Simmons Bilt Cordovan Leather Jacket with problems

[Rodney Hutchinson]

I have bought this jacket from a seller on eBay. When it arrived it smells of washing powder, I contacted the seller about this and he assured me that it has never been in a washing machine and has been dry cleaned. The inside of the collar appears to be a different shade to the rest of the collar, also if you rub the leather the coating comes off in bits. Even though the coat appears brown it has a red tinge to it. What do you experts out there think ? I have old Aero leather jackets that don’t smell or look like this.

 

[Guppy]

I can't comment on the odor but the color variation looks normal.

 

[Carlos840]

Looks normal to me, Cordovan is supposed to be a reddish brown, and CXL has a tendency to have crumbly cracky top coat.
As Guppy said, colour variation is normal in CXL.

I also don't think a washing machine would have damaged it, i have washed a few jackets in the washing machine and never had a problem doing so.
No idea about dry cleaning leather, that is a bit scary to me...

 

[Carlos840]

Just to illustrate the colour variation of CXL, both these jackets are made from black CXL HH, the hides came from the same batch:

 

[Rodney Hutchinson]

Thank you for your prompt answers. It is reasuring to know it is normal.
I have just seen this leather restoring company which looks good.
https://www.buffaloleather.co.uk/re-dye-services-leather-jackets.htm

 

[JMax]

Just to illustrate the colour variation of CXL, both these jackets are made from black CXL HH, the hides came from the same batch:

That custom Vanson is my favorite

 

[DorKlonn]

Thank you for your prompt answers. It is reasuring to know it is normal.
I have just seen this leather restoring company which looks good.
https://www.buffaloleather.co.uk/re-dye-services-leather-jackets.htm

Why the need to send it to a restoration company? the colour variation seems to be a characteristic of the leather, which seems to be a cordovan coloured pull-up leather; just wanted to double check

 

[Canuck Panda]

I think this is Clayton Horsehide in Burgundy, which is UK's CXL copy but thinner. It looks fine. But I think it could use a damp cloth wipe down and some conditioning to bring back the luster.
The leather also doesn't look like it has been washed. It just looks very unworn. This leather will crease like crazy with very little wear. I have the brown one. It's on the stiffer side vs CXL.

The washing powder smell could be the lining and the seller could have tried to spot cleaned it, or maybe he had them in pouches in his closet Dunno.
Don't worry, you got a good one there. Many makers hide the less than perfect hides under the collar and on the side gussets. I don't think it makes the jacket any less.

 

[Carlos840]

Thank you for your prompt answers. It is reasuring to know it is normal.
I have just seen this leather restoring company which looks good.
https://www.buffaloleather.co.uk/re-dye-services-leather-jackets.htm

No need, just wear it.

 

[AeroFan_07]

100% agree - wear it as is. If needed apply a caot of Pecards, that would help with both smell & color loss.

 

[Rodney Hutchinson]

Again thank you for all your comment. I will just wear it.

 

[Imuricecreamman]

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I have bought this jacket from a seller on eBay. When it arrived it smells of washing powder, I contacted the seller about this and he assured me that it has never been in a washing machine and has been dry cleaned. The inside of the collar appears to be a different shade to the rest of the collar, also if you rub the leather the coating comes off in bits. Even though the coat appears brown it has a red tinge to it. What do you experts out there think ? I have old Aero leather jackets that don’t smell or look like this.

This has to be Cordovan Clayton vintage. Leather looks great.