Shrinkage?

[Baseball Guy]

Hi,
Been viewing many threads discussing the benefits/pitfalls of washing and drying leather, particularly other than cold/room temperature.

Saw this item for sale, at a very reasonable price I think, but is this jacket a victim of shrinkage?

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Superb-V...910800?hash=item3f9db650d0:g:vmYAAOSwwTlbA1eb

Looks a bit that way to me, by wavy line at the front caused I wonder by the zip not shrinking with the leather? Your opinions as to whether it could be fixed by some product to rejuvenate the leather e.g. Pecards for example, welcome.

 

[handymike]

Could just be that it was folded up in the bottom of the closet. A steamer might flatten it out a bit.

 

[Peacoat]

With that wavy tape at the zipper, it does appear to have shrunk a bit. But as @handymike says, it could be as a result of the way it was folded.

 

[Seb Lucas]

If in doubt say no and we cannot know for sure - but - I've had 2 or 3 jacket look like that after being balled up and stored under my bed.

 

[El Marro]

I agree that the wrinkles and creases on the front of that jacket look to be caused by being balled up and crammed into a tight space. Note that the inside windflap is also creased and the collar appears misshaped in the front.
I would have to disagree with the seller on this one, this jacket is not in “superb vintage condition”. I would recommend that you pass on this one and keep your eyes open for a G-1 that has seen a little more love over the last four decades.

 

[robrinay]

I think it more likely that this jacket has been ‘recycled’. Dealers source a lot of their stock from ‘rag pickers’. Mixed clothing from recycling centres has been shoved into a recycling bin, unloaded in a tangle into a van or lorry possibly bailed and later picked over and sorted for sale, export or destruction etc. In the case of this G1 this part of the process may have taken place in the USA and the jacket was then posted to the U.K. All of the above, results in a wrinkled jacket. If the leather is strong the creases can be removed (at your own risk), by gently washing it in cool water and a mild detergent and shaping it before drying it flat till nearly dry and then on a supported (broad shouldered) hanger. This will also remove most or all of any bad smells and any noxious shoe polish that may have been misguidedly applied. Finally a coat of Pecards or Vaseline or similar will condition the leather and further reduce the creases. Search for threads in TFL and VLJ on washing a leather jacket for the finer details.

 

[Flightengineer]

It is very likely that it crumpled cause it lay in the closet for a long time. Perhaps the steamer will help ... but this is only an assumption.
As for the size 44 (and in fact 40/42), then I had the same Brill contract in size 40 (was fits like 38) and it was like new - I think this is not because shrinking - perhaps this is a feature of this contract.

 

[Baseball Guy]

Thanks for everyones advice - decided to pass on this one!