Coach Rehab and Rescue Club

[UmmIbrahim]

Purse number 2... this one was found in even worse shape than number 1! $20 at a thrift shop forlorne in the rejects pile. Deep scuffs and gashes to the leather, aweful fading. Same basic routine as purse 1. Except more dye and tons more conditioner. The gashes and scuffs actually filled in and arent there anymore. I do need to add a bit more dye to edges and rebuff the suede interior a 2nd time though.
Basically perfect condition, heavy, solid.

No idea model or year...

Im keeping it...has decades of life left!
These prohects were very enjoyable...im keeping a look out for other old Coach bags in need of TLC.

 

[mrk2014]

I have tried going through this whole thread with different searches but I can't find out enough of what I need to know about soaking?

What is the standard process? in the bath or sink, in what temp water? with what detergent? for how long and then what to do after?

Also, will this work for getting dirtiness out of the inside of an unlined vintage bag?

You already have been given great advice on how to proceed, but although late I could add my two cents "literally"
1) When I started rehabbing, after I found this board and the awesome ladies that participate, I used Dawn and Murphy's Oil (that makes no suds), there was some controversy about the oil, so I stuck with Dawn (and medium suds, LOL). I have never put a vintage bag in the wash machine, but I have done it for newer bags with any mild detergent used for baby clothes, but no Woolite.
2) About drying the straps, depending on how they are attached I also lay them down and put weight on them, or when I stuff the bag to reshape I add a weight, anything heavy that fits (even a rock) I wrap it and put it in the middle of the "stuffing", then I hang the bag on the back of a chair with a towel over it and change the position of the strap while it dries, so it doesn't keep a particular "bend".

 

[Catbird9]

Hi all!
I recently rescued two wonderful vintage Coach purses... i'm getting back into Coach with their new Coach NY and Coach 1941 lines. I tried my hand at a bit of renewal of them both! Im still very much a novice but given the state both were in, im quite pleased...both look new and have decades of life left in them!

My mom had a few Coach bags she got in the 70s and 80s and Ialways admired how thick and sturdy they were, unfortunately she gave them all away...she offered me them but at the time I was a teenager and the classic Coach bags were kinda seen as old ladyish or very very preppy...so I passed & I kick myself for that!

Anyway.

1) found at a local Goodwill... $15. Very very faded and beaten up. No idea the model or year...I cant read Coach serial numbers. I used to collect vintage LV so i'm good with those... Its very heavy, very solid, brass feet, perfect zipper, everything. Dont have before pics...but basically a good bath, scrubbing, black shoe dye 3x layers and lotsa conditioner and lotsa buffing! I fluffed the inside suede with a thick chamoise buffer.

Hubby says I could resell it but Im keeping it...

Purse number 2... this one was found in even worse shape than number 1! $20 at a thrift shop forlorne in the rejects pile. Deep scuffs and gashes to the leather, aweful fading. Same basic routine as purse 1. Except more dye and tons more conditioner. The gashes and scuffs actually filled in and arent there anymore. I do need to add a bit more dye to edges and rebuff the suede interior a 2nd time though.
Basically perfect condition, heavy, solid.

No idea model or year...

Im keeping it...has decades of life left!
These prohects were very enjoyable...im keeping a look out for other old Coach bags in need of TLC.

Nice work--thanks for sharing! It's fun, isn't it?

 

[whateve]

Hi all!
I recently rescued two wonderful vintage Coach purses... i'm getting back into Coach with their new Coach NY and Coach 1941 lines. I tried my hand at a bit of renewal of them both! Im still very much a novice but given the state both were in, im quite pleased...both look new and have decades of life left in them!

My mom had a few Coach bags she got in the 70s and 80s and Ialways admired how thick and sturdy they were, unfortunately she gave them all away...she offered me them but at the time I was a teenager and the classic Coach bags were kinda seen as old ladyish or very very preppy...so I passed & I kick myself for that!

Anyway.

1) found at a local Goodwill... $15. Very very faded and beaten up. No idea the model or year...I cant read Coach serial numbers. I used to collect vintage LV so i'm good with those... Its very heavy, very solid, brass feet, perfect zipper, everything. Dont have before pics...but basically a good bath, scrubbing, black shoe dye 3x layers and lotsa conditioner and lotsa buffing! I fluffed the inside suede with a thick chamoise buffer.

Hubby says I could resell it but Im keeping it...

Purse number 2... this one was found in even worse shape than number 1! $20 at a thrift shop forlorne in the rejects pile. Deep scuffs and gashes to the leather, aweful fading. Same basic routine as purse 1. Except more dye and tons more conditioner. The gashes and scuffs actually filled in and arent there anymore. I do need to add a bit more dye to edges and rebuff the suede interior a 2nd time though.
Basically perfect condition, heavy, solid.

No idea model or year...

Im keeping it...has decades of life left!
These prohects were very enjoyable...im keeping a look out for other old Coach bags in need of TLC.

Hi! Welcome to Coach rehabbing! It's fun and rewarding, isn't it? I hate to rain on your parade but I don't think the first one is authentic. Please don't try to sell it. I'm not a fan of shoe dye on Coach leather. It spoils the texture. That is something you'll need to disclose if you ever sell it. Next time, you might be surprised at how nice they'll come out with lots of conditioner.

 

[colorguardjames]

Vintage Bag Question: Would the dry leather on this bag worry anyone? Does it look like it just needs a good conditioning or is the "cracking" too severe?

Please give it a look:

 

[Catbird9]

Vintage Bag Question: Would the dry leather on this bag worry anyone? Does it look like it just needs a good conditioning or is the "cracking" too severe?

Please give it a look:

It would worry me. It almost looks like someone painted over the cracked leather, or used a leather refinishing product in an attempt to cover the cracking.

 

[UmmIbrahim]

Hi!
Im new to vintage Coach...my only real experience with Coach was my moms authentic Coach bags from her younwith gwr years...she frequently traveled to Manhattan so they were real. So um2 obviously quite green. Im pretty good with vintage LV...but i assumed the 1st was authentic. It doesnt feel or look cheap at all n same hefty leather as number 2. Same branding inside. Can you tell me what leads you to think its faux? If it is faux im so surprised...its an incredibly good faux! When i think of a faux bag I think of either something lightweight, poorly made or something "off" about it. This one though looks excellent...brass feet n all.

Id like to learn how to tell the diff with a vintage Coach. Id love your input. Did they really make such excellent copies back then?

Thanks!

Hi! Welcome to Coach rehabbing! It's fun and rewarding, isn't it? I hate to rain on your parade but I don't think the first one is authentic. Please don't try to sell it. I'm not a fan of shoe dye on Coach leather. It spoils the texture. That is something you'll need to disclose if you ever sell it. Next time, you might be surprised at how nice they'll come out with lots of conditioner.

 

[Ravvie99]

Vintage Bag Question: Would the dry leather on this bag worry anyone? Does it look like it just needs a good conditioning or is the "cracking" too severe?

Please give it a look:

Try putting an inverted grayscale filter on that first pic and see what you think. Works kind of like an x-ray for possible damage. My eyes definitely widened when I did it!

 

[whateve]

Try putting an inverted grayscale filter on that first pic and see what you think. Works kind of like an x-ray for possible damage. My eyes definitely widened when I did it!

How do you do that? What is an inverted grayscale filter?

 

[whateve]

Hi!
Im new to vintage Coach...my only real experience with Coach was my moms authentic Coach bags from her younwith gwr years...she frequently traveled to Manhattan so they were real. So um2 obviously quite green. Im pretty good with vintage LV...but i assumed the 1st was authentic. It doesnt feel or look cheap at all n same hefty leather as number 2. Same branding inside. Can you tell me what leads you to think its faux? If it is faux im so surprised...its an incredibly good faux! When i think of a faux bag I think of either something lightweight, poorly made or something "off" about it. This one though looks excellent...brass feet n all.

Id like to learn how to tell the diff with a vintage Coach. Id love your input. Did they really make such excellent copies back then?

Thanks!

They didn't necessarily make the copies at the same time as the original. They could be newer and made to capitalize on the vintage craze. Some of the fakes are just as good quality as the originals. I know, I have a few that fooled me. If I were to see yours in person, I could probably find more things but what really stands out is that the pocket is wrong. For that style, there should be two pen pockets on the left and a larger pocket with the creed stamped on it on the right. On yours, the larger pocket is on the left. The creed is stamped too low on the pocket. The creed stamping should look identical to the creed on your second bag, with the exception of the last 3 numbers. If you look at them side by side, I'm sure you'll be able to see the differences. I can't tell for sure, but I'm not sure the grommets on the strap are brass to match the rest of the bag. There should not be anything stamped on the buckles - I don't know that there is, but if there is, that would be another problem.

To teach you how to tell the difference between real and fake vintage Coach would take months or years of study! We are still learning. The authenticators on the forum have thousands of pictures in their files they use to distinguish the sometimes subtle differences.

By the way, I love your cactus charm!

 

[Ravvie99]

How do you do that? What is an inverted grayscale filter?

On iPhone-iPad you triple tap on the pic with 3 fingers to pull up a menu, select Choose Filter, then select Grayscale Inverted. GI is like a negative of the pic. Damage is revealed on dark bags much better since the bag is turned 'white' and any bad scuffs/worn areas/cracks show as dark shadows. It's magical.
I bet there's some way to get inverted grayscale on a PC, I'm just not sure how.
ETA: Learning how to use that triple tap menu took practice but it was worth it.

 

[Catbird9]

NM

 

[Couturexec]

On iPhone-iPad you triple tap on the pic with 3 fingers to pull up a menu, select Choose Filter, then select Grayscale Inverted. GI is like a negative of the pic. Damage is revealed on dark bags much better since the bag is turned 'white' and any bad scuffs/worn areas/cracks show as dark shadows. It's magical.
I bet there's some way to get inverted grayscale on a PC, I'm just not sure how.
ETA: Learning how to use that triple tap menu took practice but it was worth it.

https://www.bing.com/videos/search?...E48857571B3B237847B5E488575&FORM=VIRE&PC=APPL

 

[Catbird9]

https://www.bing.com/videos/search?...E48857571B3B237847B5E488575&FORM=VIRE&PC=APPL

Thanks! Learned something new there....never tried "Zoom" feature!

 

[Couturexec]

Thanks! Learned something new there....never tried "Zoom" feature!

Me, too!! Awesome for "tired" eyes!