Leather quality on new Highwayman

[Chris_B]

Hello,

recently I received my new custom Aero Highwayman with a one-piece back.
I really like the jacket and admire the workmanship on this garment.

But one thing keeps me thinking: the quality on the back panel differs from the front.
While the leather used on the front is smooth and shining, the back rather seems to be rough and coarse.

Did anyone have similar experiences?

Cheers,
Chris

 

[HighandDry]

There was just a thread on this http://www.thefedoralounge.com/showthread.php?52201-Concerns-regarding-my-Aero-Bootlegger

Has nothing to do with quality.

 

[HoosierDaddy]

A photo would sure help. Is the back rough because of lack of top finish...or just a grainier portion of hide?
HD

 

[Chris_B]

Well I think that the quality of the leather is different.

This is the front:
http://www.glowfoto.com/static_image/28-043351L/8885/jpg/11/2010/img5/glowfoto

...and the back:
http://www.glowfoto.com/static_image/28-043459L/3869/jpg/11/2010/img5/glowfoto

What do you think?

 

[HoosierDaddy]

Chris
It's still kind of hard to tell...but it does look a little rough..or dry looking. Perhaps some leather conditioner would help or maybe even solve any problem. You could send the photo to Amanda(email) and ask her for advice,though. I bet Aero would have a remedy!
HD

 

[Bonneville]

I'd like to see a few pics of you wearing it, front and back, it would be easier to see what is going on.
I have been considering black fqhh in the belief that it did not show any mismatching of grain. I guess all the fqhh shows some of it.

 

[Chris_B]

Chris
It's still kind of hard to tell...but it does look a little rough..or dry looking. Perhaps some leather conditioner would help or maybe even solve any problem. You could send the photo to Amanda(email) and ask her for advice,though. I bet Aero would have a remedy!
HD

Indeed the leather is quite rough and dry on the back. Amanda says, this is normal though :-/
What kind of conditioner would you recommend?

Anyway I would expect, that a new jacket does not need any kind of treatment!

 

[HoosierDaddy]

Hi Chris
Well..it could,indeed,be quite normal. It's hard for me to tell by the photo. You are quite right..a new jacket doesn't normally need any conditioner. The only time that I've used any conditioner on one of my Aeros was after it was five years old + and became somewhat dry around the collar crease or bend. Then I rubbed in a small amount. Usually a new Aero jacket arrives with a waxy feel to the HH due to the tanning of Aero's unique HH. I used Aero's conditioner that was sent along with my jacket when new( I think it is actually their brand of 'Lexol"). I would contact Aero again and ask them to send a small bottle of their conditioner to you...or you could look for something similar in your area at a leather or shoe shop. All you are wanting to do is recondition a certain area. Many use Pecards conditioner for older vintage leather jackets which I think is available on line..but..I would try Aero first. That way you would be going with what they recommend..and if it didn't work..at least you'd be working with Aero to solve it rather than applying something that they could disagree with.
HD

 

[Deckburner]

I had a similar concern with my first jacket, the Aero '30s Half-Belt. http://www.thefedoralounge.com/showthread.php?47619-Aero-Half-Belt-Dry-Leather-or-not&highlight=swimcap

Some parts of my jacket have a more waxy look. While other parts seem more flaky and dry. I went over it with Pecards dressing to remedy.
I'm no expert at all though and would defer to some of other loungers for their opinions and advice.

 

[Chris_B]

Thank you very much guys for your input. I think I will contact Amanda again to send me some of their leather care.
In the next days I will also post some pics of me wearing the jacket...

@SwimCap: Did the Pecards help in smoothening the leather?

 

[Deckburner]

yes it did. But after Hoosier Daddy's post, I am curious to try Aero's conditioner, which I was unaware of before now. But I would love to see more close ups of other's FQHH jackets to compare my leather with. Mine is about 6 months old now. And I have no other experience with this leather.

 

[Chris_B]

Here are some more pics of my jacket:

 

[HoosierDaddy]

My FQHH Highwayman. This is an older antiqued brown model....