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Current favorite: Original Buco J-100
Gamma,
sweet jacket and it fits you very well! i'd love to find an old Bates w/ dress collar.
how'd rejuvenation process work out? you had written about stiff-ish and dry(?)
i brought that recently acquired Sportster back best i could. wasn't too bad but also a little stiff and dry. used Lexol as i figured i needed penetration.
best,
mike
Thanks for the compliments. Yes, the Bates jacket was very dirty and dry when it arrived. First, I hand washed it in the tub in cold water with a little Woolite dark. A lot of dirt came out in that wash and rinse process. I laid it flat on a towel to air dry outdoors.
Then I set about reconditioning. I had just bought some Leather Honey and tried it out. It seemed to disappear quickly without having much effect on the leather. Frankly, the product was very disappointing (it's also a little messy to work with). It took a couple thin coats of Lexol afterwards to begin bringing it back. Then I went over it with Pecards, which seemed to have the biggest impact. The sleeves are still a little stiff but that's where the leather is the thickest. I might try going over the sleeves one more time with the Leather Honey to see what happens.
Right now, it's at a local seamstress for some repairs. The elastic bands across the back are shot and will be replaced. The zipper tape at the insertion pin is separated from the jacket and fraying. She will re-sew that and fix another area of loose thread at the bottom hem that she spotted.
I think I'll also use some Gulf Wax on the zippers to keep them gliding smoothly.
Then, it'll be ready for the next 50 years!
That Leather Honey stuff is supposed to be the best. I've never had much luck with Pecard. Lanolin is the best I've yet tried. Just bringing a Vanson jacket back to life with it.
I think each jacket responds differently to different leather dressing products. All I can say is I wasn't impressed by the Leather Honey whatsoever. In my limited experience, Pecards penetrates leather the best and is the easiest to work with. Vaseline may very well be the exact same product.
Are you using pure Lanolin? I have a small bottle of the stuff and use a small drop of it when I hand wash wool sweaters. Never thought of using it on leather as it's very sticky.
Is that an Eastman Luftwaffe? Quite a nice jacket for the vintage biker look. But Eastman or Aero don't put anything in the slash pockets or it may get sucked out as my wallet did some time back.
Is that an Eastman Luftwaffe? Quite a nice jacket for the vintage biker look. But Eastman or Aero don't put anything in the slash pockets or it may get sucked out as my wallet did some time back.
If you are a bit of a fashionista like me with bike gear I would get some matching gloves but then both your helmet and gloves are the safer bet.
The pocket layout is similar to the Luftwaffe which is why I asked and Noblehouse do make a few Eastman lookalikes so the padding you mention threw me slightly. Still, it's a nice jacket.Hey yeah- this pic was in no way a representation of fashion sense haha. But thanks- totally agree. I have a summer riding jacket but it's been freezing here and I've had this jacket for a while and thought, why not put it to use? I almost always wear a yellow hi vis vest when riding anyway.
It has two inside pockets where I keep phone and wallet. It's not Eastman it's Noblehouse Jagdflieger BF109 which I think especially for price is an outstanding jacket. But then again I've never owned an Eastman so nothing to compare. But for a knock about Motorcycle winter coat the NH... well it's warm, comfortable, feels good to wear and great abrasion resistance should I come off. Nice heavy vege tanned too I think Horsehide. Collar is great for keeping the wind out under the helmet.
Yeah "Luft-waffe" "Air weapon" It's still called Luftwaffe, odd that people would be turned off by the name really. I supposethey incorrectly attribute certain connotations to it. "Oster"-Easter "Mann"-Man. Easter Man jacket then!The pocket layout is similar to the Luftwaffe which is why I asked and Noblehouse do make a few Eastman lookalikes so the padding you mention threw me slightly. Still, it's a nice jacket.
The older Eastmans are great but have a pleated back, also the shoulders tend to be a bit wide, then again I have had mine about 20 years so the patten I believe has changed.Now named as an Ostermann, the nearest in German he could get for Eastman. Also I did hear his sales of this style are improving with the removal of the name Luftwaffe.
I have just checked the Eastman website and the jacket is actually named 'Ostmann' so apologies for that little mistake. Luftwaffe mind you is correct even for the modern German airforce.Yeah "Luft-waffe" "Air weapon" It's still called Luftwaffe, odd that people would be turned off by the name really. I supposethey incorrectly attribute certain connotations to it. "Oster"-Easter "Mann"-Man. Easter Man jacket then!
There is already a spice company called Ostmann which is closer to East man than Easter Man. But as you said it must be as close as they can get for whatever reason.
Brooks Cafe Racer - new satin lining replaced by local guy. Reasonably good job and for $120 I can't really complain.
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