Coach Rehab and Rescue Club
- Thread starter greenpixie
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Next rehab for me is my Andrea. I found this at Goodwill and it's in pretty decent shape. It just needs a bath and some conditioning. These easier ones help my confidence. I'm still trying to rehab my waxed cotton canvas Kate Spade. Whoever said that waxed cotton is impossible was so right! I'm not giving up yet though. I'm too stubborn 
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I was thinking the same thing. It is beautiful. You did a great job. Enjoy!
You did a great job katev. The bag is gorgeous. I love the Willis bag, especially in BT. I found one on the bay, but I have yet to rehab it. I have to find some time on the weekends.This rehab was more about replacing parts than anything else. After Hyacinth kindly authenticated the bag I went to work trying to find the items I needed.
I took a drill-down pic of a BT Willis and showed it to an SA at the outlet and she gave me a hangtag and ball chain for free that are just like the ones in the DD pic. I then went online searching for the missing large D-ring. Silver Coach on ebay sells them but you have to buy 2 of them for $15 plus shipping, but I found that you can buy a single D-ring from Buckleguy.com for $1.76 plus shipping. I ordered a few other items from Buckleguy at the same time so my net cost for the D-ring was about $2.75. It was a perfect match to the other D rings and very easy to install, all you need is a small, flat-edge screwdriver.
All the while I was on the lookout for a replacement strap. I either wanted to buy a strap by itself or find a beat-up donor bag with strap that I could salvage. I also asked at the Coach boutique store, the outlet, and called Coach.com. Coach used to sell replacement straps for classic bags and I would have considered paying full price for an authentic new strap, but they all said the same thing - Coach doesn make/sell replacement straps any longer.
I struck out on eBay and other online sales sites. I also kept checking the local thrift stores but no luck. I finally bought a 1/2 inch width, non-adjustable BT strap on eBay (like a Station Bag strap) although I would have preferred the 5/8 inch, adjustable strap that originally came with the bag. The strap I got is a little bit darker but a pretty good match on the color and it is an authentic Coach strap with the brass trigger snap hardware that is commonly used for Willis bags.
I paid $26 including shipping for the strap but it came with an older BT hangtag (with the unfinished back), the ball chain, and 2 small D rings like you see on City Bags, so I got some more donor parts and I figured that it was a pretty good deal.
My total investment in this bag is about $36 plus my labor and rehab supplies, but I am still on the look-out for a better strap and will grab it if I find one in the future.
I actually already had a BT strap just like the one I bought online that came on a donor Companion Bag that I bought at the flea market for $1, but the color was quite a bit darker (British Tan shades vary so much with time and wear) so I decided to get the eBay strap instead.
After I had all the parts the rehab was quite straight-forward. I used alcohol to remove the ink marks and I got lucky, the ink came out without damaging the color of the bag - that doesn't always happen! Then I vacuumed out the bag and gave it a bath with Dawn and warm water and stuffed it with towels to reshape and dry it. Then I treated it with Leather Therapy Oil, Apple Conditioner, and Black Rocks. Finally, I used Wenol to polish up hardware and here she is - I am so glad that I was able to save this beautiful bag!
I have about 7 in my office and a few in the garage.
I use leather cpr. I've heard great things about black rocks... do you use black rocks on only dark bags? I know it had a glow. I'm thinking of getting some. Oh.. one last question do you use only black rocks or leather cpr first then black rocks? Thanks for your help.
I'm not katev, but I'll answer. I use Leather CPR first. Blackrocks is always the last thing I use. I use it on every bag, including the light colored ones. I've used it on white and yellow newer bags and it doesn't darken. It has a darkening effect on glovetanned leather more, but usually darkens the most when the leather isn't moisturized enough. Make sure you use it sparingly and wipe the excess off immediately with a paper towel. Then later, buff with a brush or cloth.
Thank you for responding! It's a big help. I'm going to order some.
Well, everything happens for a reason. Found another red Light Tote 4065. This one was less than half the price I paid for the one the seller cancelled on me, so that's a win.
It's a Made in USA xxx - xxxx serial number, not sure how old that makes it. Looks like it should be an easy dunk, condition and polish. I can't wait to see the color deepen to its original glory!
I agree with everything that Whateve said! I actually prefer Leather CPR to Apple Conditioner, but I'm out of CPR and I have a lot of Apple so I am trying to use it up. It's okay.
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WOW. It worked. Thank you so very much, catbird9. This old dog (I would be gender specific but that appellation has become a rude one) has learned a new trick.
The photo above shows my recent rehabs of the 9790 City bags in red, black, bone and a green and black spectator. I have a couple of others which came to me in pristine condition.
I did not take "before" photos but will do so in the future, now that I know I can post.
I polished the hardware with a thick paste of vinegar and baking soda , rinsed off the paste and then dunked the bag in warm soapy water using Dr Bonner unscented liquid Castile soap which is much easier to rinse off than the Dawn dish detergent I tried initially. During the soak I scrubbed with a soft, short bristled nail brush, referred to as the world's kindest nailbrush by Lee Valley Tools, a local company that also sells on- line. I buy these a dozen at a time for all kinds of uses.
After a rinse and soak in warm clear water, I dry in a bath towel, stuff, rub in CPR when still moist. Buff when dry, give two more CPR massages with buffing in between. Then, waiting another day, smooth on a light coat of BlackRock, buff after a day and repeat.
My biggest surprise was the China made 0500 prefix red bag (all the others are vintage). It had two deep indentations on the front flap ( kitten claws, I think) followed by 2 inch scratches. It also had some mystery spots and cat hair inside the bag! After the soak and scrub, the bag was pristine and free of indents and scratches. The biggest surprise was how thick and luscious the leather is. And to think that I had always thought of the newer China made bags as somehow inferior.
The photo above shows my recent rehabs of the 9790 City bags in red, black, bone and a green and black spectator. I have a couple of others which came to me in pristine condition.
I did not take "before" photos but will do so in the future, now that I know I can post.
I polished the hardware with a thick paste of vinegar and baking soda , rinsed off the paste and then dunked the bag in warm soapy water using Dr Bonner unscented liquid Castile soap which is much easier to rinse off than the Dawn dish detergent I tried initially. During the soak I scrubbed with a soft, short bristled nail brush, referred to as the world's kindest nailbrush by Lee Valley Tools, a local company that also sells on- line. I buy these a dozen at a time for all kinds of uses.
After a rinse and soak in warm clear water, I dry in a bath towel, stuff, rub in CPR when still moist. Buff when dry, give two more CPR massages with buffing in between. Then, waiting another day, smooth on a light coat of BlackRock, buff after a day and repeat.
My biggest surprise was the China made 0500 prefix red bag (all the others are vintage). It had two deep indentations on the front flap ( kitten claws, I think) followed by 2 inch scratches. It also had some mystery spots and cat hair inside the bag! After the soak and scrub, the bag was pristine and free of indents and scratches. The biggest surprise was how thick and luscious the leather is. And to think that I had always thought of the newer China made bags as somehow inferior.
Great job! I'm glad you liked the Castile soap. I like it so much better than dish soap because it rinses out much better.