- How To Restore Vintage Dooney Bourke
- Vintage Dooney And Bourke Handbag
- How To Restore Vintage Dooney And Bourke
Hi Paula,
Oct 22, 2017 - “I bought a Coach bags only $39 in website: get it immediately.”. Offering vintage & retired, hard to find Dooney & Bourke shoulder bags, totes, key chains, wallets, satchels and more in pristine condition at very affordable prices. Savor the burnished splender of Norfolk & Surrey purses; the warm & exotic colors of Equestrian Bags such as Saddle Bags & Tack Bags & Over Under & Horseshoe Bags, Outback Saddle Bags, Cavalry Saddle Bags & Cavalry Trooper Bags.
I’ve been reading your website and hoping you could help me. I purchased a vintage Dooney and while I’m confident it’s authentic, I’m hoping to try to find a date for it. It is an all-brown A6 zip top shoulder bag and in impeccable condition!! I’ve read a few articles, specifically about the zipper, that lead me to believe it’s rarer than some others of the same style.
The zipper is a small round zipper, circular with a hole in the middle, and reads “riri.” I can’t find a date of production but I found an article stating these bags are rare. Can you confirm that?
The inner tag reads A6 254983 on the underside and I was also hoping you could help me date it using the numbers.
Thank you in advance,
Brooke
Hi Brooke,
First of all, I have never heard of a Dooney & Bourke bag with the number A6.
How To Restore Vintage Dooney Bourke
Nor of one with the name “Zip Top Shoulder Bag”. Dooney & Bourke names are very specific and while there are Zip-Top bags and Shoulder Satchels, I don’t know of a “Zip Top Shoulder Bag”. If you could provide the source for your information, it would be interesting.
Disable windows 8 activation blue screen. Your “all brown” bag has the official Dooney & Bourke color designations of
Saddle Tan with British Tan trim.
Your bag is an R719 Vintage Zipper Case. This bag first appeared in 1996 as far as I know. It had a name change to Large Zip-Top (keeping the same number) sometime between 1996-1999. Here is an example of a bag just like yours. You can click on the photo to see all details.
As far as zippers, the riri zippers are made with heavy metal teeth and tabs and the only R719 bags I have seen have all had the metal riri zipper. Similar Dooney bags, such as the Classic Zip Top, do have plastic zippers. Can you provide the URL for the article about the rarity of the metal zippers – it might be interesting to other Dooney enthusiasts.
As far as the date of manufacture, your bag is part of the “Vintage Collection” which first appears in my Holiday 1996 catalog. It might have been released before then but not before Summer 1994. It does not appear in the Summer 1994 catalog or any catalogs prior to that date. The Summer 1994 only shows the Classic Zip Top bags with the duck seal sewn onto the bag in the conventional fashion like this. Click on this photo to see more about the Classic Zip Top.
If you want to find out when and where your bag was manufactured, using the registration number, you will need to contact Dooney & Bourke customer service. Depending on who you get on the phone, you may or may not find the answer to your question. When I call, I get the feeling the employees are better versed in the new bags being made in China than the vintage bags. Some don’t seem to know how to access the historic databases.
Their website is Dooney & Bourke where you will find their contact information.
Best of luck in your further research and please share anything you find.
And YES, you got a GREAT bag!!!
Paula
Paula
Frazer Harrison/Getty Images Entertainment/Getty Images
Handbags are far more than a method of toting around life's necessities. For many women, purses and totes are an extension of their personal style. One popular American designer of luxury handbags is the Connecticut-based Dooney & Bourke. With bags available in many materials including clear plastic and fabric, there is no doubt Dooney & Bourke bags will require care and cleaning at some point to prevent yellowing and to remove the after-effects of accidental spills. A few basic cleaning methods can help keep your Dooney & Bourke bag looking fresh and fashionable.
Clear Plastic Cleaning
Create a mixture of clean, warm water and a mild soap. Dampen a clean, soft cloth with the soap and water mixture.
Rub the yellowed area of the clear plastic tote or accessory with the dampened cloth. Work the cloth in a circular motion while applying enough pressure to remove the yellow stain, or build-up of contaminants causing the yellow hue.
Dampen a second cloth with clean water. Wipe off any soap left on the surface of the bag with the cloth, or rinse off the soap residue by placing the clear plastic accessory under a gentle stream of clean water, if feasible.
Dry the bag as thoroughly as possible with a dry, clean cloth and place the bag in a dry environment to continue air drying completely before use.
Remove any scuffs on the clear plastic bag by rubbing a white eraser over the scuff mark in a gentle, circular motion. Rub only until the scuff is no longer visible. Over use of an eraser to remove scuffs on a Dooney & Bourke bag will cause the bag's finish to become irreparably dull.
Fabric Bag Cleaning
Create a mixture of warm water and a gentle soap. Soak a clean cloth or new, soft-bristled toothbrush in the soap mixture. Alternatively, if soap and water is not available, seltzer water can be used to soak the cleaning cloth or brush.
Vintage Dooney And Bourke Handbag
Blot the yellow-stained area with the cleaning mixture before working the solution into the fabric in a circular motion.
Wet a cloth with clean water and wipe any excess soap off of the bag with the damp cloth. After all of the soap has been removed, place the bag in a clean, dry environment to dry completely before using the bag again.
Clean up oily spots that are causing yellow tints on fabric by gently wiping off any excess residue with a clean cloth. Sprinkle talcum powder over the affected area and allow the powder to sit for 10 to 15 minutes.
How To Restore Vintage Dooney And Bourke
Use a clean, dry toothbrush to wipe the talcum powder off of the fabric bag while brushing away the oil residue simultaneously.