Coach Rehab and Rescue Club

[LadaZuri]

There's been a lot of positive comments about Basic bags lately and they prompted me to get one.

All the great reviews were true... she is a perfect, carry all-day crossbody! The good length strap is detachable/adjustable and the zipper pull/wristlet strap is so convenient!

I had difficulty adequately capturing her glorious, deep red colour. She's much prettier IRL!!!
She's been dunked, re-shaped, CPRed, and heated Renapur treatments.



Vintage next year and made in Costa Rica.



Indoors:

 

[LadaZuri]

I also just finished these 2 beauties! The Bleeker 9305 for my cousin (from me and my middle sister) and the Willis for the same middle sister's birthday! (Thank you to the awesome TPFer who sent me her spare turnlock!)!

I have 2 Bleekers here (9305 & 9306) and the leather on both is exquisite!!! Plus, there's no hardware to polish!!! BONUS!!!

I used the same rehab method on both: dunk in hot water with Dawn and generous amount of vinegar, re-shape and conditioning with CPR while wet and several more applications of CPR during drying process, enhancing the deep colour with Blackrocks and finally heated Renapur on the sponge and allow to absorb for several days before buffing. The hardware on the Willis was polished with a combination of 0000 steel wool, Mother's Mag and Aluminium, and Cape Cod Polishing cloths.

Cousin's 9305 Bleeker:



Bleeker 9305 and middle sister's Willis:

 

[katev]

There's been a lot of positive comments about Basic bags lately and they prompted me to get one.

All the great reviews were true... she is a perfect, carry all-day crossbody! The good length strap is detachable/adjustable and the zipper pull/wristlet strap is so convenient!

I had difficulty adequately capturing her glorious, deep red colour. She's much prettier IRL!!!
She's been dunked, re-shaped, CPRed, and heated Renapur treatments.

View attachment 5085738

Vintage next year and made in Costa Rica.

View attachment 5085739

Indoors:

View attachment 5085741

Wow, a red Basic, gorgeous!

 

[pammbw]

I also just finished these 2 beauties! The Bleeker 9305 for my cousin (from me and my middle sister) and the Willis for the same middle sister's birthday! (Thank you to the awesome TPFer who sent me her spare turnlock!)!

I have 2 Bleekers here (9305 & 9306) and the leather on both is exquisite!!! Plus, there's no hardware to polish!!! BONUS!!!

I used the same rehab method on both: dunk in hot water with Dawn and generous amount of vinegar, re-shape and conditioning with CPR while wet and several more applications of CPR during drying process, enhancing the deep colour with Blackrocks and finally heated Renapur on the sponge and allow to absorb for several days before buffing. The hardware on the Willis was polished with a combination of 0000 steel wool, Mother's Mag and Aluminium, and Cape Cod Polishing cloths.

Cousin's 9305 Bleeker:

View attachment 5085743

Bleeker 9305 and middle sister's Willis:

View attachment 5085745

View attachment 5085746

I have that Bleeker tote and love it! You are so right about the beautiful leather!

 

[americandreaming]

Hi, again!

Last night I finally gave my legacy hippie its bath. Once it was mostly just damp, I gave it a coat of the Leather Therapy. This afternoon when I checked on it, it felt pretty stiff and dry. Is that normal? I just put on another coat of Leather Therapy, and now it's really tacky. From what I read, that means no more coats of that, right?

My game plan from here is to give it a day or two to dry completely, buff it with a horsehair brush, and then add coats of CPR (buffing in between) until it's all soft and moisturized again. Thoughts?

As always, much appreciated!

I had a stiff Costa Rican Court and it softened right up after I smooshed and flexed the leather around.

There's been a lot of positive comments about Basic bags lately and they prompted me to get one.

All the great reviews were true... she is a perfect, carry all-day crossbody! The good length strap is detachable/adjustable and the zipper pull/wristlet strap is so convenient!

I had difficulty adequately capturing her glorious, deep red colour. She's much prettier IRL!!!
She's been dunked, re-shaped, CPRed, and heated Renapur treatments.

View attachment 5085738

Vintage next year and made in Costa Rica.

View attachment 5085739

Indoors:

View attachment 5085741

GORGEOUS!!! Adding to my own hype to receive my three soon!

 

[Lucyblue13]

Hi, again!

Last night I finally gave my legacy hippie its bath. Once it was mostly just damp, I gave it a coat of the Leather Therapy. This afternoon when I checked on it, it felt pretty stiff and dry. Is that normal? I just put on another coat of Leather Therapy, and now it's really tacky. From what I read, that means no more coats of that, right?

My game plan from here is to give it a day or two to dry completely, buff it with a horsehair brush, and then add coats of CPR (buffing in between) until it's all soft and moisturized again. Thoughts?

As always, much appreciated!

My bags always seem to be stiff when they first dry. I have been doing 1-2 coats of CPR when wet(1 soon after dunk and 1 when almost dry.) They're always stiff when I come back to them.

I am trying leather therapy for the first time, too. I put it on two bags. One that was already dry, and one after dunk. The one that was dry is just sitting now until I buff at some point, it is was kinda tacky last night when I checked. The one that was dunked and had 1 coat yesterday was really stuff when i woke up this morning. I am going to try a second coat this evening. I think my plan is very similar to yours, it depends on what happens with the second coat of LT tonight. Keep me updated on how yours goes!

 

[americandreaming]

OK, hanging it up on the distressed NYC Dinky. Good enough for now. It's a bit tacky, especially with using CPR for the first time, but I reckon once the sun FINALLY comes (forecast to rain for the next two weeks) and I carry it outside the excess will sink in nicely.

It's cracked and coarse to touch in some places on the flap and strap, and lots of torn piping all over. When I have a moment, I'll glue down the flyaway torn piping but just glad to have deep-cleaned and rehydrated it to be usable for now. You can see the front little lighter patch that wouldn't darken to unify no matter how much conditioner I slathered on but looking at the photographs it adds character. Still don't know the colour - it looks BT underneath the flap but can't tell from the outside.

Before:



Currently:

 

[Lake Effect]

This why I like to limit what I pay for bags, period. The summer before last, I took this tote to work. As I was leaving, with it on my shoulder I bent down and when I got up, a sharp desk corner managed to catch the perforation and it tore! Giving it a spa treatment cleaning/conditioning and will use a little glue on it.

 

[Alasselina]

My bags always seem to be stiff when they first dry. I have been doing 1-2 coats of CPR when wet(1 soon after dunk and 1 when almost dry.) They're always stiff when I come back to them.

I am trying leather therapy for the first time, too. I put it on two bags. One that was already dry, and one after dunk. The one that was dry is just sitting now until I buff at some point, it is was kinda tacky last night when I checked. The one that was dunked and had 1 coat yesterday was really stuff when i woke up this morning. I am going to try a second coat this evening. I think my plan is very similar to yours, it depends on what happens with the second coat of LT tonight. Keep me updated on how yours goes!

I noticed some tiny cracks in the corners, so I sort of panicked and wanted to get some more moisture in it asap. I had already done two coats of leather therapy, so I decided to move on to the CPR. I did a coat last night, and this morning buffed and did another coat. It's definitely softening up a lot, and between the leather therapy and the CPR, there's a huge improvement in the evenness of the color. It still has a very distressed look, but like I said before, that's what I want, so appearance-wise, I'm very pleased.

Now, about these cracks, what do I do? My instinct is to let them be, other than to keep them moisturized, but I'm concerned that they would somehow worsen without intervention.

 

[lilybonbon]

There's been a lot of positive comments about Basic bags lately and they prompted me to get one.

All the great reviews were true... she is a perfect, carry all-day crossbody! The good length strap is detachable/adjustable and the zipper pull/wristlet strap is so convenient!

I had difficulty adequately capturing her glorious, deep red colour. She's much prettier IRL!!!
She's been dunked, re-shaped, CPRed, and heated Renapur treatments.

View attachment 5085738

Vintage next year and made in Costa Rica.

View attachment 5085739

Indoors:

View attachment 5085741

Absolutely gorgeous! The depth of the red is just stunning. What do your heated Renapur treatments entail? Do you heat it after application? I use Renapur or Black Rocks and recently gave Bick LP a go on a bag that has bled slightly since her bath. I'd like to find a technique or product that leaves a slight sheen on the bag while maintaining the visible texture of the leather -- like Renapur before it fully absorbs and dries.

I have a 70s NYC basic bag, with the glue-on serial number, and brass plated zipper pull that I've been slow to complete a rehab on.

Has anyone tackled repairing or replacing the brass plated zipper pull? Mine is really, super chipped and I'm not sure what process or materials to use to restore it to a presentable condition. I imagine I'd have to remove it from the zipper to do a good job, but I haven't been able to figure out if that's even possible. If it can be removed, would replacing it with a solid brass ring would be the way to go?

 

[Lake Effect]

I also just finished these 2 beauties! The Bleeker 9305 for my cousin (from me and my middle sister) and the Willis for the same middle sister's birthday! (Thank you to the awesome TPFer who sent me her spare turnlock!)!

I have 2 Bleekers here (9305 & 9306) and the leather on both is exquisite!!! Plus, there's no hardware to polish!!! BONUS!!!

I used the same rehab method on both: dunk in hot water with Dawn and generous amount of vinegar, re-shape and conditioning with CPR while wet and several more applications of CPR during drying process, enhancing the deep colour with Blackrocks and finally heated Renapur on the sponge and allow to absorb for several days before buffing. The hardware on the Willis was polished with a combination of 0000 steel wool, Mother's Mag and Aluminium, and Cape Cod Polishing cloths.

Cousin's 9305 Bleeker:

View attachment 5085743

Bleeker 9305 and middle sister's Willis:

View attachment 5085745

View attachment 5085746

You know I am fan of the top stitched Bleecker family. I think you have this already, but why not! 1999 Preview
.

 

[katev]

OK, hanging it up on the distressed NYC Dinky. Good enough for now. It's a bit tacky, especially with using CPR for the first time, but I reckon once the sun FINALLY comes (forecast to rain for the next two weeks) and I carry it outside the excess will sink in nicely.

It's cracked and coarse to touch in some places on the flap and strap, and lots of torn piping all over. When I have a moment, I'll glue down the flyaway torn piping but just glad to have deep-cleaned and rehydrated it to be usable for now. You can see the front little lighter patch that wouldn't darken to unify no matter how much conditioner I slathered on but looking at the photographs it adds character. Still don't know the colour - it looks BT underneath the flap but can't tell from the outside.

Before:

View attachment 5085816

Currently:

View attachment 5085818

It looks a million times better, congratulations!

 

[katev]

I noticed some tiny cracks in the corners, so I sort of panicked and wanted to get some more moisture in it asap. I had already done two coats of leather therapy, so I decided to move on to the CPR. I did a coat last night, and this morning buffed and did another coat. It's definitely softening up a lot, and between the leather therapy and the CPR, there's a huge improvement in the evenness of the color. It still has a very distressed look, but like I said before, that's what I want, so appearance-wise, I'm very pleased.

Now, about these cracks, what do I do? My instinct is to let them be, other than to keep them moisturized, but I'm concerned that they would somehow worsen without intervention.

It looks wonderful, my instinct is to let it be but perhaps someone can suggest a solution?

 

[Alasselina]

OK, hanging it up on the distressed NYC Dinky. Good enough for now. It's a bit tacky, especially with using CPR for the first time, but I reckon once the sun FINALLY comes (forecast to rain for the next two weeks) and I carry it outside the excess will sink in nicely.

It's cracked and coarse to touch in some places on the flap and strap, and lots of torn piping all over. When I have a moment, I'll glue down the flyaway torn piping but just glad to have deep-cleaned and rehydrated it to be usable for now. You can see the front little lighter patch that wouldn't darken to unify no matter how much conditioner I slathered on but looking at the photographs it adds character. Still don't know the colour - it looks BT underneath the flap but can't tell from the outside.

Before:

View attachment 5085816

Currently:

View attachment 5085818

I'm a sucker for distressed leather - that is absolutely beautiful.

 

[Alasselina]

It looks wonderful, my instinct is to let it be but perhaps someone can suggest a solution?

Thank you!