Re: Indy jacket

Posted by Ranger Tim from clgrtnt6-port-16.dial.telus.net on October 03, 2000 at 10:50:56:

In Reply to: Re: Indy jacket posted by Patterson on October 02, 2000 at 19:35:27:

: : I currently own two Cooper jackets in cowhide.One,I have had for six
: : years and abused continually.I live in Canada and the weather here
: : would test the mettle of any garment.I have heard a great deal about
: : the vaunted Wested jacket,but really,a jacket made from Lambskin?
: : I own several of the current issue A-2 and G-1 type jackets,some in
: : the incredibly tough goatskin,and to compare goat to lamb in regards
: : to durability is absurd!Lambskin is purely a fashion leather and has
: : never been used in a military application,with the noteable exception
: : of WW-2 shearling type jackets and other cold weather full fur type
: : clothing which was very fragile and dried out badly over time.
: : I am a museum consultant,specializing in leather and textiles and have
: : handled many ancient leathers,from native indian clothing 100 years
: : old to 60 year old,horsehide A-2s,one of which I wear regularly.
: : Without exception,the rare examples of lamb products I have handled
: : are fragile and unserviceable if of any vintage.I put this to those
: : who are contemplating purchasing an Indy,the most abused leathers
: : are used for boots and saddles if you can find a lambskin riding
: : saddle or a pair of lamb army boots,I will be very suprised.
: : If you were a crusty international adventured your first consideration
: : would be durability,not appearance.My Coopers,while not perfect are
: : very serviceable.

: Thank you for this input - the durability was the primary reason for my choice of horsehide in my most recent jacket purchase. I also have two US Wings/Coopers - one in cowhide that has survived any number of excursions into Washington State's North Cascades, and one in kangaroo skin that I look forward to testing. I also have one Wested in cowhide, but who's manufacture is too fragile for me to place in harm's way - I don't think it would do well, and I've become somewhat attached to it.

: What an interesting profession! I've recently had some exposure to the various restoration processes used on leather items, and would greatly appreciate your views on the various methods?

: Cheers!

: Patterson
Leather is the most durable organic covering know to man.It is hydrophylic,meaning that it
will absorb moisture,and,in fact leather will retain moisture in varying degrees during its' service life.The greatest enemy of leather is dryness,leather is made up of a matrix of fibre bundles that are multi-directional,giving leather its' great strength.As long as the minute spaces between these bundles are lubricated,the leather will function perfectly.However,if the leather is allowed to dry out the fibres will abbraid during normal stretching and bending and eventually crack and fail.So,an application of a good treatment,such as lexol or Dubbin will add years to the life of your garment.Mink oil is also very good but,it can smell rather badly if over applied.So,put on your favourite Indy vid,get out the Lexol and show your leather a little respect!
Ranger Tim.

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Re: Indy jacket Patterson 11:17:56 10/03/2000 (0)

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: : : I currently own two Cooper jackets in cowhide.One,I have had for six
: : : years and abused continually.I live in Canada and the weather here
: : : would test the mettle of any garment.I have heard a great deal about
: : : the vaunted Wested jacket,but really,a jacket made from Lambskin?
: : : I own several of the current issue A-2 and G-1 type jackets,some in
: : : the incredibly tough goatskin,and to compare goat to lamb in regards
: : : to durability is absurd!Lambskin is purely a fashion leather and has
: : : never been used in a military application,with the noteable exception
: : : of WW-2 shearling type jackets and other cold weather full fur type
: : : clothing which was very fragile and dried out badly over time.
: : : I am a museum consultant,specializing in leather and textiles and have
: : : handled many ancient leathers,from native indian clothing 100 years
: : : old to 60 year old,horsehide A-2s,one of which I wear regularly.
: : : Without exception,the rare examples of lamb products I have handled
: : : are fragile and unserviceable if of any vintage.I put this to those
: : : who are contemplating purchasing an Indy,the most abused leathers
: : : are used for boots and saddles if you can find a lambskin riding
: : : saddle or a pair of lamb army boots,I will be very suprised.
: : : If you were a crusty international adventured your first consideration
: : : would be durability,not appearance.My Coopers,while not perfect are
: : : very serviceable.

: : Thank you for this input - the durability was the primary reason for my choice of horsehide in my most recent jacket purchase.  I also have two US Wings/Coopers - one in cowhide that has survived any number of excursions into Washington State's North Cascades, and one in kangaroo skin that I look forward to testing.  I also have one Wested in cowhide, but who's manufacture is too fragile for me to place in harm's way - I don't think it would do well, and I've become somewhat attached to it.

: : What an interesting profession!  I've recently had some exposure to the various restoration processes used on leather items, and would greatly appreciate your views on the various methods?

: : Cheers!

: : Patterson
: Leather is the most durable organic covering know to man.It is hydrophylic,meaning that it
: will absorb moisture,and,in fact leather will retain moisture in varying degrees during its' service life.The greatest enemy of leather is dryness,leather is made up of a matrix of fibre bundles that are multi-directional,giving leather its' great strength.As long as the minute spaces between these bundles are lubricated,the leather will function perfectly.However,if the leather is allowed to dry out the fibres will abbraid during normal stretching and bending and eventually crack and fail.So,an application of a good treatment,such as lexol or Dubbin will add years to the life of your garment.Mink oil is also very good but,it can smell rather badly if over applied.So,put on your favourite Indy vid,get out the Lexol and show your leather a little respect!
: Ranger Tim.

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