Help to Identify a Branding on 1940's fur coat pelts & soften them

[Aunt Lizzie]

Hello - I have a 1930/40's fur coat, I'm know nothing about furs but I think it is sheared beaver ... I have removed the lining ready to reline.
Some of the lager pelts have a silver stamp on them (approx. 7 cms. diameter) solid circle inside a broken circle with the name George ??? around the top edge .. there is no other label on the coat -

I think the coat was made by my grand aunt who worked as a fur specialist in Arnotts, Dublin during the 1940's/50's.

The pelts appear rather dry (fur is in great condition, as far as I can tell ) -

1) What can I put on the pelts to soften them ?
2) Please can you help with any ideas as to the silver branding mark ? -

thank-you ...

Sorry, I seem to have messed up the loading of photos in amongst my write-up

 

[Linn]

I have absolutely no idea but am replying to bump your post back to the top of the Forum in hopes that some one will be able to help you!

You didn't' mention if you live in Dublin, but even if you don't you might want to take the coat to a furrier for an opinion.

 

[Aunt Lizzie]

Wow ! - Thank-you Linn - No, older generations came from Ireland - I live in England.

I was given the coat a few years ago and have only just decided to try and make it fit me ! ...
Being a wee touch too small for comfort, I thought I would remove the collar and sleeves, and re-line my new 'long-line' waistcoat !

I have arrived at an approximate age for the coat by knowing who wore it and am guessing who made it, as it there are no labels other than the skin brandings.
Gt. aunt Lizzie, who wore the coat, died in 1952 aged 58 years, being quite portly by then - she obviously wore the coat when she was younger !
The Gt aunt Peggie, was a fur seamstress in Dublin - and worked for Arnotts, Henry Street when it opened.

1. Just wondered if anyone had come across markings like this on fur pelts before -

2. As seen in close-up photo - the skin is very dry looking - Is there a way I can soften or treat it ?

3. Also, I am again, just guessing at it being sheared beaver, The main back pelt appear to be quite large.

Thank-you

 

[MagsRags]

You are taking on a big project!

I have no personal experience with reconditioning fur pelts, so don't take this as expert advice, but I did find some rational-looking suggestions doing an internet search.

If I'm interpreting your closeup photo correctly, it shows a split in the pelt in the upper right hand corner. Those can be repaired - this link gave a nice How-To IMO - but if the pelts are still brittle, you will get new splits next to the repair pretty quickly.

I would suggest experimenting with the parts you plan to eliminate to figure out what method/s give you the best result. Then apply what you have learned to your hoped-for waistcoat.

And please come back to tell us how it all worked out! Your experiences could help the next person with a similar project.

 

[Aunt Lizzie]

Thank-you Mags_rags .
I've checked the coat over, only splits are, thankfully under the arms ! (guess I was right about when aunt Lizzie stopped wearing it !)

The seams have the tiniest stitches I have ever seen - I know mine won't be as neat ! .... what you see in close-up photo is a stitch line. most pelts are quite large with odd little pieces making up the shape of coat and sleeves ... ( maybe aunt Peggie used off cuts from Arnotts workshop, sadly, I will never know)

Thank-you for the link, I'm praying I wont need the info on splits though ! ... and yes, good idea ! ... I'll experiment with the sleeves first ..

Hoping someone with 'know how' on conditioning pelts will advise ... failing that, testing will start next week with what little extra I can pick up 'on-line'.

The pelts are not so brittle, just not as soft, as I think they ought to be.... I jostled it about a bit undoing the lining, so far it's held up very well.

Thank-you

 

[Aunt Lizzie]

OK folks - both Neatsfoot Oil and Mink Oil have been suggested to condition the pelts ... Based on reports and blogs I have come across I have just confused myself ! .. going to try both