Thanks Nick, never thought about going vintage on these. My modern Duke (International) is celebrating it's first birthday, not convinced it will be around in 40 years though! Do you think quality has changed over the years?
Quality changed a lot from around 2005, when they started making their jackets using cheaper components. Something to look out for is the "Made in BEngland" labels, this means made in the South Shields factory, and likely before they started making jackets in low cost countries. There are many dodges label-wise today, where they'd like to make you think something is made somewhere specific, but worded so they are not actually saying it. If it says "Made in England", it is made there, otherwise, it's not.
PS forgot to mention, I noticed a substantial collection of boots and shoes sneaking into shot to the right.. I hope those will be shared in due course!
@@GarmologyVideo Hmmm they are more than a little sneaky on origin.. with my Duke they remain silent on where it was made, except, that is, for a ambiguous Union Jack label which is easily misinterpreted!
@@DevonReviewer There is a label in one of the pockets that have the name of the model and product code on it, and sometimes the country of manufacture. If no country indicated, customer service will tell you.
I came from Derbyshire and fly fished in the summer and shot with a syndicate in the winter. I had a number of Barbour jackets over the years, buying my first in the 70s. I am now down to my last two, a Border and a Northumbria, both from the early 90s. I tried the snap in liner on my earlier jackets and never thought it did much for me, hence the Northumbria. I have looked at new Barbour but they just don't seem the same.
Barbour since 2005 is nothing like the quality of the old jackets. Like so many brands it’s now become a pure fashion brand. The astonishing range of about 90 jackets each for men and women is telling.
Found my border in a consignment shop in east tn, similar condition. Manufacturers date is 1989. I paid $75 cash and couldn't be happier. That was about 6 years ago, still going strong.
i was caught in torrential rain and sleet on the pennines the other week in the cold, and it was getting dark and i was about 3 miles...(country miles literally) from humanity..in boggy marshland...i had the headtorch and made my way back, nice and warm with the layering i had on and completely oblivious to the wind and rain, everything that is except my face..the other great thing was i had to sit down on some wet rocks and the border covered my butt.....it is surely the best functional barbour out there.
Hope this helps someone who got a vintage Barbour and can't get the smell out: 1. Wet the entire garment. 2. Sprinkle generously with baking soda, both inside and out. Remember to do pockets, areas between the cuffs and outer sleeves (for Bedales), behind the collar, the fold between the zipper and closure buttons. 3. Spray with 50/50 white vinegar & water solution. 4. Rinse thoroughly. 5. Lay flat to dry in an area with ventilation. Hang dry might work as well but the garment may stretch, and I wasn't interested in finding out. 6. Re-wax. I used room temp. water for the entire process. Most of the smell is gone. Only area that still has some slight odour is between the cuffs and sleeves, which I forgot to treat. Please try to air out the garment first before attempting this. If this hadn't worked, I would have tried again with warm water and a 75/25 vinegar solution. After that, it would go into the washing machine (mine can be very gentle, but still would only be the last resort). From other sources I've read, a non detergent-based soap can be thrown in somewhere along the way, and try not to soak the thing in vinegar for too long.
Thank you. There are as many recommended ways of getting rid of smell as levels of smell in vintage clothes. An airing may work for some, spritzing vodka for others, but if the jacket is really bad, washing is the only way to get rid of the smell, and not forgetting decades of dirt (and worse). I agree it’s a good idea to start with gentle efforts though!
Lovely video on my favourite Barbour! I’ve had my Border for around 35 yrs and while it is well used it still looks great. I’ve used the Barbour repair service to have a few holes patched, the zip replaced and the hems ‘re-hemmed’. Most recently I even had the sleeves lengthened! I hope it and I will last another 35 yrs!
I’ve got a Corbridge and an International Jacket and I absolutely love waxing them. Maybe I’m a bit odd as I also enjoy polishing shoes. Along the way I’ve definitely picked up a few tips that make the process a lot easier. Key amongst them is to make sure the wax is always thoroughly melted and try and spread a little a long way.
There`s no shame at all in finding enjoyment in taking care of the stuff! Quite the opposite really, there is a lot of satisfaction and therapy in it. Maybe more so for polishing shoes, as it`s a cleaner job, but once you find a waxing technique that works for you, I think that`s doable as well. My main tips for waxing is to keep things warm (so the wax doesn`t set before you`re finished) and to get a nice, even distribution. Plus, you can fix things a bit afterwards going over with a waxy rag and the hair dryer.
I bought an old barbour border, great condition but the smell was absolutely disgusting... i mixed some neat vodka in cold water and wiped down the entire interior so it was damp... then i turned it inside out and hung the barbour outside in the winter months, so it freezing cold, and in the day was sunny. after about 3 full days of hanging outside and the vodka....the smell went away , hardly noticeable. thanks for the info about the vodka, otherwise it would have just been water. if this hadnt worked i was going to put some pure vodka in a bucket and a table spoon of washing up liquid in cold water...and dunk the entire jacket in for half an hour...from there i would have rinsed it out best i can and turned it inside out and hung it on the line....i don't expect the cold water and vodka would have taken off any of the fresh wax....but that would have gotten rid of the smell for sure. another thing barbour, on one of the jackets label tells you to wash by sponging down. i would have used isopropol alcohol if i hadnt found the vodka.
Cold water with a nappy/diaper or wool detergent is spot on. I wouldn't risk the washing machine. Useful insight. I'm looking at a barbour border to wear as an overcoat to go over my suit. I run warm so only really need suit outerwear when it's raining
Hi nick Bought my Northumberland jacket second hand Heavy weight which I like Hopefully will have it for many years Will have to rewax it soon. Fantastic jacket though
Hi Nick, personally prefer the auld Barbour jackets as they last far better Thornproof is a better grade of cotton in my opinion as my 1987 Bedale flap pocket jacket is in better shape than a modern Barbour utility from about 7 years back, worth noting the modern hoods will fit the older jackets. Like the rollneck sweater, perhaps you could do a review on it please?
I bought a nice vintage chevalier wool shirt with some syntetic lining and my goosh it smelled like a hunting slaughter cabin, needed to rip out the lining and rewash it 😂
thanks for the video. i just bought a northumbria in c36, but the lower pockets are below my waistline, whereas they seem to be above your waistline...i am 176 cm, and when i put mine on, it looks very different to you, even though you seem to be 4 cm shorter than me.... were there different versions? mine is old...
I`m pretty sure there is only the one variant, and it may be an optical illusion, but the lower pockets on mine are around the waistline. Mine is also an old one, one of the real ones, not what they sell today.
Followed your advice and my ‘new’ Northumbria is literally falling apart. Tried sewing it back up today and the fabric disintegrated when I tried pulling the thread tight. I’d suggest being extremely careful buying second hand barbours…
@@aaronlavack Cotton will rot and degrade if left damp. Better luck next time! If it’s just wax holding it together, it would have come apart regardless…
yeah it's slightly luck of the draw to be honest, i have a second hand ashby i bought online that's absolutely perfect other than a tiny bit of loose threading that was probably my own doing anyway considering i've worn it about every day since i got it, giving it its first rewaxing in who even knows how long soon though!
@@colemancalgary5260 All comes down to how you want it to fit really. To my mind it’s great, if you want short and slim fit, it’s not going to be right. There isn’t a definitive answer.
Bought my first Barbour, a Border, in 91. Unfortunately it didn’t survive university. Last year I found a Moorland from the 90s. Original olive heavy weight and the green-white-black-yellow tartan lining. It had neither any holes nor any other signes of wear and tear. It must have spent the last 20 years unused in a dark and damp dungeon. It smelt horrible when it arrived via mail. But it turned out to be the smell of a washing powder from the time it was made. The vendor obviously wanted to prepare the jacket perfectly. It took several hours in the bathtub and two weeks hanging outside. Now it my new but old preferred garment. Next project will be an unworn Northumbria in sage with the Hunting McKinnon tartan lining arriving on Saturday.
The Northumbria just arrived via mail. It is in a perfect condition. It looks like it was made yesterday. But must be several years old. Unfortunately the lining of my old Moorland doesn’t fit to the buttons. But the wool-acrylic tartan lining should do. The seller added a bottle of beer in the box as a bonus. That reminded me that as a student we often made use of the fact, that a Border (and a Northumbria as well) would easily carry a set of 24 bottles. Try that with Jack Wolfskin.
I would most definitely not use any detergents or chuck a waxed Barbour in the washing machine. The cotton is all waxed before being stitched together and once you strip the wax with a washing machine or detergents you’ll never be able to get wax in all of the places that it was before. Also it will take a lot more wax to properly wax all the places that you can access. I guess if you don’t care about your jacket being as water resistant as possible then do whatever you please.
It really depends what you want, live with a stinking jacket or use more wax to proof it again. I don’t see a problem getting the seams decently waxed, just make sure the wax is fully fluid.
@@GarmologyVideo I definitely see your point. I bought a second hand jacket that smells old and unpleasantly waxy in every way possible. On Barbour’s website it says specifically not to machine wash or use detergents otherwise you ruin the jacket in their eyes. It’s just a matter of opinion. Good video though! Cheers
Never put a Barbour wax jacket in a washing machine that's like committing suicide as all the wax will wear off and damage the jacket. You can use a sponge with a little water and go through it.
Thanks Nick, never thought about going vintage on these. My modern Duke (International) is celebrating it's first birthday, not convinced it will be around in 40 years though! Do you think quality has changed over the years?
Quality changed a lot from around 2005, when they started making their jackets using cheaper components. Something to look out for is the "Made in BEngland" labels, this means made in the South Shields factory, and likely before they started making jackets in low cost countries. There are many dodges label-wise today, where they'd like to make you think something is made somewhere specific, but worded so they are not actually saying it. If it says "Made in England", it is made there, otherwise, it's not.
PS forgot to mention, I noticed a substantial collection of boots and shoes sneaking into shot to the right.. I hope those will be shared in due course!
@@GarmologyVideo Hmmm they are more than a little sneaky on origin.. with my Duke they remain silent on where it was made, except, that is, for a ambiguous Union Jack label which is easily misinterpreted!
@@DevonReviewer There is a label in one of the pockets that have the name of the model and product code on it, and sometimes the country of manufacture. If no country indicated, customer service will tell you.
@@DevonReviewer I might well be convinced to do a little show and tell on footwear as well, though I want to do a few jackets first :)
I love the way this man speaks, it is truly ravishing.
You might enjoy the podcast then, also named Garmology.
I came from Derbyshire and fly fished in the summer and shot with a syndicate in the winter. I had a number of Barbour jackets over the years, buying my first in the 70s. I am now down to my last two, a Border and a Northumbria, both from the early 90s. I tried the snap in liner on my earlier jackets and never thought it did much for me, hence the Northumbria. I have looked at new Barbour but they just don't seem the same.
Barbour since 2005 is nothing like the quality of the old jackets. Like so many brands it’s now become a pure fashion brand. The astonishing range of about 90 jackets each for men and women is telling.
Found my border in a consignment shop in east tn, similar condition. Manufacturers date is 1989. I paid $75 cash and couldn't be happier. That was about 6 years ago, still going strong.
i was caught in torrential rain and sleet on the pennines the other week in the cold, and it was getting dark and i was about 3 miles...(country miles literally) from humanity..in boggy marshland...i had the headtorch and made my way back, nice and warm with the layering i had on and completely oblivious to the wind and rain, everything that is except my face..the other great thing was i had to sit down on some wet rocks and the border covered my butt.....it is surely the best functional barbour out there.
Hope this helps someone who got a vintage Barbour and can't get the smell out:
1. Wet the entire garment.
2. Sprinkle generously with baking soda, both inside and out. Remember to do pockets, areas between the cuffs and outer sleeves (for Bedales), behind the collar, the fold between the zipper and closure buttons.
3. Spray with 50/50 white vinegar & water solution.
4. Rinse thoroughly.
5. Lay flat to dry in an area with ventilation. Hang dry might work as well but the garment may stretch, and I wasn't interested in finding out.
6. Re-wax.
I used room temp. water for the entire process. Most of the smell is gone. Only area that still has some slight odour is between the cuffs and sleeves, which I forgot to treat. Please try to air out the garment first before attempting this. If this hadn't worked, I would have tried again with warm water and a 75/25 vinegar solution. After that, it would go into the washing machine (mine can be very gentle, but still would only be the last resort). From other sources I've read, a non detergent-based soap can be thrown in somewhere along the way, and try not to soak the thing in vinegar for too long.
Thank you. There are as many recommended ways of getting rid of smell as levels of smell in vintage clothes. An airing may work for some, spritzing vodka for others, but if the jacket is really bad, washing is the only way to get rid of the smell, and not forgetting decades of dirt (and worse). I agree it’s a good idea to start with gentle efforts though!
After watching this vid a few times I've only gone and bought one of each of these from eBay. Amazing jackets and absolute bargains to boot!!
I have had my Northumbria jacket for over 35 years and it has never let me down, it is very heavy!
New to Barbour, yeah, where have I been for 63 years? I like it very much. Thanks for your video. Oh, I like wool too!
Lovely video on my favourite Barbour! I’ve had my Border for around 35 yrs and while it is well used it still looks great. I’ve used the Barbour repair service to have a few holes patched, the zip replaced and the hems ‘re-hemmed’. Most recently I even had the sleeves lengthened! I hope it and I will last another 35 yrs!
Glad you enjoyed it!
i have my own barbour repair service ...its called "mi mum"
I’ve got a Corbridge and an International Jacket and I absolutely love waxing them. Maybe I’m a bit odd as I also enjoy polishing shoes. Along the way I’ve definitely picked up a few tips that make the process a lot easier. Key amongst them is to make sure the wax is always thoroughly melted and try and spread a little a long way.
There`s no shame at all in finding enjoyment in taking care of the stuff! Quite the opposite really, there is a lot of satisfaction and therapy in it. Maybe more so for polishing shoes, as it`s a cleaner job, but once you find a waxing technique that works for you, I think that`s doable as well. My main tips for waxing is to keep things warm (so the wax doesn`t set before you`re finished) and to get a nice, even distribution. Plus, you can fix things a bit afterwards going over with a waxy rag and the hair dryer.
This has been very helpful for my “new” vintage pre 1987 Bedale!
Pleased to hear that, Rachel!
I bought an old barbour border, great condition but the smell was absolutely disgusting... i mixed some neat vodka in cold water and wiped down the entire interior so it was damp...
then i turned it inside out and hung the barbour outside in the winter months, so it freezing cold, and in the day was sunny.
after about 3 full days of hanging outside and the vodka....the smell went away , hardly noticeable. thanks for the info about the vodka, otherwise it would have just been water.
if this hadnt worked i was going to put some pure vodka in a bucket and a table spoon of washing up liquid in cold water...and dunk the entire jacket in for half an hour...from there i would have rinsed it out best i can and turned it inside out and hung it on the line....i don't expect the cold water and vodka would have taken off any of the fresh wax....but that would have gotten rid of the smell for sure.
another thing barbour, on one of the jackets label tells you to wash by sponging down.
i would have used isopropol alcohol if i hadnt found the vodka.
Hi nick
Bought a barbour northumbria jacket second hand some time ago.
Gave it a good waxing
Looks like brand new
Cheers mate 👍
Great to hear!
Cold water with a nappy/diaper or wool detergent is spot on. I wouldn't risk the washing machine.
Useful insight. I'm looking at a barbour border to wear as an overcoat to go over my suit. I run warm so only really need suit outerwear when it's raining
I`d stick with a bucket of luke warm water with some mild detergent now, yes. At least for one with a lot of wax on. That stink though...
Hi nick
Bought my Northumberland jacket second hand
Heavy weight which I like
Hopefully will have it for many years
Will have to rewax it soon.
Fantastic jacket though
That’s a quality piece, Hugh, they don’t make them like that any more! I hope you get good use of it.
Hi Nick, personally prefer the auld Barbour jackets as they last far better Thornproof is a better grade
of cotton in my opinion as my 1987 Bedale flap pocket jacket is in better shape than a modern Barbour utility from about 7 years back, worth noting the modern hoods will fit the older jackets.
Like the rollneck sweater, perhaps you could do a review on it please?
The rollneck is by Mallochs. Lovely wool, worn it lots and lots this Winter.
I bought a nice vintage chevalier wool shirt with some syntetic lining and my goosh it smelled like a hunting slaughter cabin, needed to rip out the lining and rewash it 😂
Great video Nick. I love my Barbours… wouldn’t putting the jacket in a bucket with detergent take the wax off ?
Not unless you use warm water and to strong detergent. Keep it cool, mild and gentle.
thanks for the video. i just bought a northumbria in c36, but the lower pockets are below my waistline, whereas they seem to be above your waistline...i am 176 cm, and when i put mine on, it looks very different to you, even though you seem to be 4 cm shorter than me....
were there different versions? mine is old...
I`m pretty sure there is only the one variant, and it may be an optical illusion, but the lower pockets on mine are around the waistline. Mine is also an old one, one of the real ones, not what they sell today.
Great video - thanks.
Glad you enjoyed it!
Great video. Where is your jumper from please?
It’s a Mallochs, lambswool in a seaweed colour. Highly recommended!
Followed your advice and my ‘new’ Northumbria is literally falling apart. Tried sewing it back up today and the fabric disintegrated when I tried pulling the thread tight.
I’d suggest being extremely careful buying second hand barbours…
Clearly an extremely rotten example! Sorry to hear this.
Just rolled the dice again. Wish me luck!!
@@aaronlavack Cotton will rot and degrade if left damp. Better luck next time! If it’s just wax holding it together, it would have come apart regardless…
yeah it's slightly luck of the draw to be honest, i have a second hand ashby i bought online that's absolutely perfect other than a tiny bit of loose threading that was probably my own doing anyway considering i've worn it about every day since i got it, giving it its first rewaxing in who even knows how long soon though!
Truly a shame places out source only to make a profit but ruin their reputation
How tall are you? How long are these jackets on you? Thanks
I'm 1.72 (about 5 foot 7) and it covers my backside. The rear length of the Border in size C40 is 90cm.
Ok I’m 5’’8 so they don’t go past your knees?
@@colemancalgary5260 Not even close.
@@GarmologyVideo good to know another reviewer said anyone under 5’8 and it would be too long good to know that it will fit on me
@@colemancalgary5260 All comes down to how you want it to fit really. To my mind it’s great, if you want short and slim fit, it’s not going to be right. There isn’t a definitive answer.
Bought my first Barbour, a Border, in 91. Unfortunately it didn’t survive university. Last year I found a Moorland from the 90s. Original olive heavy weight and the green-white-black-yellow tartan lining. It had neither any holes nor any other signes of wear and tear. It must have spent the last 20 years unused in a dark and damp dungeon. It smelt horrible when it arrived via mail. But it turned out to be the smell of a washing powder from the time it was made. The vendor obviously wanted to prepare the jacket perfectly. It took several hours in the bathtub and two weeks hanging outside. Now it my new but old preferred garment.
Next project will be an unworn Northumbria in sage with the Hunting McKinnon tartan lining arriving on Saturday.
The Northumbria just arrived via mail. It is in a perfect condition. It looks like it was made yesterday. But must be several years old. Unfortunately the lining of my old Moorland doesn’t fit to the buttons. But the wool-acrylic tartan lining should do.
The seller added a bottle of beer in the box as a bonus. That reminded me that as a student we often made use of the fact, that a Border (and a Northumbria as well) would easily carry a set of 24 bottles. Try that with Jack Wolfskin.
Hi nick did you go to Eton
No, I went to state schools here in Norway.
@@GarmologyVideo oh OK you are very well spoken
@@jamesjameson4566 Thank you.
I would most definitely not use any detergents or chuck a waxed Barbour in the washing machine. The cotton is all waxed before being stitched together and once you strip the wax with a washing machine or detergents you’ll never be able to get wax in all of the places that it was before. Also it will take a lot more wax to properly wax all the places that you can access. I guess if you don’t care about your jacket being as water resistant as possible then do whatever you please.
It really depends what you want, live with a stinking jacket or use more wax to proof it again. I don’t see a problem getting the seams decently waxed, just make sure the wax is fully fluid.
@@GarmologyVideo I definitely see your point. I bought a second hand jacket that smells old and unpleasantly waxy in every way possible. On Barbour’s website it says specifically not to machine wash or use detergents otherwise you ruin the jacket in their eyes. It’s just a matter of opinion. Good video though! Cheers
Never put a Barbour wax jacket in a washing machine that's like committing suicide as all the wax will wear off and damage the jacket. You can use a sponge with a little water and go through it.
You may have missed the point of a serious wash.