Hi before I say anything, it's a lifejacket for display purposes only, before I get lots of people saying "buy a new one" or "don't risk it" can I just confirm that it definitely WILL NOT BE USED for lifesaving purposes.(I don't even have or want a boat!)
I found the Lifejacket years ago in a carboot sale and though it would be nice to go with my NATO survival kit collection.
I realised just by it's design that it was old and British forces issue, but dubious it would work ever again. Anyhow, I liked the look as it has a few odd bit's like a roll down clear face visor, I knew it was MoD issue, but even after speaking to veterans from the RAF, Royal Navy and British Army, no one could quite place it's probable origin...untill I saw this photo:
British soldiers in the falklands conflict escaping the sinking Sir Galahad in the distance, the guy on the left is wearing the same lifejacket (plus another 2 or 3 in the boats) the 3 dark patches are velcro to hold the clear visor in place.
the Date of manufacture on the lifejacket is 11/79, the Falklands conflict was only a few years later so it's possible my lifejacket was actually being used by someone in the photo!
it can be inflated and it does still hold air, the glue on the attatchments like straps to hold the inflation tube and white popper patch (just visible below the guys chin) is failing.
The origonal glue has dried but appears to be brown though the colour may be due to the advanced age.
so, what I'm after is glue that won't destroy the fabric further, but will hold the loose patches in place.
As a rough guess I'm going to assume rubber glue as found in cycle repair kits may do the job, but is there something flexible that would be better for the job, perhaps copydex(latex), or silicon?
as I say it won't be used for real only for display purposes.
I found the Lifejacket years ago in a carboot sale and though it would be nice to go with my NATO survival kit collection.
I realised just by it's design that it was old and British forces issue, but dubious it would work ever again. Anyhow, I liked the look as it has a few odd bit's like a roll down clear face visor, I knew it was MoD issue, but even after speaking to veterans from the RAF, Royal Navy and British Army, no one could quite place it's probable origin...untill I saw this photo:
British soldiers in the falklands conflict escaping the sinking Sir Galahad in the distance, the guy on the left is wearing the same lifejacket (plus another 2 or 3 in the boats) the 3 dark patches are velcro to hold the clear visor in place.
the Date of manufacture on the lifejacket is 11/79, the Falklands conflict was only a few years later so it's possible my lifejacket was actually being used by someone in the photo!
it can be inflated and it does still hold air, the glue on the attatchments like straps to hold the inflation tube and white popper patch (just visible below the guys chin) is failing.
The origonal glue has dried but appears to be brown though the colour may be due to the advanced age.
so, what I'm after is glue that won't destroy the fabric further, but will hold the loose patches in place.
As a rough guess I'm going to assume rubber glue as found in cycle repair kits may do the job, but is there something flexible that would be better for the job, perhaps copydex(latex), or silicon?
as I say it won't be used for real only for display purposes.
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