Well, I picked this up for a couple of hundred dollars after the seller had some deals to buy it collapse. I felt that for a little money in, it was worth the risk. It might take a few years to do, and will never be right, but maybe, just maybe, with sacrificing the pants for patches and using thread for smaller holes it can be presentable from a distance. These are just so rare that letting it die would be a crime.
I have de-mothed it, froze it for 4 days, cleaned it, removed the 1950's buttons, and will now start talking to restorers.
I thought i'd post this pic of the project as it starts; eventually i'llpost the results.
This sounds like a fun project! :thumbsup
Keep us posted, as real-time updates seem to be more interesting than just 'before' and 'after' photos.
"patina imparts character" - PJS
A wise man said: 'you should not pay a premium for what you want beyond your comfort level, and always ensure there is a mutually agreeable return policy.'
Sorry. My bad....
So the damage is basically just brutally heavy mothing? The front skirt and some piping loss is the worst of it?
May I suggest a couple close ups of the worst areas, or other areas of interest, before the restoration and then the same shots after?
And perhaps others who are more into uniforms than I might be interested in hearing how one goes about finding a restorer and what the restoration entails?
Not to mention I'd be curious as to how you'd get the correct buttons for this tunic, and the same goes for the SBs. And that begs the question why/how did "1950's buttons" get on this? Original owner upgrade? Faker fantasy?
"patina imparts character" - PJS
A wise man said: 'you should not pay a premium for what you want beyond your comfort level, and always ensure there is a mutually agreeable return policy.'
I'll try to do some close ups, but right now it is in storage again.
The damage is all mothing from what i can tell, to the fabric and the piping. The tunic is original, but had been given to a Soviet film studio (still has the studio stamps inside dated 1944) and they, like they will do, let it rot. They took off the original buttons for sizing etc and when they replaced them they used 1950's ( they still had the original buttons on the tail of the coat).
When i first got the tunic and pants in it was in a trash bag; when i opened the bag 2 moths flew out ( i hunted both down); i took the bag and threw it right in the freezer to kill the others. I sort of forgot it was in there, thats why four days. Now its in a tight bag with mothballs.
