Glove restoration project

[Runscott]

For anyone interested in what can be done with old gloves, I'll post restoration progress for these two. I'm going to do as much as I can on my own, but one or both may end up with a pro.

I am not a glove collector, but have been trying to buy a 1900-1915 full-web for about two years, and my ebay bids have consistently been too cheap. Well...the other day I won TWO from the same seller. I love them both - one is dark brown and the other is white.

The brown one looked like a real horror at first glance, but there was no dry rot in the leather, meaning it had great potential. The white Spalding was in much better shape, but extremely dirty. Here are the before pics. I will respond to myself to show progress.

[Runscott]

Here is the dark brown one after applying Lexol generously to clean and restore some suppleness to the leather. You can see a wool-looking interior. I thought that the thin leather liner had been removed, but I could not see any evidence (bits of leather attached to the seams). I bought several thin pieces of dark leather, thinking I would sew in a new liner, but before sewing it in, I called a glove expert who told me that this is actually a full asbestos liner that, if you removed, would be a thin wooly mitt. I checked and, sure enough - the wooly lining extended all the way up the fingers and covered the entire interior of the glove.

The Lexol worked very well. There are a few places where raw leather shows - if I don't have it professionally done I will dye these spots and then add a leather finish only to those spots

There is a separated area in the palm that I had planned to stitch back together myself if possible. Turns out that the leather is very supple and can be stitched, but it's too complicated for me to do correctly. I have contacted a professional. If he doesn't do it, I will connect with basting stitches, but it won't look totally correct.

[perezfan]

Very eager to see how the White one turns out. I came within a hair of bidding on that one, but declined because the white leather is typically so tricky to clean. I am always afraid of it darkening, and altering the original white color. Have seen many instances where the attempted cleaning only made the glove look worse.

This white Spalding is a stellar example, outside of the soiling. So am very eager to see the magic you're able to work on it. Perhaps you can give us a ray of hope. I recently parted with a stellar NRMT white glove, and am now beginning to think it is irreplaceable. To say these have dried up is an understatement.

Best of luck and please keep us posted... great thread!

[Runscott]

Mark, I feel your pain on letting one go - I had a real beauty 10-12 years ago and have never been close to touching one since. I bid on this one hoping I'd be able to find a way to clean it.

I spent two hard hours working on it this afternoon and will post pics in the morning when the sun returns.

[ethicsprof]

I'm eager to see how this goes! Is there any health risk with the asbestos inner lining?
I don't collect gloves either but have found myself picking up some of the
late 20s and early 30s tunnel loop split fingers--- a travis Jackson alex taylor;
a schalk Wilson mitt; a Manush Davega; a Cronin Marathon.
all the best,
barry

[ooo-ribay]

Originally Posted by perezfan

Have seen many instances where the attempted cleaning only made the glove look worse.

I'm sure that was just the encouragement Scott was looking for!

Good luck, Scott. Looking forward to seeing the results!

[Runscott]

Haha! It does actually look worse at the moment, but I am confident that the results will be good.

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[Runscott]

Still a few more passes to go, but here's where I am. I was worn out after cleaning the palm side, so the back is dirtier:

[perezfan]

Wow Scott... just excellent! That's a bigger improvement than I thought possible. Please let us know the process and what products you used, once all is said and done...

Even the burgundy piping is glowing now... you really made it "pop" and come alive. Great work!

[Runscott]

Thanks Mark. The piping was unexpected - all I did was dampen it with water and let it dry, so it must have just been very dirty.

Also, white is very reflective, so the improvement is not as drastic as it appears in the top pics of the back side - the bottom pics of the palm are a much better indication of the improvement so far. I'll post new pics tomorrow morning after the next round of cleaning - it is quite labor-intensive.

[yanks12025]

Cool gloves. Look forward

[ooo-ribay]

Originally Posted by Runscott

it is quite labor-intensive.

"Find a job you love, and you'll never work a day in your life."

They're looking good, Scott!

[Runscott]

In progress, after yesterday afternoon's work:

[Runscott]

After this morning's work. Still in progress, but getting there:

[ooo-ribay]

WOW!! It is really, really looking good!

[Runscott]

Final. In my zeal to remove as much of the dirt as possible, I made a few mistakes; however, it still came out better than expected. There was no getting around roughing up three of the fingertips and the forefinger - it was either that, losing some of the surface smoothness, or leave the nasty dark stains. Same thing on the palm, but the leather on that surface is rougher, so it's not as big of a deal. The piping came back to life better than expected, with a little Lexol, careful not to apply any to the glove leather.

[Scott Garner]

Excellent restoration job, Scott!

[Runscott]

I tried that first

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[Runscott]

Strike that - I tried artists erasers. I would be leary of the soap in magic erasers, although I use them to clean blue chalk off of cue shafts and even to strip old finish off of wood. They are a bit abrasive.

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[perezfan]

I was going to SHOUT it out!

[Runscott]

Your Magic Eraser recommendation reminded me of my 'Poll Parrot Shoes' glove, which has writing all over it. I just took the Magic Eraser to the ink writing, then went through the same 2 hour first cleaning I used on the white Spalding. So 'Glove Restoration Part Deux' is now in progress. This is a tan glove with a finish - not the white glove leather like the last one, although it was extremely stiff prior to 1st cleaning and now it is extremely soft - I'm wondering just how much softer and lighter it will get.

Here are the 'before' pics - there is inking on the thumb, forefinger, palm, below the advertisement and on the strap. 'In progress' pics will be posted in the morning.

[lefty147]

I had used it on the white nappy "suede" type leather that seems to darken when it gets wet. The leather in the glove you just posted looks different.

[Runscott]

Originally Posted by lefty147

I had used it on the white nappy "suede" type leather that seems to darken when it gets wet. The leather in the glove you just posted looks different.

I understand. I decided not to try it on the white glove, but I tried it on this tan glove because of the ink writing. I'll show you the results in the morning.

[Runscott]

Done. The 'inside' pic shows the pieces of leather that were supposed to be inside the fingers. They had each been tucked under the padding, so were pristine. I put them back in the fingers, which is why they are now crumpled a bit on the end.

[Deertick]

Very nice, Scott.
I must say it takes a lot of guts to try something like that. When you think about all that could go wrong.... < shudder >

P1K

[Beatles Guy]

I've been following this thread and have been wowed by the results. I've cleaned and conditioned a couple of gloves that I have, but nothing this old. I even showed this thread to my wife, who really has no interest at all, and she was impressed. Keep it up, this has been one of my favorite threads this year.

[Runscott]

Thanks guys. It was a lot of fun. I don't plan on doing any more of these, but I guess if I spot the right candidate in an antique store, it will be hard to resist.

[lefty147]

Came out very nice.