L.L. Bean Flying Tiger help

[yvngmaestro]

Hey all, made an account to ask you all about this.

I recently found a leather LL Bean jacket in the style and size I want. However I have some questions.

The cuffs on both the bottom and the sleeves are frayed to Hell. I know it can be fixed with a visit to the seamstress or a DIY. However, with the way the fraying looks, I'm worried it may have had exposure to clothes moths. I want to make sure before I truly bring it into my home and my wardrobe that the damage on the jacket is either NOT clothes moths at all, or if it is, what's a good way to get rid of them on a piece such as this? I scoured the net for any help on this and couldn't find anything specific. I asked the salesperson how it was stored and he said he found it in his father's closet in a plastic garment bag, with no signs of moths in the place where he found it. I just wanna make sure it doesn't become a problem in the future.

Images included for reference.

 

[BarryMcCockiner_PhD]

Doesn’t look like moth activity to me. Just well worn. Is your zipper Scovill?

My version is a bit more pristine from the same era, late 70s/early 80s. The guy who bought it basically just left it hanging in his closet for over 40 years.

 

[jchance]

If you suspect and are concerned with clothes moth, you can put the jacket, upon arrival, in a plastic bag and leave it in your freezer for 3-7 days (7 is better) to kill all the moth eggs.

 

[yvngmaestro]

Doesn’t look like moth activity to me. Just well worn. Is your zipper Scovill?

My version is a bit more pristine from the same era, late 70s/early 80s. The guy who bought it basically just left it hanging in his closet for over 40 years.

See, I was thinking the same thing. I actually bought this jacket cause I own another one like this but it's too small for me. It also has wear and tear kinda like this (but not to this extent).

As for this one though, yeah, the zipper's Scovill.

The guy who I bought this jacket from said his dad stored it and it was originally his grandpa's jacket.

 

[yvngmaestro]

If you suspect and are concerned with clothes moth, you can put the jacket, upon arrival, in a plastic bag and leave it in your freezer for 3-7 days (7 is better) to kill all the moth eggs.

You sure that won't damage the leather on the jacket? I can surely condition it after but I just wanna make sure that wouldn't damage it in the process.

 

[BarryMcCockiner_PhD]

See, I was thinking the same thing. I actually bought this jacket cause I own another one like this but it's too small for me. It also has wear and tear kinda like this (but not to this extent).

As for this one though, yeah, the zipper's Scovill.

The guy who I bought this jacket from said his dad stored it and it was originally his grandpa's jacket.

Just get it repaired if you want and enjoy it.

If you're paranoid just take a vacuum to the wool interior, put the jacket in a bag and hang it overnight in the cold (assuming you're in a cold climate right now). That should remedy any activity, if still present. You can also buy cheap cedar blocks a stuff them in the jacket to deter moths.

 

[jchance]

You sure that won't damage the leather on the jacket? I can surely condition it after but I just wanna make sure that wouldn't damage it in the process.

You can freeze a leather jacket for days, just don’t thaw it in the sun or near a heat source.

 

[Jon Crow]

Mash Japan could sell you some nice replacement knits for that nos identical to the originals

 

[raf]

Exposure to Ozone (Ozone Generator placed and used with a sealed room/car interior) will do the trick. Make sure to not expose small kids/pets to the concentrated Ozone.

You can source decent knit cuffs and waistband from many sources--use same source for all of 'em so color matches.

All-wool/Various syn/wool blends/all synthetic "knits" have different price levels and different durability.

Suggest that having a Pro who is used to doing this job will be worth the expense/shipping hassle.

Since the jacket is a "Pseudo-Repro" (No offense, I have an LL B A-2), and not an "Original" suggest that precisely matching the materials/weave/color of the knits to those present on the LL B jacket may be secondary concern compared to price/durability.

If sending it away to have the knits replaced, take a close look at the Zipper, Esp the cloth "tape" right next to the vertical post on one side of the bottom of the zipper. Slight damage there can be repaired, but significant damage to the cloth tape which attaches to the vertical metal zipper post may require (at least) replacement of that side of the zipper, maybe both sides of the zipper.

Suggest getting all repairs done at same time by a Pro to save shipping expense/hassle. It's possible a Pro already has "proper" knits and zippers in-stock.

 

[yvngmaestro]

Exposure to Ozone (Ozone Generator placed and used with a sealed room/car interior) will do the trick. Make sure to not expose small kids/pets to the concentrated Ozone.

You can source decent knit cuffs and waistband from many sources--use same source for all of 'em so color matches.

All-wool/Various syn/wool blends/all synthetic "knits" have different price levels and different durability.

Suggest that having a Pro who is used to doing this job will be worth the expense/shipping hassle.

Since the jacket is a "Pseudo-Repro" (No offense, I have an LL B A-2), and not an "Original" suggest that precisely matching the materials/weave/color of the knits to those present on the LL B jacket may be secondary concern compared to price/durability.

If sending it away to have the knits replaced, take a close look at the Zipper, Esp the cloth "tape" right next to the vertical post on one side of the bottom of the zipper. Slight damage there can be repaired, but significant damage to the cloth tape which attaches to the vertical metal zipper post may require (at least) replacement of that side of the zipper, maybe both sides of the zipper.

Suggest getting all repairs done at same time by a Pro to save shipping expense/hassle. It's possible a Pro already has "proper" knits and zippers in-stock.

How long would I need to expose it to Ozone? An hour or so?

 

[raf]

How long would I need to expose it to Ozone? An hour or so?

However long (maybe 1-2 hours) it takes to expose the surface(s) of the jacket to the Ozone. You night wish to turn the jacket inside out to expose the sleeves of the lining or flip it over to expose both sides. The Oxone only works where it touches the leather/lining.

Ozone is heavier than air, so rig the generator higher than the item(s) to be exposed. Search "Ozone" here, please, for more info.