I wonder this as well. I notice the kisslock frames are a plated metal, rather than solid brass, so the gold tone is starting to wear off and probably cannot be fixed at home. sadly. I want so badly to refurbish the kisslock metal on the bags
ID This Coach item! -- Post any Coach item name questions here! --
- Thread starter chelsssea
- Start date
TPF may earn a commission from merchant affiliate
links, including eBay, Amazon, and others
I wonder this as well. I notice the kisslock frames are a plated metal, rather than solid brass, so the gold tone is starting to wear off and probably cannot be fixed at home. sadly. I want so badly to refurbish the kisslock metal on the bags
I originally thought that the kisslock frame on my Small Shopper was plated and that the finish was wearing off; but that wasn't the case. As soon as I started applying Wenol to the metal with Q-Tips, the metal turned shiny and golden without any signs of damage. It was a (pleasant!) surprise. I am still trying to figure out whether it is plated and just what it is made of?
I was wondering if the Cashin Foundation gave DemRam any information about the materials used for her Cashin bag, including the hardware.
It does seem odd to me too, and I was really surprised that the 2nd bag was not Cashin's design. The BCF has all of Cashin's archives and they couldn't find the design.
Back then, the Director of the Cashin Foundation emailed this information which I paraphrased: When Cashin left Coach, she kept ownership of her name - the phrase Cashin-Carry - her specific designs and drawings. However, individual elements, like the closures or linings could be used by Coach without copyright infringement.
Wouldn't you just love to get your hands on those archives?
I saw Kate's question and I was digging out my oldest Cashin bag (which is the one from 1967). The metal around the kisslocks has lost most of it's brass color and now looks silver. I also tested it with a magnet and the magnet sticks which I think that means it's NOT brass but simply brass plated.
I was surprised since my newer 1990's bags definitely have brass hardware and it shines up beautifully.
I wonder if they were experimenting with various hardware during that time? I really do wish they were using brass on my older ones because it does ruin the look in my opinion.
I never did think to ask the BCF, when having items authenticated, what they were using for the hardware.
It does seem odd to me too, and I was really surprised that the 2nd bag was not Cashin's design. The BCF has all of Cashin's archives and they couldn't find the design.
Back then, the Director of the Cashin Foundation emailed this information which I paraphrased: When Cashin left Coach, she kept ownership of her name - the phrase Cashin-Carry - her specific designs and drawings. However, individual elements, like the closures or linings could be used by Coach without copyright infringement.
Wouldn't you just love to get your hands on those archives?
I would have thought that the second bag was a Cashin design too, that must have been disappointing!
I would love to dive into the Cashin archives at UCLA but they say that the collection is available for research; so it doesn't sound like just anyone could just go there and browse. Not that I am located anywhere near UCLA, but you never know!
I saw Kate's question and I was digging out my oldest Cashin bag (which is the one from 1967). The metal around the kisslocks has lost most of it's brass color and now looks silver. I also tested it with a magnet and the magnet sticks which I think that means it's NOT brass but simply brass plated.
I was surprised since my newer 1990's bags definitely have brass hardware and it shines up beautifully.
I wonder if they were experimenting with various hardware during that time? I really do wish they were using brass on my older ones because it does ruin the look in my opinion.
I never did think to ask the BCF, when having items authenticated, what they were using for the hardware.
Thanks! I never even thought of using a magnet (duh!) but I've just tested the metal on my Small Shopper and it sticks, so it is definitely a base metal that has been plated.
I am really lucky then that my bag hadn't lost any plating because the hardware looks brand new.
Why were they allowed to make these items? Although the style names didn't use "Cashin," they did use "Bonnie" and the patterns clearly show her name.It does seem odd to me too, and I was really surprised that the 2nd bag was not Cashin's design. The BCF has all of Cashin's archives and they couldn't find the design.
Back then, the Director of the Cashin Foundation emailed this information which I paraphrased: When Cashin left Coach, she kept ownership of her name - the phrase Cashin-Carry - her specific designs and drawings. However, individual elements, like the closures or linings could be used by Coach without copyright infringement.
Wouldn't you just love to get your hands on those archives?
And this item certainly doesn't appear to have been "inspired by Bonnie Cashin."
http://www.ebay.com/itm/COACH-BONNI...843?pt=US_CSA_WH_Handbags&hash=item483974179b
I never, ever understood how Coach was allowed to make that whole line of bags with her drawings plastered all over them - but I don't understand copyright law either.
It stretches my imagination that they would have used "Inspired by Bonnie Cashin", when those were definitely NOT. They just used drawings that she did for Coach advertisements and put them on everything they could think of. I "guess" Coach owned the rights to those drawings because they were part of their advertisements.
I never, ever understood how Coach was allowed to make that whole line of bags with her drawings plastered all over them - but I don't understand copyright law either.
It stretches my imagination that they would have used "Inspired by Bonnie Cashin", when those were definitely NOT. They just used drawings that she did for Coach advertisements and put them on everything they could think of. I "guess" Coach owned the rights to those drawings because they were part of their advertisements.
I'll bet that Coach made a generous donation to the Bonnie Cashin Foundation and the BC collection at UCLA for the opportunity to create a line of products that would "pay homage" to the woman that started it all. Coach is very sensitive about copyright infringements so I don't think that they would blatantly disregard the rights of others.
Below is the link to interesting information about the BC lecture series at UCLA and their archival collection. I don't care much for the cartoons of Bonnies drawings featured on bags and wristlets, but I do love my Bonnie straw convertible tote that includes a blend of different materials and features an outer kisslock coin purse. It may truly have been inspired by Cashin's innovative designs.
http://forum.purseblog.com/coach/bo...cture-series-at-ucla-742907.html#post21529867
Thanks for the links. I will definitely check them out.
We all have our opinions and you are a much nicer person than I am, because I don't think Coach gave two hoots in Hell about paying homage to Bonnie Cashin with any of those cartoon bags.
If they were paying homage (and not cashing in) they wouldn't have made bags that were so far from Cashin's styles that they aren't even on the same planet.
It was just sad to me that young buyers, who didn't even know Cashin's NAME, would be sucked into buying those things thinking they had something to do with Cashin.
I have an email from the BCF director from 2008 where she says that lawyers are looking into the use of the "name" because...the Cashin name is a registered trademark...Coach does not have any right to use it.
Things probably changed because Coach has better lawyers and they were able to get away with whatever they wanted. Call me a cynic and you would be correct!
Thanks for the links. I will definitely check them out.
We all have our opinions and you are a much nicer person than I am, because I don't think Coach gave two hoots in Hell about paying homage to Bonnie Cashin with any of those cartoon bags.
If they were paying homage (and not cashing in) they wouldn't have made bags that were so far from Cashin's styles that they aren't even on the same planet.
It was just sad to me that young buyers, who didn't even know Cashin's NAME, would be sucked into buying those things thinking they had something to do with Cashin.
I have an email from the BCF director from 2008 where she says that lawyers are looking into the use of the "name" because...the Cashin name is a registered trademark...Coach does not have any right to use it.
Things probably changed because Coach has better lawyers and they were able to get away with whatever they wanted. Call me a cynic and you would be correct!
Interesting! Maybe they settled out of court and hopefully Coach had to give them financial damages.
We need more photos, measurements, and/or the serial number from inside the bag.
