish]

Thanks. I pointed her to a crafts store for leather glue and they actually told her the same thing I tolod her - to let it be -0 it was the way the hide was cut. But she went ahead and had them glue it for her and it worked out ok.

I would probably try something as simple as Elmer's or a little bit of some sort of white, craft glue. It depends on how much stress that area of the bag is under. A little dab will do ya-you want it to stay flexible and not soak through either side of the leather.

 

[balmer79]

Lots of good ideas!!!
Thanks a lot everyone

Ill start my rehabbing activities after Thanksgiving! fightnig this bag cold now, ugh!

Again thanks everyone!

 

[katev]

Wow!! Can't say that I blame you.

Thanks, I am just tired of all the work and stress!

I'm in the opposite boat! DH and I usually go to SIL's house for Christmas, but for the first time we're hosting both of our families for Christmas (hence my frustration with house/contractor issues). We'll have 16 people here and I've never cooked for a group larger than 6!! Should be an experience! Wish me luck!!!

Good luck! It's a big job. Our rule is that all remodeling projects have to be completed 2 weeks before the holiday - otherwise we don't start them until after the holiday. We learned this lesson the hard way, one year when my husband was finishing painting the kitchen while I was trying to cook Thanksgiving dinner!

 

[AggieK]

Okay...can't find the before pics, but here is the after of my $14.99 British Tan Legacy Zip from 1997. It wasn't till I dunked her that I realized just how scuffed and worn this poor girl was. This is as good as she's gonna get, unless I try some dying on the problem areas (mainly along the piping and on the strap). Haven't decided if I'm going to go that route or embrace her battle scars.

One major bummer...no hang tag. Given recent requests to Coach, I'm guessing they'd just send me a brass one, which I already have from another bag.

So, in all, not super thrilled with this one - my other light color bags came out much better. A lesson in wear and tear on lighter colored bags.

It's hard to tell from the pictures, but I think it looks pretty good. We're bag twins - I bought that same bag (and same color) back in the 90's from Macy's. I think British tan is my favorite Coach color, other than maybe red. I keep looking for a red Coach to show up. No luck so far.

 

[Lyndsey21]

Okay...can't find the before pics, but here is the after of my $14.99 British Tan Legacy Zip from 1997. It wasn't till I dunked her that I realized just how scuffed and worn this poor girl was. This is as good as she's gonna get, unless I try some dying on the problem areas (mainly along the piping and on the strap). Haven't decided if I'm going to go that route or embrace her battle scars.

One major bummer...no hang tag. Given recent requests to Coach, I'm guessing they'd just send me a brass one, which I already have from another bag.

So, in all, not super thrilled with this one - my other light color bags came out much better. A lesson in wear and tear on lighter colored bags.

I think it looks great!! For $15, that's awesome!

 

[ledobe]

Okay...can't find the before pics, but here is the after of my $14.99 British Tan Legacy Zip from 1997. It wasn't till I dunked her that I realized just how scuffed and worn this poor girl was. This is as good as she's gonna get, unless I try some dying on the problem areas (mainly along the piping and on the strap). Haven't decided if I'm going to go that route or embrace her battle scars.

One major bummer...no hang tag. Given recent requests to Coach, I'm guessing they'd just send me a brass one, which I already have from another bag.

So, in all, not super thrilled with this one - my other light color bags came out much better. A lesson in wear and tear on lighter colored bags.

I"d LOVE this bag as is! She's a beauty!! I love "patina" on the brit tan and putty bags the best!! This is such a nice classic color.

Quoting Jessi here as its pretty much exactly what I would have said. I'm actually sad to have lost some of the burnishing on my Musette when I refinished it.

 

[sunshinedays]

Okay...can't find the before pics, but here is the after of my $14.99 British Tan Legacy Zip from 1997. It wasn't till I dunked her that I realized just how scuffed and worn this poor girl was. This is as good as she's gonna get, unless I try some dying on the problem areas (mainly along the piping and on the strap). Haven't decided if I'm going to go that route or embrace her battle scars.

One major bummer...no hang tag. Given recent requests to Coach, I'm guessing they'd just send me a brass one, which I already have from another bag.

So, in all, not super thrilled with this one - my other light color bags came out much better. A lesson in wear and tear on lighter colored bags.

I think she looks great as is, and what a great price! I've been eyeing one of those bags in a gorgeous hunter-green color, and your pic is tempting me even more...

 

[Esquared72]

It's hard to tell from the pictures, but I think it looks pretty good. We're bag twins - I bought that same bag (and same color) back in the 90's from Macy's. I think British tan is my favorite Coach color, other than maybe red. I keep looking for a red Coach to show up. No luck so far.

I think it looks great!! For $15, that's awesome!

Quoting Jessi here as its pretty much exactly what I would have said. I'm actually sad to have lost some of the burnishing on my Musette when I refinished it.

I think she looks great as is, and what a great price! I've been eyeing one of those bags in a gorgeous hunter-green color, and your pic is tempting me even more...

Thanks, everyone! This bag has definitely got me itching for more British Tan. Such a great neutral color, much like MK's Luggage color.

 

[whateve]

Thanks, everyone! This bag has definitely got me itching for more British Tan. Such a great neutral color, much like MK's Luggage color.

I know how you feel because I am a perfectionist too. There are bags I have that I love the patina and other bags that I have to have looking like they were new. It just depends on the bag. If it bothers you, you could always use the leather refinisher to make it look new.

 

[ledobe]

My very flexible rule about aging and patina is that if I can get it to look like it would look if *I* was using it all these years, then I'm happy. I don't think there is any way to prevent some patina on this old glove tanned leather if you use the bag. But if it's dirty and scratched and gross, that's different.

 

[Esquared72]

My very flexible rule about aging and patina is that if I can get it to look like it would look if *I* was using it all these years, then I'm happy. I don't think there is any way to prevent some patina on this old glove tanned leather if you use the bag. But if it's dirty and scratched and gross, that's different.

That's a good rule of thumb. Most times, I don't think I want them to look totally brand new post-rehab...it kind of wipes out the history, which seems oddly sad to me (yes, I'm a dork), but too much wear and tear and general ick - or more than it would have had under my care - is no bueno. So I live for the happy medium.

 

[pittcat]

Hi everyone! I just bought a bag off of ebay that I want to rehab - I received it last week and at first glance does not need much rehabbing, (lucky for me because this is my first time!), but I have a few questions because I don't want to ruin it! The bag is a black lula's legacy drawstring 9952 and my plan at the moment is just to give it a bath (from reading this thread, I've heard dish soap works well?) and then condition with apple conditioner and polish the brass if needed. But my question is, how long should I keep it in the water? Can I let it soak or is it best to get it in and out? Sorry - that might be a stupid question, but basically I'm wondering how long is too long so that I don't damage the leather? I haven't noticed any smells or stains, I just want to give it a good cleaning since I don't really know where it's been.

Also - do you guys have a preference as to whether Woolite or dish soap works better? And how long should I wait before I apply the conditioner? If I should wait until it dries, in your experience is a day usually enough for a smaller bag to completely dry?

Any tips on things to avoid or lessons learned would be appreciated - I know they are all in this thread and I've been trying to copy them as I've found them, but anything off the top of your head, like first-timer mistakes, would be great!

Thanks in advance! I'll be sure to post some pics when I'm done, I'm trying to do this before Thanksgiving, but I have a feeling these three days are going to go fast (at least I hope they do!!) Hope you all have a great holiday!

 

[whateve]

Hi everyone! I just bought a bag off of ebay that I want to rehab - I received it last week and at first glance does not need much rehabbing, (lucky for me because this is my first time!), but I have a few questions because I don't want to ruin it! The bag is a black lula's legacy drawstring 9952 and my plan at the moment is just to give it a bath (from reading this thread, I've heard dish soap works well?) and then condition with apple conditioner and polish the brass if needed. But my question is, how long should I keep it in the water? Can I let it soak or is it best to get it in and out? Sorry - that might be a stupid question, but basically I'm wondering how long is too long so that I don't damage the leather? I haven't noticed any smells or stains, I just want to give it a good cleaning since I don't really know where it's been.

Also - do you guys have a preference as to whether Woolite or dish soap works better? And how long should I wait before I apply the conditioner? If I should wait until it dries, in your experience is a day usually enough for a smaller bag to completely dry?

Any tips on things to avoid or lessons learned would be appreciated - I know they are all in this thread and I've been trying to copy them as I've found them, but anything off the top of your head, like first-timer mistakes, would be great!

Thanks in advance! I'll be sure to post some pics when I'm done, I'm trying to do this before Thanksgiving, but I have a feeling these three days are going to go fast (at least I hope they do!!) Hope you all have a great holiday!

Actually quite a few times I have forgotten bags and left them soaking for hours and it hasn't caused any problems. These bags are tough. You don't want to do just a quick dunk because it takes time for the water to soak in evenly. I would say 15 minutes to 1/2 hour is fine if there isn't much dirt. Dish soap is fine.

It usually takes more than a day to get completely dry. You can begin conditioning when the bag is almost dry. It doesn't make much difference unless the leather is really dry. That is the only time that I condition before the bag is dry. If you see any wear on the edges, you can use black acrylic paint on them before conditioning. I usually paint it on lightly and then wipe it off immediately with a paper towel. I'm looking forward to seeing the results! This is one bag that has been on my radar but I haven't gotten one yet.