Restoring And Customising A Briefcase

[my63]

Thanks Stonezebra

It is a very difficult colour to describe it is called London Tan I have taken some pictures outside on a white background to try and give you an idea. It will darken over time and pick up dings and scratches but that will just add to its character.

I am not sure how I will use it as my time of rushing to meetings and such like is over now it will sit on my desk for a while so I can admire it

 

IMG_1506 by my0771, on Flickr

 

IMG_1521 by my0771, on Flickr

 

IMG_1522 by my0771, on Flickr

 

IMG_1518 by my0771, on Flickr

 

There is still some stitching to do to reinforce the corners I will post the final pictures once that is done

 

I can tell you it cheers me up every time I look at it.

 

Thanks for looking

 

Michael

Edited November 25, 2015 by my63

[ScienceChick]

I admire your work and look forward to each of your posts. That bag is a work of art as are all those you've either made or brought back to life.

[my63]

I admire your work and look forward to each of your posts. That bag is a work of art as are all those you've either made or brought back to life.

Thanks for the kind comments I do appreciate them I have really enjoyed making this case from scratch but I must admit I also like the restorations the last one was very hard to let go. But as I have no actual use for a briefcase now having more than the three I now have is a little pointless.

I have a number of cases awaiting restoration which I plan to start soon it will be the red tone one as I have already purchased the red suede.

[stevesurf]

Thanks Stonezebra

It is a very difficult colour to describe it is called London Tan I have taken some pictures outside on a white background to try and give you an idea. It will darken over time and pick up dings and scratches but that will just add to its character.

I am not sure how I will use it as my time of rushing to meetings and such like is over now it will sit on my desk for a while so I can admire it

 

IMG_1506 by my0771, on Flickr

 

IMG_1521 by my0771, on Flickr

 

IMG_1522 by my0771, on Flickr

 

IMG_1518 by my0771, on Flickr

 

There is still some stitching to do to reinforce the corners I will post the final pictures once that is done

 

I can tell you it cheers me up every time I look at it.

 

Thanks for looking

 

Michael

 

Gorgeous! Glad to see you're going to keep going even after this one, that appears to be your finest restoration yet!

[my63]

Thanks Steve this one is not a restoration project I made it from these components

 

DSC_0251 by my0771, on Flickr

 

BTW your cactus pictures are fantastic

[my63]

I thought you might like to see the before and after pictures for the United States Army Air Force case

 

USAAF 1 case by my0771, on Flickr

 

fpn_1450795611__my63_restored_usaaf_bag_1024x768 by my0771, on Flickr

 

I am sure you can work out which is which. It is fantastic to see my restorations in daily use

[Skyppere]

It's been a while since I checked back in on you! Good to see you're still active in this area. I still love my briefcase! Keep up the good work!

cheers

skip williams

[kazoolaw]

I thought you might like to see the before and after pictures for the United States Army Air Force case

 

I am sure you can work out which is which. It is fantastic to see my restorations in daily use

Excellent work. And where is the law library with all the leather bindings?

 

gary

[my63]

Thanks Skip it is great to hear that you case is still being used.

 

Hi Gary that picture was supplied by the owner who is a lawyer and as far as I know the picture was taken in his office somewhere in the USA the owner is a member here and if he reads this he may supply more information.

[ScienceChick]

What's your current project? I really enjoy seeing and reading about them.

[my63]

Hi ScienceChick

 

Unfortunately there is no bag/ case projects at the moment as I am recovering from hand surgery.

 

I do have some cases to restore but I am thinking of a different way of selling them to give the buyer more choice.

 

Once I have recovered I have been asked to make a shoulder type bag which I will share here if anyone is interested.

There will also be a new pen / notebook case with a zip closure soon. well as soon as I work out how to make it

[my63]

As with everything nothing has gone to plan but I am finally ready to start another briefcase.

So here goes:

 

The briefcase I have chosen from those that have accumulated under my desk over the last 12 months or so. It has three compartments and my plan is to turn the two dividers into a laptop pocket.

 

DSC_0048 by my0771, on Flickr

 

The case does have a couple of issues the gusset is in two pieces and there is a nasty tear halfway around the catch on the flap if this was not repairable then this would have become a parts case.

 

DSC_0064 by my0771, on Flickr

 

I have started the repair by thinning the leather along the back of the tear using a special knife called a round or head knife. This is incredibly sharp it is also polished along the edge.

 

DSC_0066 by my0771, on Flickr

 

I made a patch for the back which I also thinned slightly I then glued both pieces and stuck them together with contact adhesive as it has dried it is like one piece. The strength will increase when the catch is riveted back in place when I sew the suede I will take care to avoid the area where the split was.

 

DSC_0067 by my0771, on Flickr

 

Once the patch was in place I thinned all of the edges of the patch to feather them into the back of the flap.

 

DSC_0072 by my0771, on Flickr

 

 

DSC_0069 by my0771, on Flickr

 

The repair is as thin as the rest of the flap and is as strong as the original.

 

Thanks for looking

 

Michael

 

[Erik Dalton]

Great job. I'm addicted to following your work. I have a coupe of old briefcases and you've given me many ideas.

Please keep posting.

[Anne-Sophie]

I wondered where the briefcase thread had been, thank you for sharing more of your work, this way I could catch up and admire your ingenuity.

[my63]

Thanks Old Salt I would like to see your cases.

Hi Anne-Sophie recovery has been harder than I thought so larger projects have had to wait there is as ever more detail on my blog.

 

The water stain on the front and rear are worse than I had thought combining that with the gusset I am having a bit of a rethink about this case

 

DSC_0074[1] by my0771, on Flickr

 

This is all of the components cleaned and conditioned ready for re assembly

 

DSC_0078[1] by my0771, on Flickr

 

Thanks for looking

 

Michael

[my63]

After much agonising and tea drinking I decided that as the gusset side piece has been torn along the stitching holes. The best course of action would be to make a new piece.

 

Once the decision had been made I cut a suitable piece of leather .

 

DSC_0115[1] by my0771, on Flickr

 

Getting the bend and the shape right can be difficult so here is my solution

 

DSC_0116[1] by my0771, on Flickr

 

The new side is inside the existing side while wet so it will take the shape.

 

DSC_0177[1] by my0771, on Flickr

 

After gluing I started to add some colour The gusset piece has a more red tint than the rest of the case but as I cut it out and I only do one at a time it is the right one.

 

DSC_0186[1] by my0771, on Flickr

 

Matching the colour is not easy at all but I think it came out ok

 

DSC_0191[1] by my0771, on Flickr

 

DSC_0192[1] by my0771, on Flickr

 

I mixed some of the colour with some polish and polished the rest of the gusset at the same time to help to blend everything in.

[my63]

As you may know I share good and bad I am not too happy with the way the gusset piece has turned out.

The colour is not quite right but I think I could live with that.

 

I don't like the joint in fact I really don't like the joint I have decided to fit a strap and as it will attach to the gusset then the gusset needs to be as strong as possible.

I have purchased a suitable hide from which I can make a replacement gusset this is quite an expensive option as leather is only available by the hide so many £££s have been spent. I have also ordered some smaller buckles and "D" rings to make the shoulder strap.

 

Replacing the gusset will also allow me to add a little space to the centre compartment to allow the zip to fit better.

[Anne-Sophie]

This is a beautiful case, could you use some of the scrap leather that was left over from making the gusset to hide the water stain in the front and back panel of the briefcase.

 

Like a decorative border made by embossing or carving a piece of leather with let's say a wave or London Tower's top pattern.

It would look better than a contrasting border because the briefcase design is very classic.

 

I also think that in some way, it would make it unique.

 

Discard my idea if it is a commission.

[my63]

Thanks Anne-Sophie

Very interesting ideas the gussets and front and rear panels are actually made from different types of leather.

Neither of which is suitable for carving I will store that idea for a future project as I plan on making some more small bags.

This case s not a commission but it will be offered for sale to help pay for the other projects I have planned.

Removing water marks from leather is very difficult the only thing. Have not tried is soaking both panels in water and lemon juice before I start re assembly I might try that.

[ScienceChick]

I'm glad to know you've recovered enough to resume these restorations. Resurrections may be a more accurate description.