Fresh out of "rehab".

Please share your knowledge on how to keep your vintage gloves in great shape and looking sharp.

Fresh out of "rehab".

Postby Kenny Wel » July 19th, 2011, 8:14 pm

Hello, All.
I would like to invite you to see my latest project. I purchased a Ken-Wel first basemen's mitt with a Gloversville tag off eBay. I knew the pocket webbing was not original, but I did not expect to find a buckle on the thumb. Photos as I received it are below:
http://i1127.photobucket.com/albums/l625/mpiazzi1/kenwelbefore.jpg
http://i1127.photobucket.com/albums/l625/mpiazzi1/kenwelbeforepalm.jpg

On baseballglovecollector.com, I happened to find a photo of what the mitt originally looked like:
http://www.baseballglovecollector.com/gallery/ken-wel/Ken+Wel+Buckle+Web+Buckle+Back+Basemitt+Back+Mike.jpg.php

It is not the same model, but I found an image of a similar mitt in a 1928 Ken-Wel catalog, again thanks to baseballglovecollector.com:
http://i1127.photobucket.com/albums/l625/mpiazzi1/1928catscan.jpg
The pocket is adjustable according to the prefference of the user.

My local cobbler fabricated a replacement pocket strap for me, as we estimated it originally was from the photos. He also suggesting cleaning with Lexol, so I tried both the cleaner and conditioner. I found the cleaner to do an excellent job. The conditioner made the leather soft and pliable, although it did darken the leather quite a bit. Before conditioning, my mitt was slightly darker than the baseballglovecollecter.com. I do love the way the finished leather fells, though.

Here is the finished product:
http://i1127.photobucket.com/albums/l625/mpiazzi1/afterside.jpg
http://i1127.photobucket.com/albums/l625/mpiazzi1/afterpalm.jpg
http://i1127.photobucket.com/albums/l625/mpiazzi1/afterback.jpg

For me, this was a very rewarding project.

Ken
Kenny Wel
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Re: Fresh out of "rehab".

Postby okdoak » July 21st, 2011, 4:28 pm

Nice cleaning/conditioning job, Ken. That is a neat replacement on the buckle web. The Ken-Wel tag from that era is one of my all time favorites. Great looking mitt!
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Re: Fresh out of "rehab".

Postby Kenny Wel » July 21st, 2011, 10:17 pm

The Lexol cleaner did a great job...much better than other agents I have used. The conditioner made the leather darker, but it is so soft and supple now without being tacky.

I do love the Gloversville tag. Old logos like Reach and Spalding are so much more intricate than modern logos.

Ken
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Re: Fresh out of "rehab".

Postby vintagebrett » July 22nd, 2011, 8:28 am

Great work. I like the first Ken-Wel tag the best:

Image
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Re: Fresh out of "rehab".

Postby Kenny Wel » July 22nd, 2011, 4:08 pm

The first logo is very cool. Sort of art-deco. The mitt pictured isn't too shabby, either!

Ken
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Re: Fresh out of "rehab".

Postby mikesglove » August 3rd, 2011, 2:17 am

Nice to buy an ebay mitt with a good type of surprise. The buckle web was pretty hidden by all that lacing. Nice restoration work also. I use a Q-tip and rubbing alcohol to clean cloth patches. I am curious how you cleaned yours. they can be pretty fragile.
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Re: Fresh out of "rehab".

Postby Kenny Wel » August 4th, 2011, 4:22 pm

Mike,
The label was intack and flexible, so I did not feel like I had to baby it to a tremendous degree. I cleaned it with a soft toothbrush dipped in Lexol. This was the first time I had used the Lexol. When I saw that it was a clear liquid, I decided to try it on the label, and I was happy with the results.

Ken
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