Alternative companies for Restoration & Leather Repair

[Rixter]

Has anyone had any experience with this company located in San Diego, CA. in regards to repairing leather jackets? Since G&B does not repair jackets they do not make or sell, they recommend I contact Magic Leather. I did talk to a Joe there, and he seems to know what he’s talking about, at least more than anyone I’ve talked to locally. But I’m a little hesitant to send anything to someplace I’ve up ‘til now have heard nothing about.

They do have a web site also:

http://www.magicleather.micronpcweb.com/

TY

[Michaelson]

You may want to consider dropping Dave Marshall at FS a line and ask him, since he's down that way now. He may be able to tell you the 'skinny' regarding whether this shop is worth a hoot. Regards. Michaelson

[Rixter]

Thanks Michaelson, I did place a call to Dave and he stated that he does indeed recommend Magic Leather to his customers that need repairs done to non-G&B purchases, and for those like me who live in the Midwest, he gave me the number for another company that does good work somewhat closer in Idaho, Voigt's at 208-255-1669. You will have to call for the the exact location though since I failed to get through on my first try.

This should be of special interest to anyone else that doesn't have anyone locally that can do restorations or any other leather work such as alterations and lining replacements on their older jackets. Neither of them do leather repairs to shoes however.

Sorry about those living on the East coast.

[Rixter]

I told a friend of mine about these companies and he Fed. Ex’d a lambskin bomber jacket, not really a military style jacket, just one he liked, with a little more than an inch and one half horizontal tear on one of the sleeves which was fortunately less than an inch from a seam. Instead of just patching it, which would obviously not look as good for a favorite jacket with a lot of life left in it, they are going to take apart both sleeves and shorten them, and then re-stitch them at the seam. Doing it this way will restore it to factory new condition.

The main concern was that he couldn’t afford to lose ‘any’ sleeve length that it would take in making the repair. He was told that being a relatively new jacket, hide, etc. and otherwise in excellent condition, the leather could be slightly stretched without compromising the strength of the leather itself which would still leave the sleeves short, but then, with a little letting out of the knit sleeves on the cuff, and minimal stretching of the knit itself, he was told the lose in sleeve length will be negligible.

They are apparently backlogged with many jackets ahead of him, and he was told it would be done in about two weeks for about $45 plus which will include some very minor repairs to the lining. I guess that isn’t too bad for an over $400 jacket that someone really loves. If that price holds, it certainly is more than competitive with G&B’s new repair pricing itself as listed in their new catalog, and certainly better than one of the local shops just slapping a patch on it.

[Michaelson]

Rixter, I'll be VERY interested in hearing the results of your friends experience with this repair. You've done a HUGE service finding this, my friend. I thank you!!! High regards. Michaelson

[IndianaJames]

ANybody know if Wested will alter your non Wested jacket? I think someone asked this before, but I dont remember the result. THanks!

IJ

[gdkenoyer]

Magic's website is still live and DEX shows the listed phone number, (619) 283-3377, still assigned, but emails go unanswered and a phone call gets "your call cannot be completed...".

Has anyone had any recent dealings with them?