Ben Sherman "biker" jacket "restoration"

This is my most recently arrived jacket purchase. Quite a (very good!) buy.
Bought within Australia on ebay Australia. Cheap enough to "experiment" indeed !
Cheap Australia post cost (no Global Shipping), no GST , no import duties.
A fairly young jacket , made in the "Distressed " style. Looks well "patinated"
I have decided that the distressing is not my style , and this morning my wife said
"Why are you wearing that scruffy jacket and not one of the good ones ?"
SO a "restoration" will begin.
Firstly the jacket was washed down hung over the front lawn on a jury rigged effort in the shade, this "recycles" the precious water ( and hides any "mess" !)
Montana Pitch Blend leather oil soap was used , soaped in and hose rinsed.
It will take 24 hours to dry now while hung outside in the shade.
Tomorrow it will be treated with either Kiwi Kids Scuff stuff OR RM Williams leather treatment.
Both will waterproof it as it just soaked up the water today like a sponge.
On the Harley this would have been a potential problem !
The Kiwi Kids stuff will also make it "shiny" ( I don't mind that personally).
It will also have it "jet black" again , not distressed grey.
I have used it successfully before to "fix up" a 30 year old Eastman Luftwaffe.
The RM Williams may darken it , but not to jet black.
I will decide tomorrow depending on it's drying state about which way to proceed.
May be of interest to anyone wanting to refresh a jacket , old or "new".

I will post "after" and maybe "progress" photos as I go.

looks like a good start, I did something similar recently, I used fiebings dye which blackend all the gray areas easily.

OK second day of the "restoration" process. Jacket outside in the shade for 24 hours , then 1 hour in full late afternoon sun.
Used a combination of Kiwi Kids Scuff stuff and Kiwi black leather restoration dye.
Progress photos on the way.

Left side done , compare to the right



front complete , sleeves to go


Sleeves before treatment



Sleeves completed


A second "coat" tomorrow after an overnight soak-in session. Second coat may not be required.
This is a fairly labour intensive process , AND a bit of a one way trip if not successful !
It has been transformed I think.
My wife said in passing "you should not have been wearing that yesterday".

Looking good G! Thanks for posting all the detailed results.

Ok the rear shot before treatment. I always do the "front" and sleeves first as they have to dry well before you flip the jacket over to do the rear. You could do it on a hanger , but I find that more difficult logistically. Better done laid flat I reckon.

This whole process took several hours from go to whoa , drying time over 24 hours after the leather soaping.
Using the 2 Kiwi products with the wee supplied sponge takes a fair while , but leaves little spillage.
If I had to decant the treatment/dye by a separate sponge it would have been a messy business for sure.



Finished article front shot



Finished article rear shot



Now the Ben Sherman Biker "looks like" my Eastmans , my Simmons Bilt , my Vanson Ike and my Schott variants.
Straight zippered collared black shiny leather jackets.
Well it is my "preferred" style after all I suppose !
I will perhaps get some "action shots" on my coming weekend Harley ride.
We plan to go south and 31C is forecast and this jacket may be "too hot".

Last shot of the "restoration process" ( I promise !). Looks as "shiny as" as I knew from experience it would.
Taken in the late afternoon 4.30pm sun. "only" 23C here today , 32 again by Saturday.
Hanging in the full late arvo sun to dry any dye/damp patches even tho' I can't see any.
I will leave it glistening in the setting sun for a couple of hours. I only do this after any"restoration" type work.
Otherwise my jacket of the day hangs outside in the shade until evening before being brought back into the roost.
(EDIT sorry photo upload dramas , either my desktop or the lounge site !)

Last shot of the "restoration process" ( I promise !). Looks as "shiny as" as I knew from experience it would.
Taken in the late afternoon 4.30pm sun. "only" 23C here today , 32 again by Saturday.
Hanging in the full late arvo sun to dry any dye/damp patches even tho' I can't see any.
I will leave it glistening in the setting sun for a couple of hours. I only do this after any"restoration" type work.
Otherwise my jacket of the day hangs outside in the shade until evening before being brought back into the roost.

Well done!
Thank you for sharing the process and pics. Enjoy your “new” jacket!

handymike said:

Well done!
Thank you for sharing the process and pics. Enjoy your “new” jacket!

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Thanks mate , those of my riding buddies who notice , will think that it is indeed a "new" jacket.
One of them thought that my 32 year old "restored" Eastman Luftwaffe was "new" five years back.
This ben Sherman jacket is probably not that old as the seller was well conversant with the price when indeed "new".

It looks a lot better to my eye. Your wife should have no problem standing by her man now.

That looks like a job well done. How is the jacket holding up since you finished the job ?

We will never know.

Monitor said:

We will never know.

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I’m in Perth this month visiting family and keeping an eye out. Will report back with updates if I see this jacket )

Monitor said:

We will never know.

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Why ?

Bigbawz said:

Why ?

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Location South of Nashville

Because Downunder G Man is no longer a member here.

As he was deleted at his own request, I believe he is eligible for reinstatement, but not sure.