As promised! The -made in New York City- Rambler project. View attachment 5052144View attachment 5052145View attachment 5052146View attachment 5052147
Shout out and thanks to so many of you here (@Nataluccia3 too) who have been interested in this bag and have kindly inquired along the way. Most of you may recall I found this on Craigslist last November. I had not been particularly interested in an original Rambler, but when I saw this in what I believed to possibly be a spectator style in saddle/BT, it was like *screeching tires* to a full stop. It was $60 plus $21 and change for a priority ship box. I though why not . . .
The up side was the possibilities of that gorgeous looking natural pebbling and that the piping had not worn through on the back and that the seams were all good (in the areas that could be a problem). . . . I had never seen a spectator Rambler. The down side was that when I got it, the leather was in the worst condition I ever had my hands on (between my bags and the ones I have seen at flea markets, thrift shops I would estimate I have had my hands on over a hundred bags, conservatively). Dry and stiff. And reeked of mildew. Verdigris, lots of it. I was a bit discouraged from the start.
Two dunks later, lots of CPR and yes, (newbies, do not use this as your guide to rehab) smearing it, multiple times with Renapur. At least ten apps overall with CPR and as many with Renapur. A cup of bleach in the water with the first dunk (and like I posted originally, please don't roast me on that, the mildew was awful) and a wipe down of the inside of the inside with a Krud Kutter solution before the second dunk, I began to have more hope as the flap, front pocket, sides and back began to feel like Coach leather and the smell of mildew dissipated.
The side of the gusset pocket pocket was damaged from something that must have been carried permanently there, like a huge janitor sized ring of keys, or other item that would rough up the leather from the inside. There is no improving that issue. Also on the front and back, while it did clean up well considering it is a light color, there is some surface discoloring that conditioner will not change, at least not on a light color.
After the second dunk I was beginning to think maybe it was all BT and the extreme wear on the front and back just wore off the color. And it had been left out with the result of extreme fading. However, even though I have no catalog info to support me, I believe it is a spectator style. I am guessing Saddle and BT. In the 4th pic it is clear the inside zip pocket and front of the bag (where the gusset pocket is attached are clearly BT. In the 3rd pic you see the back of those panels is clearly darker in color. Under the flap and the pieces of the gusset attaching to the front are clearly lighter and different from the BT and I would guess Saddle, just from what I have seen from what others post here and online. I did not take a pic of this, but when I lift up the tab on the front, the little are where it is not faded, looks like the nice caramel color of what I am calling Saddle too.
Well, what really helped it along was the last app of Renapur, warming it and the bag after applying and then warming the bag again over the next few days (@LadaZuri). The strap is quite sad, although it is lagging in apps of CPR/Renapur. I will give it another app of Renapur. I have decided not to touch up the bag at this time with any dye or recolorant. I was toying with the idea of touching of the piping on the flap. For now, I will see if this is a forever bag for me. It was a really good project, if not one of the most impulsive buys I have ever made. I am contemplating a touch of the piping of the strap with BT recolorant.
If anyone has any catalog pics or insider info on Made in NYC spectator styles, I would appreciate it! Here are listings of what appear to be other NYC spectator styles:
Coach #636-6849 1970's Authentic"Dinky" Bag British Tan Crossbody NYC W/Tag | eBay
Vintage 1970's Coach New York City Stewardess Tan Messenger Crossbody Saddle Bag | eBay
I will give this one more proof read and I think my editing will be done!
You've done a brilliant job! Congratulations on your patience and commitment to this gorgeous, unique bag!!!
It is night and day from when you posted the before pics. Glad you didn’t give up on it 
then we can compare notes later on, haha!