Restoring And Customising A Briefcase

[JKelly]

Great work. I am not sure why people would advocate machine stitching when your saddle stitch looks excellent. High end leather products are all hand stitched...any master leather artisan will always hand stitch unless it is not possible.

 

I have compared Swaine Adeney Brigg briefcases (hand stitched) to their lower end line, Papworth's machine stitched which uses the same leather and the difference is noticeable. The needles machines use create noticeably bigger holes in the leather. Papworth does hand stitched too and for the same briefcase the hand stitched is about 1000 GBP more

The main reason is the stress on the hands. I have made a number of hand-stitched items in the past that I could not make at my present age because my hands are neither strong enough nor capable of absorbing that much abuse.

[my63]

You mention in your most recent post that you are pretty sure you will be offering it for sale... Do you have a web site or somewhere on this FPN or or or, where you sell things that you've made or brought back to life?

As ALWAYS one of my favorite threads on this site!

cheers

skip

Thanks Skip

I don't have a website as I am not comfortable with selling my projects as I am not sure that they are good enough.

I have lots of notebook covers and pen cases that I am either not happy with or I have not got around to advertising in the classifieds.

It is a good quality bag and once the stitching is finished it will be good for another 50 years

I have found a picture of the modern version they still use the same lock and buckles the bag in the picture is machine sewn

 

http://www.swaineadeneybrigg.com/store/papworth/computer-cases/papworth-computer-case-76

 

Please make sure you are sitting down when you look at the prices my restoration would be much less

 

thanks

Michael

[Anne-Sophie]

You mention in your most recent post that you are pretty sure you will be offering it for sale... Do you have a web site or somewhere on this FPN or or or, where you sell things that you've made or brought back to life?

As ALWAYS one of my favorite threads on this site!

cheers

skip

 

 

I second that!

[fountainpagan]

At last I have found a colour for the replacement sides and base it looks almost the same as the front and back, the dye has dried and has had a coat of wax.

I have started to stick the back panel and front flap to the sides and base doing a couple of cm's at a time as you can see I have not got to the bottom of the back panel in the picture below. You can just see the red suede lining showing through.

 

IMG_9447 by my0771, on Flickr

 

The front still looks a little dry and is soaking up the leather conditioner as quick as I could put it on

 

IMG_9457 by my0771, on Flickr

 

I will be sewing it together as soon as I am able to.

 

Thanks for looking

 

Michael

Wow, Michael.

 

This is a real beauty.

 

Congratulations, again!!!

[my63]

The shoulder strap components so far two buckles and two brass rectangles instead of "D" rings if I can find a pair of snap fasteners they could be added and 50 inches of leather

 

IMG_9507 by my0771, on Flickr

 

Those with eagle eyes will have noticed two things first I have made a key and secondly the brass rectangles are shinny rather than antiqued hopefully I will be able to show you how to change the colour of the brass.

 

Thanks

 

Michael

[Anne-Sophie]

How did you make the key?

 

In that picture, the briefcase looks like somebody just dropped it off to get a new key.

 

In other words, your restoration blends perfectly with the antique object. A challenge.

[Shangas]

Michael, just handling the brass regularly enough will give it an antiqued look. No need to pour chemicals on it.

[my63]

How did you make the key?

 

In that picture, the briefcase looks like somebody just dropped it off to get a new key.

 

In other words, your restoration blends perfectly with the antique object. A challenge.

Thanks Anne-Sophie my intention was to return the case to everyday use as the old thread had started to fail I replaced it. I added a little extra with the suede interior but the manufacturer does offer this as an option.

As they also offer a strap I am happy to fit one.

These locks are not complex maybe one or two levers inside. I found a key that fit the pin inside then used trial and error and a small file until the lock turned.

 

Michael, just handling the brass regularly enough will give it an antiqued look. No need to pour chemicals on it.

Hi Shangas

If these rectangles are used they will be on the side of the bag and are unlikely to ever be touched.

No chemicals are needed I bought un lacquered brass so exposing it to the fumes from white vinegar should do the trick. I will add some pictures when I do it.

Although when I look at the modern cases they have the snap fasteners so I may pursue that option.

 

Thanks for the comments

 

michael

[my63]

Here is a picture of the inside of a writing slope lock but the principal is the same

 

Lock 1 by my0771, on Flickr

 

Here is the same lock after cleaning and a little repair

 

key 3 by my0771, on Flickr

[jsolares]

It's turning out great indeed, Bridle leather briefcases are expensive, A Swaine Adeney Briggs a lot more so from what i saw when i was looking for a briefcase, ended up with more of a document holder since my MBA could fit in it with a couple more things not bridle leather though.

[my63]

School holidays have interrupted me a little this week but I have managed to think about the strap I have made a detail groove which I may sew later

 

IMG_9510 by my0771, on Flickr

 

The ends of the strap will be folded over riveted and sewn in place the ends can be cut straight or at an angle or maybe a little fancier

 

IMG_9512 by my0771, on Flickr

 

A little neater of course and there is a good chance the ends will never be seen but that does not mean they have to be plain although the stitching will be seen time for some tea

[my63]

I have found some trigger hooks that look similar to the ones used on the newer version of this case

 

http://www.abbeyengland.com/Store/tabid/77/CategoryID/31/Category2ID/184/List/1/Level/2/ProductID/68655/language/en-GB/Default.aspx

 

In fact I am pretty certain that this is the supplier who provides brass ware to the maker. they should be here by the middle of next week.
I am making a wooden template of the strap end so I can replicate the same design on all of the strap ends.

Rather than using the square brass rings I bought last week I have ordered some brass "D" rings I will check with the new owner as there is now some more new brass on the strap I wont age it.

 

Thanks for looking

 

Michael

[my63]

Look what has just arrived

 

IMG_9515 by my0771, on Flickr

 

IMG_9517 by my0771, on Flickr

 

This is the actual strap, I have made a good overlap to give lots of room for stitching but also room for rivets if they are required as a back up.

 

IMG_9523 by my0771, on Flickr

 

There are still options to consider with the strap rather than sewing the ends I could add buckles with adjustment at each end to hold the trigger hooks in place or add adjustment with buckle at one end or a fixed length strap.

It might look nice to put a line of stitches along the edges of the strap marking punching sewing takes about 10 minutes per inch and the strap is 42 inches long and has two sides, I know you do the maths.

[my63]

As soon as I started to apply the dye I realised that I needed to change the way I was doing things it was always in my mind that the best way to do the strap was a trigger hook at each end. With a buckle to allow for some small adjustment in the length of the strap from around 40 to 45 inches.

I cut 1/4 off the length to fix a buckle and cut another end shape at the strap end so I now have this

 

IMG_9534 by my0771, on Flickr

 

I think I am happier with this if I don't like it I will buy another length of leather on Monday,

Don't worry about the colour as it has been soaked in water to help the dye to soak into the leather it should lighten up as it dries

 

Thanks for looking

 

Michael

[my63]

One strap done one to go

 

IMG_9540 by my0771, on Flickr

[my63]

One strap completed I need to run a roller over the stitches to settle them into the channel

 

IMG_9545 by my0771, on Flickr

 

The next step is to make the mounting pieces for the "D" rings to allow the strap to attach to the bag

[my63]

I had quite a productive day yesterday (Monday) I sewed around the back of the case and made a pair of reinforced mounting points for the "D" rings

 

IMG_9547 by my0771, on Flickr

 

I also made something extra but you will have to guess what it is, it is in the picture.

 

The mounting pieces are not quite right as yet I will be making another pair today

[my63]

The first set of mounting points did not make the grade so I scrapped them these are the second set which I have just stuck to the sides of the case

 

IMG_9558 by my0771, on Flickr

 

In the middle of the picture there are four chicargo screws I will be using them to fix the mounting points in place along with a little glue and some sewing

 

Thanks for looking

 

Michael

[Anne-Sophie]

You have been very busy Michael!

 

The little piece of leather might be to hold the key.

[my63]

Ann-Sophie you are correct it is indeed a cover for the key.

I have fitted the mounting points for the strap and I am putting the finishing touches to the case before shipping.