Coach Rehab and Rescue Club

[pittcat]

Good luck!

I just finished a black leather rehab and on my side, the edges were pretty pale and worn, after I gave it a bath , I used apache cream for cowboy boots conditioner (I didnt have apple on hand just yet!) and I applied it all over, I think I must have put on 3-4 applications. After that I did condition the edges only, maybe 5 more times, here and there throughout the day and I didnt need to use any paint, the black came back.
then once it was all dried and nicely contitioned, I applied neatsfoot oil and rubbed it, it looks like a brand new baby!
I was a little scared when I did my 1st, i was scared of ruining it, but those bags can take a beating! theyre made to last!

Thanks for the information and the pictures! Well it's good to know ahead of time I might need to condition the bag multiple times! I probably would have tried once or twice and then assumed that it wouldn't get any better, but now I am prepared that some areas might need like 10 X conditioning haha!

Why won't you wear the bag in the pictures? Is it just because the straps start in the back? Is it long enough for cross body, it looks like it would work that way? You did some great work with that bag! Before reading this thread I would have assumed some of those marks were permanent (and never would have thought you could/should soak a leather bag!), but it looks perfect in the after shots! I can't believe you found it for that price! I've started checking for bags when I hit the thrifts, but for some reason I assumed if the store saw it was coach they would put it in the glass case and mark it way up just for the name and I haven't gotten good enough to tell authenticity for the older styles, but great score for you! Thanks again for the tips & advice!

 

[pittcat]

Quick deviation from the topic, but can anyone comment if there are quality differences for a bag made in the US vs one made in Turkey? I'm looking for the same bag in a different color and found both mid-1990s and the price is about the same, but wasn't sure if anyone here can comment on how each has held up if you have bags made from both countries. Thanks!

 

[ledobe]

Quick deviation from the topic, but can anyone comment if there are quality differences for a bag made in the US vs one made in Turkey? I'm looking for the same bag in a different color and found both mid-1990s and the price is about the same, but wasn't sure if anyone here can comment on how each has held up if you have bags made from both countries. Thanks!

I have a pocket purse made turkey and I love it. I did sort of the same thing looking at two bags. I opted for the Turkey bag (loll) and I'm glad I did. I made my decision based on condition and feel I made the right choice.

 

[whateve]

Quick deviation from the topic, but can anyone comment if there are quality differences for a bag made in the US vs one made in Turkey? I'm looking for the same bag in a different color and found both mid-1990s and the price is about the same, but wasn't sure if anyone here can comment on how each has held up if you have bags made from both countries. Thanks!

I don't have a Turkey bag but I think I have heard that the leather isn't as nice. I'm pretty sure that Turkey is the only country I have heard mentioned having quality issues. I would always opt for a US bag over another country, except Italy, although I haven't seen any differences between Costa Rica and the US.

 

[AggieK]

And here are the afters. She still has a dark smudge on her front, but I was afraid to try to do anything to it. I can live with it, and call it a birthmark. Her dirtiest part was actually her hang tag chain, it took me QUITE a bit of cleaning and scrubbing to get it shiny. Last picture is a solo shot against white...like her first before shot. I can't wait to find another classic, older Coach to rehab!!

Great job! What a beautiful color. Congrats...

 

[ladyraven65]

And here are the afters. She still has a dark smudge on her front, but I was afraid to try to do anything to it. I can live with it, and call it a birthmark. Her dirtiest part was actually her hang tag chain, it took me QUITE a bit of cleaning and scrubbing to get it shiny. Last picture is a solo shot against white...like her first before shot. I can't wait to find another classic, older Coach to rehab!!



View attachment 1953752



View attachment 1953753



View attachment 1953756



View attachment 1953758

Excellent job! Her color is just gorgeous--enjoy wearing her!

 

[2Blessed]

Thank you,2Blessed! I'm wearing her out tonight. Can't wait!

Hope you'll pictures of you wearing her!

 

[2Blessed]

And after

Nice job! She's too pretty to not wear though!

 

[whateve]

Here is a poor man's method of brass polishing:

Vinegar and steel wool. It works like a dream but you have to throw away the steel wool afterwards since it will rust.

 

[gege vintagelvr]

And after

Good job!! I think she looks very nice. If you decide you don't want to carry her maybe you can help her find a new hone.

Congratulations on your first rehab. What a success.

 

[gege vintagelvr]

You did a good job. Can't even see the smudge. Maybe it is the camera and light.
The tag looks brand new! Congratulations on your rehab.

And here are the afters. She still has a dark smudge on her front, but I was afraid to try to do anything to it. I can live with it, and call it a birthmark. Her dirtiest part was actually her hang tag chain, it took me QUITE a bit of cleaning and scrubbing to get it shiny. Last picture is a solo shot against white...like her first before shot. I can't wait to find another classic, older Coach to rehab!!



View attachment 1953752



View attachment 1953753



View attachment 1953756



View attachment 1953758

 

[Lyndsey21]

And after

Wow!!! Huge difference!!! You must be so happy!!!

 

[Lyndsey21]

And here are the afters. She still has a dark smudge on her front, but I was afraid to try to do anything to it. I can live with it, and call it a birthmark. Her dirtiest part was actually her hang tag chain, it took me QUITE a bit of cleaning and scrubbing to get it shiny. Last picture is a solo shot against white...like her first before shot. I can't wait to find another classic, older Coach to rehab!!



View attachment 1953752



View attachment 1953753



View attachment 1953756

What a cool color. It looks really nice!!

 

[iNeedCoffee]

Excellent job! Her color is just gorgeous--enjoy wearing her!

You did a good job. Can't even see the smudge. Maybe it is the camera and light.
The tag looks brand new! Congratulations on your rehab.

What a cool color. It looks really nice!!

Thank you, ladies. I do love the color on her! The smudge is made worse by the flash at some angles, and disappears at others. Carrying her and looking at her in person, it's not terribly evident. I took her out for a spin last night, and noticed a woman eyeing her. I loved it!!

 

[pittcat]

I have a pocket purse made turkey and I love it. I did sort of the same thing looking at two bags. I opted for the Turkey bag (loll) and I'm glad I did. I made my decision based on condition and feel I made the right choice.

I don't have a Turkey bag but I think I have heard that the leather isn't as nice. I'm pretty sure that Turkey is the only country I have heard mentioned having quality issues. I would always opt for a US bag over another country, except Italy, although I haven't seen any differences between Costa Rica and the US.

Thank you both for the response! I was originally thinking the one from Turkey looked in better condition than the one from USA, but there weren't a lot of pictures for the one made in USA but it was listed there was only one owner and after messaging the seller it was apparently his/her mother's bag. They didn't post a picture of the creed so the seller messaged me the picture and I was thinking I was going to go with the one made in USA because the current price was lower than the other and it seemed like I was getting something of a deal because the seller didn't even know what the creed was at first so she might not have known what she had, but not long after she sent the message she ended the listing without any bids! That's the second time this has happened this week!

Now I am left with the one from Turkey (unless I decide to wait it out), and everything looked pretty decent except the strap either looks ripped (although listing says no rips/tears) or it is pieced together poorly. If this is a slow day for anyone else and you want to take a look at the listing, see below. It looks like something is going on with the strap in Picture 2. I know I am probably getting ripped off at these prices, based on what I've seen you guys get your bags for, but after buying some of the new legacy pieces, this is like the deal of the century for me ahah!
http://www.ebay.com/itm/181028921875?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649

Also, it's been a while since I have done anything with Ebay, but can a seller remove a listing at any time? I didn't bid on the one bag because I like to wait until closer to the end (still had more than a day left), but if I would have bid on the item would the seller still have been able to remove the listing?

Thanks for the help!!