Broken Zipper on a Rainbow Country Hercules, replacement?

[gjchristy]

I just tried on the YKK Rainbow. Solid zipper - super wearable. If you wanted semi vintage you could go with a vintage Talon #10 but that’s another $100+ for not really being anything but wanted vintage look. Think your local deal good. Would want to quiz on leather sew machine . They are unique

 

[philli]

I own the rainbow country Santa Clara now with the original talon zips. I actually sold my Hercules with YKK zips to @gjchristy. YKK for sure is better. The original talon feels like it will break on me if I’m not careful. Most likely I’ll wear it open most of the time.

My best experience is with the zips that Thedi leathers uses. Zipping up one of his jackets just glides with ease. Better than YKK, riri or any other zips Ive tried. I believe they are universal zips

 

[bobjones]

Not for a thousand dollars would I ever put the same zipper onto that jacket again. Screw that authentic repro zipper horse**** and just have your tailor install a good one instead. Not every technical update made in the past 80 years is the result of cost cutting, some stuff weren't as good as it is today. A repro of garbage is still garbage. Whatever the hell is going on with that weird zipper pictured here, 100% wouldn't have happened with a quality modern zip.

edit: Pardon my emotional reply, but I have had the same **** happen to me way too often, with both repro and NOS zippers. And finding a good leather craftsman to replace a zipper on a 2000 USD jacket without messing it up and leaving extra stitch holes here in Germany? Good luck. I live in a 500.000 population city and have yet to find one. Companies installing good hardware on a 2000 USD product off the rack would have saved me a lot of mental space in the past 10 years..

THIS. It's what opened my eyes to more strongly consider purchasing from a local jacket maker once I finalized my decision to replace my Aero jackets.

The closest higher end jacket producer here is Schott, so after carefully studying their website for my preferred styles, I visited their store to inspect the jackets in person, and one of the first things I noticed was the massive zippers they used. The "fanatics" who have to have everything as close as possible to the jackets made 80 years ago are making a mistake IMO.

Dealing with shipping jackets back and forth overseas for lining replacements, broken zippers, etc. has been an expensive, time-consuming, and frustrating process over the past 20 years.

Your last sentence is a primary reason, for example, of why I can appreciate Japanese makers but won't purchase them. Eventually, almost all jackets will need some kind of repairs if worn often enough, and simplifying that process was a big part in my purchasing my new jackets from a local vendor - along with absolutely loving the fit and materials.

 

[Webguy]

Hi,

I have given my RC Hercules to the local tailor who will replace the broken zipper with a YKK VT 20 zipper in the same color style as the original.

He told me has has been reattaching new zippers to plenty of Aero Jackets for years.

Turnaround time is supposed to be two weeks. He will do the stitching manually using the same stitch holes.
I had the impression he knows what he is doing and seemed to be a nice guy.

Total price €145,- for work and parts.

I will post some pictures when I have the jacket back.

 

[philli]

Hi,

I have given my RC Hercules to the local tailor who will replce the broken zipper with a YKK VT 20 zipper in the same color style as the original.
Turnaround time is supposed to be two week. He will do the stitching manually. Total price €145,- for work and parts.

I will post some pictures when I have the jacket back.

Seems like a fair price. Using the same stitch holes though?

 

[Webguy]

Seems like a fair price. Using the same stitch holes though?

That is the idea.

 

[Webguy]

Hi,

The local tailor hat some time off this weekend and replaced the broken zipper of my Rainbow Country Hercules with a YKK VT 20 zipper in the same color scheme.

I think he did a decent job. Some pictures attached.

At least the zipper seems to be solid now.

What do you guys think?


From the outside:

from the inside: