I wonder if there was no set rule as to whether they went to the front or the back as long as they were all the same?
Coach Rehab and Rescue Club
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I wonder if there was no set rule as to whether they went to the front or the back as long as they were all the same?
I just can’t stop 
two more for the collection
Taupe(?) Watson and an Olive(?) Chrystie.
I’ve seen a few taupe/putty and olive/loden bags but I can never tell which color is which (and I think other people can’t either, which just adds to my own confusion). If anyone has a good distinction between these pair of colors and could let me know the official color of mine, I would appreciate it!
Also I notice that the spring lock of the chrystie isn’t closing too well. It does close, but I don’t even have to pull on it to open. Anyone have this issue with spring lock bags? I only have one other and it doesn’t have this issue. Any thoughts on what could be causing it/how to fix it?
Pretty nervous about dunking these since I haven’t dunked one since my jade bag. They are darker colors but still light enough for dark spots to show. They definitely need a dunk though as they’re all bent out of shape.
Anybody have any luck/ or no luck with dunking taupe and olive bags?
ETA: the chrystie has quite a lot of verdigris, is there a way to remove the hardware? I’ve seen it done with turnlocks but I have no idea how it works with spring locks.
two more for the collection
Taupe(?) Watson and an Olive(?) Chrystie.
I’ve seen a few taupe/putty and olive/loden bags but I can never tell which color is which (and I think other people can’t either, which just adds to my own confusion). If anyone has a good distinction between these pair of colors and could let me know the official color of mine, I would appreciate it!
Also I notice that the spring lock of the chrystie isn’t closing too well. It does close, but I don’t even have to pull on it to open. Anyone have this issue with spring lock bags? I only have one other and it doesn’t have this issue. Any thoughts on what could be causing it/how to fix it?
Pretty nervous about dunking these since I haven’t dunked one since my jade bag. They are darker colors but still light enough for dark spots to show. They definitely need a dunk though as they’re all bent out of shape.
Anybody have any luck/ or no luck with dunking taupe and olive bags?ETA: the chrystie has quite a lot of verdigris, is there a way to remove the hardware? I’ve seen it done with turnlocks but I have no idea how it works with spring locks.
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Haha now I’m obsessively enlarging every Willis picture I come across to check out the screws!
To further your research, I have 2 winnies and both of them have the screw heads facing the back. I feel like that would be the way they’re “intended” to go, since I don’t think showing the screw heads would look as “finished,” but…
*screw* that (pun very intended
) do whatever you like!To further your research, I have 2 winnies and both of them have the screw heads facing the back. I feel like that would be the way they’re “intended” to go, since I don’t think showing the screw heads would look as “finished,” but…
*screw* that (pun very intended
I just checked the photos of the 3 Willises I restored and all 3 have the screw heads facing the back. (I haven't yet attempted to remove the D rings from the dowel). So 3 facing back and 1 facing front at my house. It does look more finished having them facing the back. Plus the heads never line up in the same position which is distracting when one is a bit OCD.
@Paris Girl ... you need to chime in on this quandary... D ring Screw heads facing front or back on the Willis?
So after comparing the olive chrystie to my jade chrystie to figure out why it wasn’t closing right, I found out that it’s because the spring lock is missing these small metal pieces inside the lock that I guess open and close to create a seal. I told the seller about it as I at least wanted some kind of discount since this defect was not disclosed, but the seller keeps insisting that the bag “closes.” Yea, sure, the male piece fits into the female piece but that doesn’t mean it closes like it should! 
I’m unsure if I should keep it as is or return it. I tried finding a replacement spring lock but it seems nobody has one.
I do like the olive color, it seems like a fun rehab (minus the spring lock issue), I’m not totally sure how the refunding process works on Mercari, and it was only $35, but on the other hand, the seller rubbed me the wrong way and it could be $35 to use on a different bag
Not sure what to do
I’m unsure if I should keep it as is or return it. I tried finding a replacement spring lock but it seems nobody has one.
I do like the olive color, it seems like a fun rehab (minus the spring lock issue), I’m not totally sure how the refunding process works on Mercari, and it was only $35, but on the other hand, the seller rubbed me the wrong way and it could be $35 to use on a different bag
Not sure what to do
has the Buckle Guy on Amazon have them?So after comparing the olive chrystie to my jade chrystie to figure out why it wasn’t closing right, I found out that it’s because the spring lock is missing these small metal pieces inside the lock that I guess open and close to create a seal. I told the seller about it as I at least wanted some kind of discount since this defect was not disclosed, but the seller keeps insisting that the bag “closes.” Yea, sure, the male piece fits into the female piece but that doesn’t mean it closes like it should!
I’m unsure if I should keep it as is or return it. I tried finding a replacement spring lock but it seems nobody has one.
I do like the olive color, it seems like a fun rehab (minus the spring lock issue), I’m not totally sure how the refunding process works on Mercari, and it was only $35, but on the other hand, the seller rubbed me the wrong way and it could be $35 to use on a different bag
Not sure what to do
i haven’t heard of the buckle guy. I’m taking a look at his website but I can’t seem to find a replacement. Have you seen these being sold by him?
no..just wondered...you could always email him about it
Sent them a message, so we'll see. In any case, thanks for introducing me to the buckle guy! They seem to have a lot of good replacements for other parts if I ever needed it
I’ve ordered from The Buckle Guy for years even before I started collecting vintage Coach. As a matter of fact, I just got brass turnlocks in the mail today from them!Sent them a message, so we'll see. In any case, thanks for introducing me to the buckle guy! They seem to have a lot of good replacements for other parts if I ever needed it
Here are photos of two NWT Willis, both are images of the back of the bag.I just checked the photos of the 3 Willises I restored and all 3 have the screw heads facing the back. (I haven't yet attempted to remove the D rings from the dowel). So 3 facing back and 1 facing front at my house. It does look more finished having them facing the back. Plus the heads never line up in the same position which is distracting when one is a bit OCD.
@Paris Girl ... you need to chime in on this quandary... D ring Screw heads facing front or back on the Willis?
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I'm pretty sure someone tried to find replacement hardware for these springlocks unsuccessfully. I don't think Mercari has a partial refund option. You need to open a return request within 3 days and not accept the purchase or it will become final.So after comparing the olive chrystie to my jade chrystie to figure out why it wasn’t closing right, I found out that it’s because the spring lock is missing these small metal pieces inside the lock that I guess open and close to create a seal. I told the seller about it as I at least wanted some kind of discount since this defect was not disclosed, but the seller keeps insisting that the bag “closes.” Yea, sure, the male piece fits into the female piece but that doesn’t mean it closes like it should!
I’m unsure if I should keep it as is or return it. I tried finding a replacement spring lock but it seems nobody has one.
I do like the olive color, it seems like a fun rehab (minus the spring lock issue), I’m not totally sure how the refunding process works on Mercari, and it was only $35, but on the other hand, the seller rubbed me the wrong way and it could be $35 to use on a different bag
Not sure what to do
I don’t think you’ll have much luck finding the spring lock hardware. I have heard of others actually replacing the spring lock with a turnlock. One person said they did it on a bag style they loved but didn’t care much for the spring lock closure.I just can’t stop
two more for the collection
View attachment 5127233
Taupe(?) Watson and an Olive(?) Chrystie.
I’ve seen a few taupe/putty and olive/loden bags but I can never tell which color is which (and I think other people can’t either, which just adds to my own confusion). If anyone has a good distinction between these pair of colors and could let me know the official color of mine, I would appreciate it!
Also I notice that the spring lock of the chrystie isn’t closing too well. It does close, but I don’t even have to pull on it to open. Anyone have this issue with spring lock bags? I only have one other and it doesn’t have this issue. Any thoughts on what could be causing it/how to fix it?
Pretty nervous about dunking these since I haven’t dunked one since my jade bag. They are darker colors but still light enough for dark spots to show. They definitely need a dunk though as they’re all bent out of shape.
ETA: the chrystie has quite a lot of verdigris, is there a way to remove the hardware? I’ve seen it done with turnlocks but I have no idea how it works with spring locks.
BTW, I dunked a taupe Willis with no problem. As for colors, I’m more familiar with Willis bags but I often look at the production year to help determine the color. I’ve got catalogs and have Wayback Machine pages with colors and production years for comparison.