Coach Rehab and Rescue Club

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Can someone please remind me what you use to remove verdigris from zippers....vinager or something like that.
Sorry...have a memory like a sieve.
Straight vinegar on a microfiber cloth, rub up and down the length of both sides of the zipper teeth. Sometimes I use a toothpick between the teeth. When you think you've got it clean, rub up and down both sides with a dry paper towel.
 
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Thanks again to everyone for the suggestions! I decided I would think on it. Then family showed up for a couple weeks so I didn't get around to doing anything else to it but a few coats of CLR. And I think she's just about ready to use! Soooo excited!!! I have to say this navy is gorgeous! I'm dying to get the hardware back on and use! I had my sister give it the sniff test (she hadn't smelled it before) and she says it smells like leather with maybe a whiff of "old". So I'm going to get some of those odor absorbers someone suggested and just give it more time. Two questions -
1 - How many coats of CLR should i do? I've done 5.
2 - Is that it or should I follow with something else like Black Rock or another product? Or does it not matter?
I'm glad the bad smell is gone!

Five coats of CPR is probably enough. I'd finish with a light coat Blackrock following the directions on the jar, then buff with a horsehair shoe brush or clean soft cloth. I think it's a nice way to bring out the soft glow of that beautiful vintage leather, it's great for minimizing scratches and scuffs, and it helps even out the color.

Enjoy using your "new" vintage Crescent Bag!
 
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I'm glad the bad smell is gone!

Five coats of CPR is probably enough. I'd finish with a light coat Blackrock following the directions on the jar, then buff with a horsehair shoe brush or clean soft cloth. I think it's a nice way to bring out the soft glow of that beautiful vintage leather, it's great for minimizing scratches and scuffs, and it helps even out the color.

Enjoy using your "new" vintage Crescent Bag!

Thank you! Going to order some now. I'll post pics when she's all done.
 
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So last week I received my "black" Costa Rican Willis with nickel hardware from Mercari and it turned out to be navy blue. Again. I have now bought two "black" Willises that turned out to be navy blue. The first one I decided to keep because it was in great shape and I decided I liked the color after all. The second one was a major disappointment and I didn't want to keep it. However, I bought it off of Mercari and I didn't even open the box within the first 3 days....for reasons. Just reasons, we'll keep it at that. Long story short, my fault but I'm now stuck with the bag. The bad news is that when I finally did open the box, I discovered the back pocket was covered in white colored mold. In a moment of exhaustion and irritation I filled the entire purse with straight white distilled vinegar and let it sit overnight. I rinsed, soaped, and soaked again this morning and now the bag is drying. My question is, do you guys think the white vinegar killed the mold? Would you feel comfortable carrying the bag or at this point should I just scrap the bag and harvest the lovely nickel hardware from it?
 
So last week I received my "black" Costa Rican Willis with nickel hardware from Mercari and it turned out to be navy blue. Again. I have now bought two "black" Willises that turned out to be navy blue. The first one I decided to keep because it was in great shape and I decided I liked the color after all. The second one was a major disappointment and I didn't want to keep it. However, I bought it off of Mercari and I didn't even open the box within the first 3 days....for reasons. Just reasons, we'll keep it at that. Long story short, my fault but I'm now stuck with the bag. The bad news is that when I finally did open the box, I discovered the back pocket was covered in white colored mold. In a moment of exhaustion and irritation I filled the entire purse with straight white distilled vinegar and let it sit overnight. I rinsed, soaped, and soaked again this morning and now the bag is drying. My question is, do you guys think the white vinegar killed the mold? Would you feel comfortable carrying the bag or at this point should I just scrap the bag and harvest the lovely nickel hardware from it?
Tough call. Probably the mold is gone. Probably I would always wonder if it was really gone. Ethically, I wouldn't feel right selling it. Probably I would remove the hardware, handle and strap (either keep or sell them), and toss the bag. I'm sorry this happened to you!
 
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So last week I received my "black" Costa Rican Willis with nickel hardware from Mercari and it turned out to be navy blue. Again. I have now bought two "black" Willises that turned out to be navy blue. The first one I decided to keep because it was in great shape and I decided I liked the color after all. The second one was a major disappointment and I didn't want to keep it. However, I bought it off of Mercari and I didn't even open the box within the first 3 days....for reasons. Just reasons, we'll keep it at that. Long story short, my fault but I'm now stuck with the bag. The bad news is that when I finally did open the box, I discovered the back pocket was covered in white colored mold. In a moment of exhaustion and irritation I filled the entire purse with straight white distilled vinegar and let it sit overnight. I rinsed, soaped, and soaked again this morning and now the bag is drying. My question is, do you guys think the white vinegar killed the mold? Would you feel comfortable carrying the bag or at this point should I just scrap the bag and harvest the lovely nickel hardware from it?

I had some white mold on a bag recently and used vinegar and after it dried and I conditioned it’s fine. I’m going to always keep an eye on it but so far it’s good!

Sorry this happened! Maybe you can gift it someone?
 
I had some white mold on a bag recently and used vinegar and after it dried and I conditioned it’s fine. I’m going to always keep an eye on it but so far it’s good!

Sorry this happened! Maybe you can gift it someone?
Tough call. Probably the mold is gone. Probably I would always wonder if it was really gone. Ethically, I wouldn't feel right selling it. Probably I would remove the hardware, handle and strap (either keep or sell them), and toss the bag. I'm sorry this happened to you!
It's completely my fault that I'm stuck with it now. I could have returned it had I examined it right away but I was just too busy and distracted with other things going on at the time. I certainly won't sell it without disclosing the mold. Apparently vinegar is very effective at killing mold but I still feel icky when touching the bag. Oh well, live and learn! The hardware is great though. Maybe I'll turn my true black costa rican Willis with brass hardware into my much desired Costa Rican Willis with nickel hardware that I'm apparently destined to never get.....:doh:
 
With a few raindrops. Vintage Plaza and a new friend!View attachment 4143008

I don't think I've seen this style before. It's gorgeous!
Plaza, large released around 1990 for a few years. I have one in black. The Brit was an impulse buy. She has her shape back nicely after dunking. Still a bit stained and distressed, but will have a nice patina. Sitting at home with a final touch of Blackrock while I am away for a few days.
 
So last week I received my "black" Costa Rican Willis with nickel hardware from Mercari and it turned out to be navy blue. Again. I have now bought two "black" Willises that turned out to be navy blue. The first one I decided to keep because it was in great shape and I decided I liked the color after all. The second one was a major disappointment and I didn't want to keep it. However, I bought it off of Mercari and I didn't even open the box within the first 3 days....for reasons. Just reasons, we'll keep it at that. Long story short, my fault but I'm now stuck with the bag. The bad news is that when I finally did open the box, I discovered the back pocket was covered in white colored mold. In a moment of exhaustion and irritation I filled the entire purse with straight white distilled vinegar and let it sit overnight. I rinsed, soaped, and soaked again this morning and now the bag is drying. My question is, do you guys think the white vinegar killed the mold? Would you feel comfortable carrying the bag or at this point should I just scrap the bag and harvest the lovely nickel hardware from it?

Sorry about your moldy bag. Navy with nickel does sound pretty though.
 
Plaza, large released around 1990 for a few years. I have one in black. The Brit was an impulse buy. She has her shape back nicely after dunking. Still a bit stained and distressed, but will have a nice patina. Sitting at home with a final touch of Blackrock while I am away for a few days.

Thanks for giving me the name! They're beautiful finds!
 
Thanks for giving me the name! They're beautiful finds!
Happy to, ty! There is Plaza (smaller) that is about 9” x 8” and mine , the Plaza Large, about 11” x 8”. Sellers don’t often know the name, and don’t get the measurements right . Let me see if I can find posts of the description here.
There are so many vintage styles out there. I was amazed when I first started exploring vintage Coach a few years ago, with the help of the Forum. I had no idea.
 
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