Gladstone Style Bag - Restoration Adventure

[Curtis Bessette]

Good Day,

I hope all is well. I just found this gladstone style bag at an antique shop. The maker is Cheney. It is in need of some TLC. Here are some pics:





For $50 I think I got a great deal. Now to make it fit for everyday use...

[Michaelson]

Yes, you did. I usually see good Gladstone leather bags in the $150 and up range in my prowling of antique stores here in Tennessee.

They're pretty proud of them here.

Well done!

Regard! Michaelson

[Indiana Jeff]

Indeed, great find. I generally see bags in condition worse than that going for 3-4x what you paid.


Regards,

Indiana Jeff

[Curtis Bessette]

Thanks for the feedback Michaelson and Indiana Jeff!

Here is an update on the restoration:









I first started with a few coats of Mink oil. Then I picked up some 100% neatsfoot oil tonight at a tack shop called Lammle's, which also sells Lexol (cleaner and conditioner, although it is called Lexol Equine; a topic for another thread, which I am currently trying on my Wested Raiders that I put through the wash a few days ago).

After one coat of neatsfoot I can see a big difference. The manager of the store suggested I heat the oil up to open the pores of the leather. I think the heat also helped to spread it across the leather and reach all the the wrinkled areas.

I used a double stitch method for repairing the handle, from the tips in this video on Youtube: https://youtu.be/iqCx-5tLJGg" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; . I also picked up some Shoe-Gloo, and a leather wallet which matches the leather, in which I intend to repair some of the larger rips, by putting some new leather behind the rips and gluing.

I am hoping to use this bag as a carry on next week for a trip to California.

Cheers,
Curtis

[captblitzdawg]

Nice! And it will certainly stand out from the other passengers!

[Indiana Jeff]

Awesome the way you are bringing life back to that old bag.


Regards,

Indiana Jeff