just scored a brooks saddle... how should i make it pretty again...
 

i just went down to my local coop on lunch hour to pick up some parts i need, and i went to look at some of the seats in the bins and here was this beauty... note the price :) http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=267183http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=267184http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=267185

does anybody know the model of this particular saddle?

she will be utilized on my 75 raleigh sports.. once its nice again...

That leather is shot. The frame can be recovered by someone who knows what they're doing.

True.

There's a user here (rhm?) that has been known to recover saddles. Might try giving him a pm to see if he has pointers for you. Actually, I think there might be some threads on it. As for that leather, I don't think I'd ride it.

I had rhm recover a saddle frame for me. He does good work. The cost of the work will be somewhat less than the cost of a new B17, so it's definitely an option to consider given that you already have a frame that seems to be in fine condition.

I suspect the Colonel is right and the leather is shot. However, it won't cost anything to try what I did with my badly neglected saddle: Ideale Reborn. Another option is to contact forum member RHM, who does some great leather work and could make a new cover for your saddle (see HERE).

well it was free, guess they knew something i didn't

True, but the frame has value.

I've seen plenty of saddles far worse than that!!! It's sound around the rivets and loads of tension bolt adjustment. I'd Proofide it and give it a go.

It`s not going to be comfortable. It`s done. I have seen people soak the leather and used something underneath to re-mold the form of the leather, but I doubt it holds up for any length of time.

...anything stamped into the frame at the rear? (Year and month letter)

It might be painful, but proofide it and give it a shot.

That saddle doesn't look to bad. It needs moisture.
Brooks Profhide
http://www.brooksengland.com/catalog...ofide+40g+Tin/

I have refurbished saddles in much worse condition than that one (and not taken them of the rail).

If that saddle were mine, I'd take that saddle, stew it in a mixture of Mink oil, Neats Foot, lard and carnauba wax overnight, on low heat, then throw the saddle out and drink the brew. My butt would thank me.

Couldn't hurt to try to save it though. Good luck.

Correct.

I guess I'll never understand why some of us insist on riding on others' worn out cast offs.

I can't imagine even riding that down to the coffee shop.

It's about 300 feet from here.

Ouch.

I have an old (1983) Brooks that has been pretty weathered over the years and what I've done is buff it up real good with Scothbrite, and than hit it with a couple of good coats of regular olive oil.

It looks great now, and the olive oil doesn't do any harm to either the saddle, nor you.

Try it - you'll be pleasantly surprised...

Jim

Olive oil will mold. Same reason you don`t use it on your wood kitchen utensils, cutting boards and other wooden dishes etc...

It goes rancid.

Looks like a mid to late 50s badge, nice vintage. I wouldn't use anything but Proofide, unless dried hard, then dubbin.

Yes, Proofide has citronella oil which helps prevent rancidicity.

That ridge down the middle (unless reformed) just looks like an ass hatchet to me.

So what oil do you use for your wooden kitchen stuff? I've always used canola or generic vegetable oil.

At the risk of answering a ? not directed to me, I like Terra Nova Naturoil.
Vegetable oils can go rancid.
http://www.shellac.net/terranovanaturoil.html

You can take some high density foam and stuff it under the rails to support and shape the leather a little bit. That's what I did with a couple B72 saddles I got a while back which had the leather noses ripping.

Walnut oil is what's generally recommended in woodworking circles.