my new rubber mac.... a lucky op-shop find

[mason]

Last week, I - finally - got lucky ... I found the the most beautiful SHINY BLACK RUBBER mackintosh in a new opportunity (charity) shop last week. The shop only just opened so I decided to check it out, more in hope than anything else. I wasn't really expecting to find anything interesting because I was more interested in scoping out everything but ... there it was hidden among the men's section containing jackets and coats. At first I thought it was leather, so I pushed the other clothes aside for a closer look.

Can you imagine how shocked - and delighted - I was when I realised that I'd just found a genuine fifties/sixties rubber raincoat? The label reads 'The Majestic' and below that, 'Made in Manchester, England' ... I can't help wondering how it got here ... does anybody know of, or remember this manufacturer or brand?

It cost me all of ten bucks ... can you believe that? The (elderly) volunteer sales lady looked somewhat nonplussed when I paid for it: she was certainly old enough to remember what it was - I'm sure she was wondering why i wanted it so much? Could it have been my probably fairly obvious delight that gave the game away?

I'd been planning to sell it on e-bay, but ... I've decided to keep it now. I absolutely love wearing my new rubber raincoat; it is just absolutely awesome in every way. It fits me like a glove, and once i lose a bit of weight, it'll fit me still better.

I don't know how old it is, but the original vulcanised rubber smell is - unbelievably - still quite strong. The rubber is somewhat worn around the collar area but otherwise it's in perfect condition. The rubber is still very supple, smooth and shiny. I absolutely adore the way the soft smooth rubber feels on my hands.

It feels quite different to plastic or PVC, but I love it. I've never really been into rubber rainwear - until now. Until buying my beautiful new mac, I'd never realy understood their immense attraction to so many, but now I do ....

The quality is just awesome. The rubber's been vulcanised (or however they did it) onto a very strong cotton backing. There isn't a single rip or loose seam anywhere, despite its age. It buttons up to the collar with 5 very securely attached and solid buttons. Whoever designed this obviously had a keen sense of style because each button is concealed beneath the flap which in turn joind to the raincoat every 5-6 inches or so - nice!! It also has two flash pockets which are very securely attached to everything. I won't have to worry about ripping anything when I jam my hands down there. There are two belt loops for the belt but unfortunately the belt is missing *sigh* - but I know someone who will make up a new one for me. Smaller buttons (two on each sleeve) hold the cuffs in place and they can be adjusted for extra tightness.

I have not worn it in public yet (much less to work) but I have worn it in the car on the way there ... that rubber aroma is just delightful! I'm looking forwards to giving it a proper airing soon - I just wish it had a matching sou'wester but i'll try find something or get one made up for me.

[neil]

Great find!
It probably came in the suitcase of a £10 Pom.

[pacamac2]

Nice one...a good buy...and the ten bucks you paid for it will go to a charity/good cause so as they say everyone a winner

It is amazing what one can find in charity shops

I never used to go into them but one day whilst passing one near home I saw a plastic mac displayed in the window

Someone must have decided that they had no further use for it or perhaps deciding it wasn"t "cool" to wear a mac anymore

Nice to see a plastic mac on display but I thought I have several so decided not to take a closer look but worth keeping an eye open for anymore bargains

I am now what one would call a regular in Charity Shops and just browsing in one found a real bargain...I dare say not every mac enthusiast"s type of mac but it was a ladies Trenchcoat that was labelled BHS and the price £5.00

Okay it was designed for a lady but these Charity Shops don"t worry...every pound they can pick up helps...so took it to the kindly lady on the counter

No remarking..."You know it is a ladies mac!".....I paid for it....and couldnot wait to get home to try it on...A perfect fit...made to measure

Over the years I have owned all types of macs except rubber but now I will be looking out for a rubber mac like Mason"s

Indeed it was his lucky day

Peter

[Jjai]

Unless you pay e-bay prices, charity shops are the only sure way to find retro / sixties plastic macs.

I used to go to boat chandlers and sometimes they would have the thicker plastic rainsuits but now they are all being replaced by Goretex or Henri-Lloyd style thick and expensive material suits.

I had a real nice Red knee length PVC mac about eight years ago I came accross in a boat jumble sale where they were getting rid of old stock.
I don't think it will be long before even the charity shop gear starts getting scarce to find as the few left are bought or decay with age.

If cotton backed PVC sheet were more available I would like to try making my own rukka style macs but most shops are selling the polyurethane material which is hard to sew and too thin to weld or glue.
Still, it is nice to think that there is the chance of a great bargain like Mason had!

[neil]

Would the material used for making truck tarpaulins and side curtains be any good?

[mason]

Part of the problem (finding pre-loved raincoats in op-shops) is that they've more or less vanished from even their shelves: I can go months without finding anything

It also doesn't help that there are other rainwear enthusiasts in Melbourne, and one of them has a job that takes him around everywhere in a car: so he often gets first bite of the cherry, as it were

Same guy adores rubber macs so he's going to freak out when I tell him about my find ^_^

[RainyDee]

The lack of good rainwear in charity shops must be a global phenomenon, I visit the ones in towns and cities up and down the east coast of scotland and I haven't seen anything of note for over a year in any of them, I'm beginning to wonder if 'that sort of thing' is even making it onto the shelves these days as all the charity shops here are trying to present themselves as reputable outlets with their shiny chrome rails and polished wood floors, gone are the next to derelict hovels with piles of jumble that used to be such a good source of good rainwear, it's the way of the world these days, it just makes it all the more important to hold on to what you already have, no matter how fed up with it you get!

[pacamac2]

Yes...I think you are right about bygone Charity Shops

I remember they were like Jumble Sales...piles of clothes on tables

But now I suppose if items are presented (ie on hangers on rails) they can charge a little extra

One of my brother in laws...one of those unfortunate to lose his job had to work in a Charity Shop to get his Jobseekers allowance

His task ...iron the saleable goods that were hung up...and he said himself...they looked like new

Very true about rainwear in these shops....getting less and less so best to hang on to what you have

[mason]

Far too many op shops (charity shops) are attempting to go as "up-market" as possible in terms of presentation: some of them look more like boutiques now and I HATE those kind of places!! The old-style opshops with jumply, untidy disorganised interiors are gradually vanishing *sigh* ... Even the Salvos are not immune to the rot either.

[Domino]

I think another reason for the change was that charity shops fell prey to shoplifters, so that a more organised stock control was needed. You simply can't do that when stuff is simply jumbled on the tables. All very sad.

Domino