Touring - Restoring an old Brooks saddle

I just found an old B66S Brooks Saddle in the market here in Den Haag. It's at least 20 years old, if not more (the type of date stamp on the inside of the saddle indicates it would have been made between 1960 and 1988 but I don't know where in that range this one falls). The leather is dry and cracked. Is there any hope for it or should I just hang it on my wall as decoration?

Proofride it over and under. Really smear it on. Let it soak in. Ride it and report back.

Have you asked Brooks if they could refurb it?

I thought I was the only one who used Neat's Foot Compound these days, but ran across this today:

http://lovelybike.blogspot.com/2009/06/velo-corsetry-rescuing-vintage-saddles.html

I've used Neat's Foot to rehabilitate an old Brooks saddle. Some people will say it's harmful. Hasn't hurt mine (my oldest is nearly 30 years old and doing fine).

Read the Sheldon Brown method of restoring an old saddle - make a tray out of aluminum foil, turn the saddle upside down, pour some Neatsfoot oil in it, wait.

I ride my old Brooks three days a week and it must be over 25 years.
Has the big springs.

I'll take a look at it later.

Have you asked Brooks if they could refurb it?


I haven't - can't quite afford that option at the moment, with only one of us working. Maybe some day :) I stuck it on my cheap bike here in the Netherlands and it feels quite comfy actually. Might just clean it up and stick some proofide on and see how we go. At just 10 euros for the saddle, I haven't got much to lose if it ends up on my wall!

The proofide should fix it fine.