A2 Flight Jacket Leather.

[Ty Smith]

I have a A2 flight jacket from the 323rd of the 91st Bomb group... Worth a bunch It is displayed in my room and I'm worried about the leather it appears it has aged over the years. It is now stiffer and more fragile.

Should I treat it with anything.

[Paul R.]

You will hear a lot of UN proven more damaging back yard remedies about leather treatments. All claim to restore leather to about 99.99 % softness. Don’t by into the madness. In the field of conservation nothing will work on leather to rejunivate it. Most rejunivaters can make it worse, and have been known to speed up deteration faster. If you have done a search you will see a host of stories.
Hide was once a living organ much like our human skin. It was feed nutrients daily. Once the skin was cut from the animal it is dead. Nothing can replace the nutrients that it once had.
Tanning the hide also removes a lot of natural oils, proteins, minerals from it. The hide is then a type of leather die was applied and cut into a garment this process again stressing the hide. It was then worn in extreme conditions, and most likely was not well cared for.
You didn’t say how it has been displayed or how it’s been stored. Sometimes during our eagerness to display our trophies we do not take into account, or think about future long term improper display/storage damaged. I hate to say this but the best thing for the garment that you can do is not display it. This will stop, or slow any future damage. You could also rotate the item. Also look at the environment it’s in sunlight, stored on a mannequin, pinned up on a wall in front of a bright house lamp, and high humidity. Paul

[Ty Smith]

Its on a mannequien... Thanks for reminding me that I have a piece of 70 year old flesh and raw hide next to my chair. I think doing nothing is the best, which is exactly what I have done so far.

[Paul R.]

Ty. You may want to remove that jacket from the mannequin. The mannequin could be some of the problem. An old fiberglass mannequin could be out gassing on the jacket. Also check the humidity levels in the room. Paul

[Ty Smith]

You could be right about the humidity. What would be the ideal humidity?

[Paul R.]

keep it between 40-45% year round. Paul