The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly! 5 Tan Bags-Rehab Reveal!

[katev]

I have been working on rehabbing these tan bags off-and-on for over a month. I can’t know what I was thinking when I decided to tackle 5 light-colored bags at one time! But this challenge has finally taught me the secret of successfully rehabbing light-colored bags. It’s more "common sense" than a "secret" but it has taken me awhile to figure it out, here it is…

...You should only attempt to rehab light bags that are in very good condition when you buy them! Always walk away from light bags at good prices with significant stains and wear issues.

From now on I am going to try and only buy used bags with a good chance of rehab success. Unfortunately I have a big pile of rehab projects waiting for attention and I am sure that there are some unfortunate buys among them!

Attached is a group photo of my 5 recent tan rehabs. I will show before and after pics of each bag in subsequent messages:

Left to Right:
City Bag USA, Court Bag, Slim Satchel, Scooter, and City Bag Turkey:

 

[katev]

Item: Coach City Bag 9790 (British Tan, Turkey, 1996)
Seller: Savers Thrift Store
Price: $7

Comments: This bag was in good shape and it was an easy rehab. I wasn’t able to remove some ink marks and wear marks from the inside under the flap, but overall I am very happy with the results. I am planning to give it to a dear friend that I think will really appreciate it. This is the condition of light-colored rehab that I should try and get in the future!

The first 3 pics are before rehab and the last 2 photos are after rehab:

 

[katev]

Item: City Bag 9790 (British Tan, USA, circa 1980s)
Seller: Salvation Army
Price $8

Comments: This is my 3rd (and final!) attempt to rehab this bag and I am annoyed with myself for putting so much effort into it when I will never be fully satisfied with the results.

All the flaws don’t show up in the photos as well as they do to the naked eye, but it has blemishes that will not disappear. Also, the straps are very beat-up where they connect to the bag.

This is the bag that has finally taught me to walk-away from light-colored bags with significant stains and other issues.

The first 3 pics are before rehab and the last 2 photos are after rehab:

 

[katev]

Item: Scooter Bag 9893 (British Tan, USA, 1995)
Seller: Savers Thrift Store
Price: $7.50 (after discount)

Comments: This bag was very clean and really didn’t need a bath but it was a bit squashed and misshapen; so I gave her a bath to reshape her and she came out great.

This is the bag that taught me not to be overeager and to wait for the right opportunity to come along. I had previously spent $20 on a British Tan Scooter Bag in great shape but it was a fake, I eventually got my money back but it wasn’t easy! Some months later I found this genuine BT Scooter, also in great shape and at one-third the price of the fake!

Again the 1st 3 photos are before and the last 2 are after:

 

[katev]

Item: Slim Satchel Standard (British Tan/Nutmeg? 9430, NYC, circa 1980)
Seller: Salvation Army
Price: $20

Comments: This bag is very old but it was in good shape except that the leather was very dry. I was sure that it was British Tan when I bought it but now I am not certain. It looks BT in the photos but as soon as I gave it a little TLC it immediately darkened and it stayed dark, even the interior. I know that color of tan bags change with age and use but this one looks a little different to my eyes. It is not as dark as mahogany and I have learned that this bag came is a color called nutmeg – so that may be the true color.

The bag has some scuff marks and signs of weat that I was able to minimize but not eliminate but I am still very happy with the results. And I love the thick leather and the big, industrial-sized TALON zipper on this older made in NYC Coach bag!


The first 3 pics are before and the last 2 are after:

 

[aagh]

I give you credit...your doing an awesome job and overall a really good thing as others might see them useless and just toss them. THUMBS UP they look great!!

 

[katev]

Item: Court bag (British Tan, 9870, USA, 1996)
Seller: Salvation Army Thrift Store
Price: $18

Comments: This bag was one of my earliest rehabs and I had previously revealed it and I was quite happy with the results. This was the bag that first taught mejust how challenging light-colored bags can be to rehab! I recently pulled this bag out and found myself less satisfied with the condition now than previously.

I’ve learned some tricks since that early rehab! For instance, I’ve learned to touch up the edging on straps and to use Black Rocks conditioner to darken and reduce uneven coloration. I also wasn’t as pleased with the cleanliness of the bag as I had been, so I decided to rewash it and repeat the rehab.

I am much happier with the results now but it still isn’t as good as I would wish. I would probably walk-away from this bag if I saw it at the thrift store today, and I certainly wouldn’t have paid $18 for it. But it has been a great learning experience and I am okay with the results.

The first 3 pics are before and the last 2 are after. Picture number 4, the first after photo, is kind of dark but I selected it because shows the uneven color and flaws better than the brighter photos.

 

[katev]

So those are my recent tan rehab projects. In total I only spent $60.50 for all 5 bag (an average of $12.10 per bag) and that's pretty good; but the 2 bags that I am least happy with are the 2 that required the most work, the Court Bag and the USA City Bag. So I plan to avoid light bags in poor condition in the future!

 

[katev]

I give you credit...your doing an awesome job and overall a really good thing as others might see them useless and just toss them. THUMBS UP they look great!!

Thank you, I enjoy it but it can be frustrating when you work hard and don't get the results that you are hoping to achieve!

 

[aagh]

Thank you, I enjoy it but it can be frustrating when you work hard and don't get the results that you are hoping to achieve!

very true...i know what you mean...but to me they look nice..but im no expert

 

[cfca22]

Wow great rehab thanks for sharing

 

[yellowbernie]

Wow, I think you do an awesome job of rehabbing the bags. Maybe you should start your own rehab business.

 

[greenes_girl]

Wow. You are amazing!

 

[katev]

Wow. You are amazing!

Thank you! But I had intended to give credit to Hyacinth and DemRam and all our lovely authentication ladies and I forgot. They are all truly amazing and really deserve recognition. I would never have attempted to rehab these old bags if I didn't feel confident that they were genuine!

:tpfrox:

 

[Shoebaglady]

Your rehabs blow me away!!!! They look amazing!!!!! As someone mentioned, you should start your own business!!!!

:urock: