Want to buy or sell something? Check the classifieds
  • The Fedora Lounge is supported in part by commission earning affiliate links sitewide. Please support us by using them. You may learn more here.

Ben Sherman "biker" jacket "restoration"

Downunder G Man

One Too Many
Messages
1,190
Location
Australia
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.


Ben Sherman leather jacket 4.jpg


Ben Sherman leather jacket 2.jpg


Ben Sherman restoration 1.jpg


Montana leather-soap.jpg

Kiwi kids scuff stuff.jpg

RM Williams leather conditioner.jpg
 
Last edited:

Downunder G Man

One Too Many
Messages
1,190
Location
Australia
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

Ben Sherman restoration 2.jpg


front complete , sleeves to go
Ben Sherman restoration 3.jpg


Sleeves before treatment

Ben Sherman restoration 4.jpg


Sleeves completed
Ben Sherman restoration 5.jpg


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".
 

Downunder G Man

One Too Many
Messages
1,190
Location
Australia
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.

Ben Sherman restoration 6.jpg


Finished article front shot

Ben Sherman restoration 8.jpg


Finished article rear shot

Ben Sherman restoration 7.jpg


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".
 

Downunder G Man

One Too Many
Messages
1,190
Location
Australia
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 !)
 

Downunder G Man

One Too Many
Messages
1,190
Location
Australia
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.

Ben Sherman restoration 9.png
 

Downunder G Man

One Too Many
Messages
1,190
Location
Australia
Well done!
Thank you for sharing the process and pics. Enjoy your “new” jacket!

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".
 

Bawheid

New in Town
Messages
9
How is this restoration holding up over time ?

Has it been a short term fix or has it stood the test of time ?
 

Forum statistics

Threads
108,627
Messages
3,064,707
Members
53,778
Latest member
centurionslut
Top