End of a great Raincoat.
Posted: September 14th, 2013, 11:51 am
Yesterday, sadly I had to finally get rid of one of my best raincoats.
It was a very shiny and thick 1960's era Black PVC raincoat which I received when I joined the Navy in 1988. It was cotton backed and quite heavy with lovely deep pockets, although I cut the lining out to make it more flexible and lighter to wear.
It was probably my best mackintosh and certainly the most glossy one I ever owned as the rainwater on the surface looked like Black liquid oil. It also had the most wonderful squeaking noise whenever the sleeves moved. I don't think it ever let any rainwater in even once although it was subjected to some of the most violent and heaviest of rainstorms worldwide.
Unfortunately in the last year or so it developed a very strong stale aroma which I am certain was plasticizer or chemical compounds leaching out from it.
I could'nt store it in the house in the end and it would also leave the odour on other clothes worn underneath it, so regrettably it had to go.
I would'nt normally write about such a non-event like throwing a raincoat but I can't help wondering how long all the Rukka style macks on e-bay and similar raincoats from the 60s / 70s will last, especially as no-one is manufacturing any more.
I would not hesitate to wear PVC raingear even as I now have a nice rubber SBR collection also, but I don't think I would buy a coat of a similar age again - especially at some of the prices they are going for - but if eventually the chemical compound that provides the flexibility in the raincoat cloth breaks down after so long. In theory that would mean that any coat of a similar age has'nt got much longer to live!
Has anyone else had to get rid of good rainwear for similar reasons ?
It was a very shiny and thick 1960's era Black PVC raincoat which I received when I joined the Navy in 1988. It was cotton backed and quite heavy with lovely deep pockets, although I cut the lining out to make it more flexible and lighter to wear.
It was probably my best mackintosh and certainly the most glossy one I ever owned as the rainwater on the surface looked like Black liquid oil. It also had the most wonderful squeaking noise whenever the sleeves moved. I don't think it ever let any rainwater in even once although it was subjected to some of the most violent and heaviest of rainstorms worldwide.
Unfortunately in the last year or so it developed a very strong stale aroma which I am certain was plasticizer or chemical compounds leaching out from it.
I could'nt store it in the house in the end and it would also leave the odour on other clothes worn underneath it, so regrettably it had to go.
I would'nt normally write about such a non-event like throwing a raincoat but I can't help wondering how long all the Rukka style macks on e-bay and similar raincoats from the 60s / 70s will last, especially as no-one is manufacturing any more.
I would not hesitate to wear PVC raingear even as I now have a nice rubber SBR collection also, but I don't think I would buy a coat of a similar age again - especially at some of the prices they are going for - but if eventually the chemical compound that provides the flexibility in the raincoat cloth breaks down after so long. In theory that would mean that any coat of a similar age has'nt got much longer to live!
Has anyone else had to get rid of good rainwear for similar reasons ?