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Show Your Patina

devilish

A-List Customer
Messages
473
Location
Devon
Vintage 50's HH HB from Hercules.

ca0b079f-0673-4cd2-9e34-d631b1be0077_zps6688ba5c.jpg
 

trapp

Practically Family
Messages
544
Location
bay area, ca
Thanks, it's an earlier vest of a 30 yr old US company called Coronado leather. I never heard of the company until I picked the vest up at a flea market on Sunday. It's an amazing vest with an incredible hide, heavy yet buttery soft. The craftsmanship is really, really high, on par with my old 50s Aero HB.
 
Messages
10,181
Location
Pasadena, CA
Thanks, it's an earlier vest of a 30 yr old US company called Coronado leather. I never heard of the company until I picked the vest up at a flea market on Sunday. It's an amazing vest with an incredible hide, heavy yet buttery soft. The craftsmanship is really, really high, on par with my old 50s Aero HB.
Wow, nice. Is that a pocket watch pocket there? I don't know what you paid. But that's sweet! Congrats.
 

trapp

Practically Family
Messages
544
Location
bay area, ca
Yes, that's a pocket watch pocket. Perhaps more interesting is that one of the handwarmer pockets has a removable holster built into it. Seems the company specialized in handcrafted leather jackets/vests with concealed weapon capabilities. Interesting combo.

The vest fits perfect and I love the details: classic pattern, two snap closure pistol pockets, the unbranded brass snaps that have patina'd over the years. I'm not sure what animal the hide came from but I can't imagine a nicer hide for the vest. Whoever made this thing did a beautiful job selecting, cutting, and sewing the panels. I also like the back, which reminds me a little of the Aero Pioneer. If I were able to snap my fingers and make any change, I might omit the watch pocket for a cleaner presentation. I would hesitate even to do that.

I haven't decided yet whether I can really 'do' a leather vest. If I can, this will be the one.
 

mendelboaz

One Too Many
Messages
1,238
Location
The Netherlands
I don't have anything to contribute, yet... (even though my Schott 618 is starting to show some patina on the edges) but I wanted to give a bump to this great thread. Bring on the patina!
 

navetsea

I'll Lock Up
Messages
6,711
Location
East Java
sorry for necroing this undead thread...
another thread reminded me about a conversation I had few weeks or moths ago, a relative asked me where to find a service to make his jacket black again, since his black jacket looks not so black anymore during the day and that got him self conscious about it, and if a shoecream could do the job, so maybe the general population HATE patina and faded leather apparently...

what advice should I give him? DYI leather dye? it was a thin leather maybe calf with almost no grain and very soft that slightly fades to grey it also have very minimal crease, chrome tanned perhaps, I'm not sure leather dye can work or just rubs off.
 
Last edited:

Peter Bowden

Practically Family
Messages
598
Location
united kingdom
I once dyed a green German police jacket black and then used some matt leather spray to tone down the effect.It was worth the effort but it certainly rubbed off for some time after.
 

Peacoat

*
Bartender
Messages
6,296
Location
South of Nashville
sorry for necroing this undead thread...
another thread reminded me about a conversation I had few weeks or moths ago, a relative asked me where to find a service to make his jacket black again, since his black jacket looks not so black anymore during the day and that got him self conscious about it, and if a shoecream could do the job, so maybe the general population HATE patina and faded leather apparently...

what advice should I give him? DYI leather dye? it was a thin leather maybe calf with almost no grain and very soft that slightly fades to grey it also have very minimal crease, chrome tanned perhaps, I'm not sure leather dye can work or just rubs off.
I have used Pecard before that killed the patina. As handymike said, Dr Jacksons Hide Rejuvenator should do a very good job of killing the patina and restoring the finish. Try that before having it dyed. Of Course restoring the patina will destroy the character of the jacket.
 

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