frenchbikefan

it kind of sags away from the middle, I ordered some stuff I am going to use on another leather saddle and might try it on this one unless the sagging makes it un-salvageable

zandoval 

For some reason I cannot see it as trash - The pictures are so good it looks salvageable...

unterhausen

that looks like one that might respond to the soaking method.

frenchbikefan

so soak it, dry it, and then apply my saddle stuff to it?

fuji86

I'd say like a good old baseball mitt, it's broken in ?

https://www.biketiresdirect.com/produ...tm_medium=base

frenchbikefan

i am going to try this https://www.ebay.com/itm/370179381726...84.m1497.l2649

unterhausen

I would try to proofide it first and see what that does. There has been some discussion of reshaping leather saddles by soaking them on the CR mailing list. I just read over that discussion, it's not well organized.

ThermionicScott 

I'm not an expert, but you might want to de-tension it before doing any soaking treatments, so it doesn't stretch out further and has a chance to contract a little.

- Scott

frenchbikefan

I really didn't want to make this another methodology thread, I was just hoping someone with a good leather background could say yep its toast or nope it can come back.

mkeller234

IMO, It's not toast until it tears.

robatsu

The leather looks pretty good to me - cracks seem very minor and the leather is not pulling away from the rivets, etc. Scuffs/scrapes are just cosmetic. My only concern would the fairly prominent crease towards the rear. Again, this doesn't extend to far forward but if it does, it becomes the proverbial butt hatchet.

cudak888 

Let me put it this way:

It's toast. Send to me for proper disposal.

-Kurt

Preynmantis

Two products that are hands down the best ever. Mind you, this experience comes from restoring horse saddles and used with great success on restoring the leather on my '85 Vette.

The first is to add moisture back to the leather:
https://www.smartpakequine.com/leathe...ner-1050p.aspx
I used this on a leather shift boot that was tearing and it is now almost as soft as the day it left the factory. Use it for the projects where the leather is obiously well dired out, like this Brooks. Don't be shy with it, apply generously in repeated layers.

The second is simply the best leather treatment I have found for day in day out use:
https://www.skidmores.com/proddetail.asp?prod=lc

I have used more products than I can list here, all with various levels of success. These two are the best that I have ever used and continue to use.

pastorbobnlnh 

I wouldn't! In the product description it reads: "Pecard softens old leather, giving it a lasting suppleness." A Brooks is supposed to be rather hard. It is different from a horse saddle in that it is suspended between the front and back portions of the metal frame. It is not like a horse saddle which s supported completely underneath by the back of the horse.

Recently I found this Brooks B-72 at the dump. Originally it looked significantly worse for wear than your Brooks. I dressed it with a generous application of Proofide and sent it to fender1. As you can see it still has many years and miles of service to give to a rider(s).

top506

I've used Pecards for years on Ideale, Wrights, and Viscount/Middlemore saddles for years. It's good stuff.

Top

Maddox

No, it's not too far gone. I'm not familiar with Pecards, but I would advise you to steer away from any oil-based leather treatment, such as Neatsfoot. You need to use a wax-based conditioner, such as Obenauf's or Proofide. Oil-based treatments tend to soak into the saddle, sweating and bleeding out into your clothes over time. I've used both (wax vs oil), and wax-based treatments tend to make condition the leather without soaking it or making it greasy to the touch.

mparker326

I'd lace it & ride it as is. Maybe a little Kiwi Neutral on some of the dry spots.

frenchbikefan

Lace it? I have never ridden a leather saddle please school me.

well in a moment of serendipity I went to my lbs to get a bike box to ship a bike I just sold and I asked them if they carry proofide. the mechanic looks at me funny and I said you know brooks saddles? oh he replies like this? and pulls out an old adga 28a saddle. well I gave him 20 bucks for the saddle and the box and feel just pleased as punch. so now the fun part, I had already ordered that petroleum based stuff from epay and today I ordered a tin of proofide. I am going to use one on the brooks and the other on the adga and see what happens, I also have a third old leather saddle kicking around the shed that I might try preynmantis' method on. Of course pictures to follow.