Gamma68
One Too Many
- Messages
- 1,930
- Location
- Detroit, MI
Today, I received a vintage Excelled jacket that I won in an eBay auction. It's my first "Perfecto-style" jacket. Got it at a very good price, around 50 smackers.
There are some issues not revealed in the original listing, and I'm not sure which direction I want to take: keep or return. Hoping the good folks here can add their two cents.
First, fit pics. I think shoulders, chest and sleeves are really good. How is the length?
The main zipper is an Ideal. The sleeve zips are YKK. Do the zips, main label or belt buckle help in indicating when this jacket was made?
Now for condition issues. There are mold or mildew spots all over this jacket. Some areas are worse than others...
Behind the main zip:
Under both collar flaps:
Under the coin pocket flap:
These next issues bother me most -- leather cracking at the back of the collar along the top of the fold (two pics):
...and leather wear / flaking along the top edge of the belt:
A minor rip on the interior lining:
The leather overall is supple and doesn't feel brittle. However, this jacket is dirty and was obviously not stored properly or maintained with care. Can anyone tell me what kind of leather it is? I'm not experienced enough to know for sure. It does have a distinct leather scent that is not like my steerhide or cowhide jackets.
If you guys think the fit is right, I'm not opposed to putting some elbow grease into this jacket and attempting to clean it. But if you guys are concerned about the mildew (won't come out) and if the leather cracks at the rear collar and flaking along the belt are indicative of more problems to come, then I'll seek a return.
Yes, I acknowledge that in the world of leather jackets, 50 clams is cheap (ya get what ya pay for). And it's also not new or a recently made jacket. But I also want to enjoy wearing a jacket that is reasonably clean. If the leather cracks are considered acceptable for its age, I'm cool with that.
I have Lexol and Pecard's antique leather dressing. I wonder if this is a candidate for the washing machine, because I've seen some mildew spotting on the interior pockets. However, I don't want to cause more cracking/flaking.
Thanks in advance for your advice.
There are some issues not revealed in the original listing, and I'm not sure which direction I want to take: keep or return. Hoping the good folks here can add their two cents.
First, fit pics. I think shoulders, chest and sleeves are really good. How is the length?
The main zipper is an Ideal. The sleeve zips are YKK. Do the zips, main label or belt buckle help in indicating when this jacket was made?
Now for condition issues. There are mold or mildew spots all over this jacket. Some areas are worse than others...
Behind the main zip:
Under both collar flaps:
Under the coin pocket flap:
These next issues bother me most -- leather cracking at the back of the collar along the top of the fold (two pics):
...and leather wear / flaking along the top edge of the belt:
A minor rip on the interior lining:
The leather overall is supple and doesn't feel brittle. However, this jacket is dirty and was obviously not stored properly or maintained with care. Can anyone tell me what kind of leather it is? I'm not experienced enough to know for sure. It does have a distinct leather scent that is not like my steerhide or cowhide jackets.
If you guys think the fit is right, I'm not opposed to putting some elbow grease into this jacket and attempting to clean it. But if you guys are concerned about the mildew (won't come out) and if the leather cracks at the rear collar and flaking along the belt are indicative of more problems to come, then I'll seek a return.
Yes, I acknowledge that in the world of leather jackets, 50 clams is cheap (ya get what ya pay for). And it's also not new or a recently made jacket. But I also want to enjoy wearing a jacket that is reasonably clean. If the leather cracks are considered acceptable for its age, I'm cool with that.
I have Lexol and Pecard's antique leather dressing. I wonder if this is a candidate for the washing machine, because I've seen some mildew spotting on the interior pockets. However, I don't want to cause more cracking/flaking.
Thanks in advance for your advice.