Dear Members I have done a search on this subject and I haven't found any info. I know that Mark Cannon use to sell a reapir kit. But I know they are no longer in business so I don't want to bother him with this stuff. My jacket has a few holes in one of the arms and the crotch strap is unraveling by the last two gramets.
Any help would be GREATLY APPRECIATED!!!!
Anthony
951-538-4221
AnthonytheMagic@aol.com

What make is your jacket?

Could you get a replacement crotch strap from the manufacturer?

Can't you patch the holes with canvas patches? If you buy enough spare canvas you could create a clever design so they don't look like patches.

Sorry this isn't an in depth solution, maybe you could post a few pictures?

Anthony:

Look up "Tent & Awning" manufactures in your phone book ("Business" phone book, if possible).

...or "Google" for a manufacturer in your area.

They routinely deal with thick canvas & use industrial sewing machines.

I've never had a problem using them - and I think they welcome a change in their routine to repair a straight jacket...in fact, just carrying the jacket into their office will get you noticed & get their interest fast.

Also, doing a trick or two won't hurt either!

For some reason I find that I'm performing near the water a lot. So when I needed repairs I always looked for a sailing shop. Ship sails are far tougher than SJ's are, so the equipment they have and the techniques they use is well suited for the work. Failing that I would look for a shoe shop. Cobblers also have the skills and the tools. I've never been over-charged in these places either, since they appreciate the variety and the coolness factor of working on one.

Thank you all for all your ideas!!!! I will be doing some running around here in california.
With much respect,
Anthony

Sew or repair leather straps, leather from a cobbler, shoe repair guy

canvas A real tailor, or again a cobbler. if they can sew thru leather, they can sew thru any thing..

this is all from experience...
we have used both.

D&D

Call me. I'm thirty miles away.
Jay

Iron-on material patches ironed onto the inside of the straitjacket don't show and will stop any very small holes becoming bigger.

Tears can also often be repaired by applying these iron on patches over the tear and then also sewing them to the straitjacket.

Be careful of dry cleaning too. If you have any leatherette type of trim or similar on the straitjacket it will dissolve and ruin it.

Washing a straitjacket can be problematic too. Stage make-up inevitably ends up smeared on the arms. Rather than sticking the whole thing into a machine though it's best to wet and wash just the material and scrub it gently with a nailbrush or washing up brush. This avoids getting too much water on any trim or the leather straps.

Don't tumble dry, just hang it up and let it air dry.

Lastly, when getting a straitjacket made don't go for really heavy canvass. I had a David DeVal straitjacket that was made from a kapok type of material and it was very hard wearing and lasted for years but it was also very light and plyable making both working with it and keeping it clean much easier.

.... and by the way I eventually ruined the David DeVal straitjacket that had served me brilliantly for more than 20 years by trying to take a short cut with cleaning it and putting it in the washing machine.

Hopefully someone else can benefit from my mistake.

I'm assuming that you used bleach?

Actually no...I made a much more basic mistake than that!!

Over the years I've covered the cracked leatherette trim on the body and 'hands' of the straitjacket with Gaffer tape to keep it looking good and in tip top form. I made such a good job of it that I forget that it was on there. The Gaffer tape survived the washing with no problem but it let out it's black dye and left really horrible blotchy stains all over it.

I guess I might be able to selectively bleach the material, section by section, or re dye the whole thing with a darkish colour but after over 20 years of faithful service I think it deserves to be quietly put out to stud.

Oh no don't add studs .... that and black patches with make it look like "the wrong kind of straitJacket"

There is no "wrong" kind of SJ, as long as the audience understands the reality of it.

The only studs on a jacket should be inside

If the SJ gets that badly damaged the best way to deal with it is to set it alight,,,its a tool, they are not that expensive, and you should be getting a good fee for doing it, so use decent tools and replace. So there. Tight gits. Or do as Jay does,,,swap it for a rabbit,,,then eat the rabbit.

Ken.

Actually Kondini I spent good hard cash on getting 3 replacement specially straitjackets made. Because I'd been using my old no longer available to purchase David DeVal one for so long my performance and routine had over the years, I guess without me knowing it, moulded to the straitjacket.

I have about 6 straitjackets that I have bought 'off the shelf' and none of them 'work' any where near as well as my original or come anywhere close to feeling right so they stay and remain in amongst my cases of never used magic stuff.

When I eventually went to a theatrical costume makers to get replacements made I took my old straitjacket in to them and asked them to duplicate it exactly. Same design, size, material, quality leather etc.

Unfortunately service industries in the UK are generally pretty poor and true to form they used different material, different trim, different straps and had even put the straps on the wrong way round making it suitable to only be done by someone left handed. Although not what I ordered, after I got them to put the straps on the right way round, I thought they might still be ok so I handed over the cash and gave them a try.

I ended up going back to my old straitjacket after just a couple or so shows.... but now by old straitjacket is defunct and beyond being able to be used I am back using the newer ones. They are already showing signs of wear and I've had to get the sewing machine out to stop any potential damage becoming a problem. (Something I didn't have to do with my original until about 10 years of use.) Also very time I perform with these new straitjackets I feel I'm having to adjust myself to work within their shortcomings.

So there's no unwillingness to fork out the cash, even in large amounts, for something that gets the job done. It's just that the reality is I've so far only managed to fork out for things that either don't get the job done at all or get the job done in a, for me at least, slightly less than satisfactory way. The audience of course won't see any difference but I know it and feel it when doing my show.

Google monkey+dungeon. They are in Savannah, Georgia, USA. I know Pat personally. He will make you exactly what you want every time. Look past the web site content and call Pat to discuss your order. You will be pleasantly surprised at the level of service. Make sure to tell him Chance sent you.

The rest of your hooligans are NOT allowed to call Pat. I've already told him to charge every one else double, so you have been warned!