Coach Rehab and Rescue Club

[AggieK]

I have Blackrocks with the old label, but I have found it to be very easy to use. I would describe its consistency the same as slightly warm chicken fat. It is very soft and melts into the leather.

 

[chowlover2]

I have Blackrocks with the old label, but I have found it to be very easy to use. I would describe its consistency the same as slightly warm chicken fat. It is very soft and melts into the leather.

That's been my experience as well.

 

[Jessi319]

I'm going to post this in the Deals/Rare Finds thread (late night eBay searching) - this is not my auction but I have purchased from this seller and the customer service was excellent. It is a Madison Copley in the best condition I have seen advertised on eBay (though I am far from an expert, and I recommend getting this authenticated). Just beautiful!

http://www.ebay.com/itm/NEW-VINTAGE...609?pt=US_CSA_WH_Handbags&hash=item51a8a8dbe9

You are welcome to tell us FIRST before taking it to the others LOL. That's an amazing bag

 

[darkangel07760]

I want to buy a couple of tassles for my british tan duffle sac. The yellow one comes with brass hardware, but i think that's it! I wonder how hard it would be to switch the ring? And where could i find brass rings and dogleash clips? Oh... And have they been selling these at outlets yet?

 

[whateve]

I want to buy a couple of tassles for my british tan duffle sac. The yellow one comes with brass hardware, but i think that's it! I wonder how hard it would be to switch the ring? And where could i find brass rings and dogleash clips? Oh... And have they been selling these at outlets yet?

A lot of colors are at the outlets. I think it wouldn't be that hard to switch the ring. I would use a screwdriver to hold open the ring to slide the tassel off and then slide it onto the new ring. I haven't looked but I am pretty sure you can get the brass rings at a craft store like Michaels or online. I got the dogleash clips online.

 

[GoStanford]

You are welcome to tell us FIRST before taking it to the others LOL. That's an amazing bag

Actually - you know - I would in a way prefer to tell the Rehab/Rescue thread instead of the Deals area because I feel like most of the Deals are for newer bags, and I think these classic styles get buried in all the newer styles that are mentioned there.

I am glad you agree it is so beautiful! I've been marking bags to watch just for the fun of it on eBay!

 

[GoStanford]

I have Blackrocks with the old label, but I have found it to be very easy to use. I would describe its consistency the same as slightly warm chicken fat. It is very soft and melts into the leather.

This is true! It is schmaltzy! I have a canister of the old stuff (I assume it's the older stuff - it's about six months old). Mine is like melted goopy wax.

 

[vcasido]

There are numerous suggestions on how to remove the smoke. A court bag always benefits from a sink bath with Dawn, but that usually doesn't get rid of the smoke. What I usually do is a combination of the bath, wiping the bag down with alcohol, hanging the bag outside for a week or so, and sealing the dry bag in a plastic bag for about a week with something that is supposed to help with smoke, which can be bath salts, baking soda, carpet fresh, etc. Sealing the bag up with activated charcoal is supposed to work. Sometimes it takes longer. You can do each step more than once. I have been successful with every bag I've tried - it just takes a long time, sometimes months.

That really helps! Before reading PurseForum and getting very good insights on leather, I've always been told not to soak my leathers in water because it will ruin it or leave watermarks. Is a leather bag bath safe? I've been extremely tempted to do it, but I'm afraid. Haha! Also, after washing it, I've read that you can just stuff the inside with newspaper. Do you recommend this for the drying step?

 

[whateve]

That really helps! Before reading PurseForum and getting very good insights on leather, I've always been told not to soak my leathers in water because it will ruin it or leave watermarks. Is a leather bag bath safe? I've been extremely tempted to do it, but I'm afraid. Haha! Also, after washing it, I've read that you can just stuff the inside with newspaper. Do you recommend this for the drying step?

A leather bath is safe. In fact, the old Coach bags sold in the 70's and early 80's came with instructions that told you that the easiest way to clean your bag was with soap and water. The only caveat was to go over the bag uniformly. Watermarks only occur when you get only part of a bag wet. I believe that there might be certain leather tanning and finishing processes that might make the leather less able to handle a water bath but for Coach leather, it is absolutely safe. You might see some dye leach out in the bath, but don't worry, because there is plenty left in the leather.

I would not use newspaper for the drying step. I would be afraid that the newsprint would rub off and the wetness would dissolve the paper leaving a gooey mess. Most of us use terry towels. Stuff the bag into the shape you want it to dry in. When it is mostly dry and the bag will stay in the right shape, you can remove the towels to complete the drying process.

 

[vcasido]

A leather bath is safe. In fact, the old Coach bags sold in the 70's and early 80's came with instructions that told you that the easiest way to clean your bag was with soap and water. The only caveat was to go over the bag uniformly. Watermarks only occur when you get only part of a bag wet. I believe that there might be certain leather tanning and finishing processes that might make the leather less able to handle a water bath but for Coach leather, it is absolutely safe. You might see some dye leach out in the bath, but don't worry, because there is plenty left in the leather.

I would not use newspaper for the drying step. I would be afraid that the newsprint would rub off and the wetness would dissolve the paper leaving a gooey mess. Most of us use terry towels. Stuff the bag into the shape you want it to dry in. When it is mostly dry and the bag will stay in the right shape, you can remove the towels to complete the drying process.

Hahaha! I thought the same with the newspaper trick, I don't think I want news prints in my bag. Do you recommend soaking it and leaving it in the water or is a fast bath recommended? You also mentioned Dawn for the soap, any preference on which one and how much should be used?

 

[whateve]

Hahaha! I thought the same with the newspaper trick, I don't think I want news prints in my bag. Do you recommend soaking it and leaving it in the water or is a fast bath recommended? You also mentioned Dawn for the soap, any preference on which one and how much should be used?

I usually let my bags soak for awhile, maybe a half hour or more. Some bags take longer to absorb the water, especially if there are oils or conditioners on the leather. Coach's original instructions mention Ivory or castile soap. I usually use whatever I happen to be using on my dishes. I don't think it matters much. I know some people use Woolite - I can't say for sure, but I think that a bag that I washed in Woolite came out kind of stiff so I don't use it anymore. I tried Borax once for the smoke smell but that also seemed to affect the texture of the leather. For the same reasons, I would be afraid to use baking soda. If there are any spots or stains, you can scrub them gently. I use a dishwashing brush.

If there are any ink marks inside or out, then you have to be extra careful. Once these marks get wet, the ink can easily bleed from the inside to the outside. It is best to clean off ink before a bath. If there is a lot of ink, sometimes it isn't worth the risk of bleeding to do the bath.

If you are trying to get rid of smoke, you might want to wipe the bag down with alcohol first to try to remove at least some of it.

 

[vcasido]

I usually let my bags soak for awhile, maybe a half hour or more. Some bags take longer to absorb the water, especially if there are oils or conditioners on the leather. Coach's original instructions mention Ivory or castile soap. I usually use whatever I happen to be using on my dishes. I don't think it matters much. I know some people use Woolite - I can't say for sure, but I think that a bag that I washed in Woolite came out kind of stiff so I don't use it anymore. I tried Borax once for the smoke smell but that also seemed to affect the texture of the leather. For the same reasons, I would be afraid to use baking soda. If there are any spots or stains, you can scrub them gently. I use a dishwashing brush.

If there are any ink marks inside or out, then you have to be extra careful. Once these marks get wet, the ink can easily bleed from the inside to the outside. It is best to clean off ink before a bath. If there is a lot of ink, sometimes it isn't worth the risk of bleeding to do the bath.

If you are trying to get rid of smoke, you might want to wipe the bag down with alcohol first to try to remove at least some of it.

Good to know about the ink marks because mine has some, but it looks like it's no problem to try and remove. How do you recommend I remove those? Also, is any type of alcohol okay to use to wipe down the bag before washing to remove the some of the smoke smell?

 

[whateve]

Good to know about the ink marks because mine has some, but it looks like it's no problem to try and remove. How do you recommend I remove those? Also, is any type of alcohol okay to use to wipe down the bag before washing to remove the some of the smoke smell?

It is very hard to get ink marks out of leather. I have tried tons of things, including alcohol, goof off, hand sanitizer, etc. Light marks or thin lines probably won't bleed through but spots where it looks like a pen leaked are the worst.

Any kind of alcohol is okay for the smoke smell. I have used rubbing alcohol but some people swear by vanilla vodka. It is usually a multi-step process getting rid of the smoke smell. I figure each step helps a little bit and eventually all the smell is gone.

 

[Tetondeb]

I want to buy a couple of tassles for my british tan duffle sac. The yellow one comes with brass hardware, but i think that's it! I wonder how hard it would be to switch the ring? And where could i find brass rings and dogleash clips? Oh... And have they been selling these at outlets yet?

I have the carnelian tassel and I've switched it back and forth so many times from nickel to brass that I'm now getting a second one to just keep on a brass ring! I had a brass coach key ring with the little mini tag that looks beautiful on my vintage willis with the red tassel!

 

[CocoaWaffles]

My latest rescue from Goodwill for 99 cents. Saw it laying on the floor under the purse display. It just needed a good cleaning and conditioninig.


Introducing the 2003 Mini Hippie ( more pictures in the Auth. thread)

Great bag! I've got two that look like this. I'm trying to find out their name and year and, hopefully, their general monetary worth. I thought they were older though.
Could you let me know if our serial numbers are similar?
Black: No. B03-9135 nickel silverware China
Brown: No. D0P-9131 brass hardware Costa Rica