The easiest thing is to replace them with chains. You should be able to do it yourself. Some of the early Bonnie Cashins use chains for straps.It came today!!! Its so much bigger than the picturesthe purse itself is in good condition, but I'll have to eventually replace the straps. They're ok for now, but does anyone know how or what kind of place does that?View attachment 4126420
Vintage Coach Photos & Chat
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I almost bought it at first sight because it looks green inside! But then read the description it says black.
Holy cow this never showed up since I started collecting in the last 2 years.. if it did I missed it.
https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https://www.ebay.com/ulk/itm/123243269560
https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https://www.ebay.com/ulk/itm/123243269560
Ok, thankyou! Yea, I kind of wish I found one with the chains instead, but I just loved the color. That was the first time I had seen a coach purse of this style in that color (im sure there are more, I just have never seen it)Do you happen to know where I may be able to find replacement chains? I'd like to get some that would look the most accurate for this style coach bag.thankyou so much for writing me back
There are many sellers of chain straps on ebay, probably some that just sell chains too, also on etsy. The easiest would be someone who will cut the chain to the correct length for you. Then you can use metal loops to attach it. You'll have to look at pictures of other bags to figure out how they should look. I don't think the originals were solid brass, just plated.Ok, thankyou! Yea, I kind of wish I found one with the chains instead, but I just loved the color. That was the first time I had seen a coach purse of this style in that color (im sure there are more, I just have never seen it)Do you happen to know where I may be able to find replacement chains? I'd like to get some that would look the most accurate for this style coach bag.thankyou so much for writing me back
I want to watch that auction!
I have a sort of similar style with only one kisslock in the same color. This one should end up at least 3 times more expensive than mine!
Actually, a black one sold on eBay back in 6/7/2016 for a relative bargain price of $72 + shipping. Perhaps this was just prior to your COACH collecting days. The listing for that one disclosed that one of the bag's leather tabs (that secured the attach ring for the strap) needed to be replaced and that both the black metal COACH ident tag and the oversized leather pad that originally came on the strap were missing.
The only concern I'd make on the current one would involve the overall condition of the 50-yo upper edge binding. I've encountered several bags from that era where the binding, having aged quite differently than the leather used on the body of the bag, needed to be replaced. Perhaps the quality or tanning method employed on some runs of thinner binding stock made them prone to drying out beyond the point-of-no-return much faster than the rest. I'll volunteer that I retain some examples of vintage bags where the binding has become brittle though the bags themselves remain subtle. Those are projects I've put off indefinitely as the effort involved (indeed, if one has the right equipment and color-matched binding stock on hand, along with the necessary experience, the upper edge binding can be replaced in around two hours) will probably exceed the value of the finished items. I guess that for me, the idea of investing the labor-out-of-love requires a sufficient amount of motivation that these bags lack.
It's an interesting style though in its own weird way, though it is a member of that class of awkward intermediate size bags that are too small for for some needs, but too large for others. I guess we'll see in nine days how much buyer attention it garners.
Actually, I seem to recall that the original releases of this 2nd generation of the Double Entry Swing Bag design were pre-creed (early=to-mid 1970s) and identified with a COACH cartouche imprint. Production of this style then ran through the introduction of the "Made in New York City, USA" creed stamp era prior to serialization (mid-to-late 1970s). I'm not sure if I've ever seen one with both creed and serial number (late 1970s). I think that I have, but I could be wrong. And besides the "Made in the United States" + ###-####, the 50th Anniv (1991) Retro Swings reinterpretations were larger (wider if my memory serves me correctly) than the original design on which it was based.
The handbag length chains used on the early BC releases were coated aluminum. attached using brass split rings that attached to the rings on the kisslock frames. If you'd like, I'll measure and provide the link sizes for the chains that were used on the original (1st generation) BC design along with the drop length. Similar chains are indeed available today, and I used to have some on hand. Unfortunately, I seem to have misplaced the source I obtained the best match from after procuring several variations from other suppliers that didn't quite work. I'll see if I can power up my old laptop and see if I bookmarked it there.Ok, thankyou! Yea, I kind of wish I found one with the chains instead, but I just loved the color. That was the first time I had seen a coach purse of this style in that color (im sure there are more, I just have never seen it)Do you happen to know where I may be able to find replacement chains? I'd like to get some that would look the most accurate for this style coach bag.thankyou so much for writing me back
I am looking forward to this! I need to replace the severely damaged straps with chain. No body wants to buy it as is so I'm going to keep it for myself.
The bag does have the shorter 36” strap, ugh it’s so short. Anyone have a reputable company with close matches to the vintage coach cowhide leathers that sells straps? I need a longer crossbody length strap for my flight bag.
Follow up: My youngest (the extraordinary inspector) pointed out to me that there appear to be a couple of additional issues (beyond the upper edge binding I noted) that I failed to see. The first involves what seems to be wear to the edge of the strap in localized areas. Insofar as the strap is a folded over finished edge design, wear-through would present a rehab challenge. The second concern relates to the condition of the piping (which is indeed small diameter piping and not edge binding in this design) in the bag's lower corners. Whereas cracking has been observed to be a common aging problem on the several period styles that employed this particular piping configuration (and can sometimes be creatively addressed), wear-through is something for which there may be no affordable remedy. So as they say: caveat emptor.
All I can help you with is the original Willis colors at its Fall Preview 1993 catalog intro:
