To add to the 'Proofhide' discussion (funny how we always get here).

I wouldn't use Sno Seal. You can smell the petro chemicals from 10 feet. These saddles don't want or need any oils, waxes are they way to go. I prefer Proofhide but I've also been experimenting with woodwind cork grease, which is really a wax with tallow. Seems very similar to the original Proofhide and it's dirt cheap at any music store.

No, they also make none copper editions with copper rails and rivets; see: BROOKS ENGLAND LTD. | ROAD+&+MTB | TEAM+PRO+S+COPPER

Yes but, of course, Proofide has oils in it too. Old and new formula.

...and to just clarify a bit more, the rails are steel with a copper wash or plating or coating of some sort. Not being a metallurgist, I'm uncertain of the correct term or process.

EDIT: Just checked the Brooks link posted by [MENTION=205284]rekmeyata[/MENTION] and the process is plating.

Well, I'm no rocket scientist. Let me qualify, correct saddle treatment consists of the right balance of mystery waxes, oils and elixirs, which will remain a secret to all C&V Brooks devotees until the day they die. Am I right?

They would have to be some sort of plating (maybe electroplate?) because copper by itself would be too soft and too malleable to hold a riders weight or take the seatpost clamping from crushing it.

I knew that. I've had a copper-railed B17 for years. I just wanted clarification of the subject of this thread since some posters seem to be referring to copper rivets only.

I imagine that the rails are plated and then clear coated to keep the copper from darkening.

One purpose for the copper is that it does not rust. It is also beautiful. I hope Brooks hangs in there. I will purchase two more of their products soon to go with the two already on my bikes. Yes, they are expensive but there are other expensive saddles and mostly they are all worth it.

Sure copper doesn't rust but this is just a plating, and we don't know how thick that plating is, if it's a microthin electro type of plating even if there is a clear coat the seat bracket could remove both the clear coat and the thin electroplate and that's where the rust would start to form as the steel is exposed.

Of course I'm just guessing at the process Brooks used so I could be entirely wrong about the rust process, and I don't recall ever seeing the vintage Brooks with copper rails ever rust, but times are different today then they were 50 years ago, and the modern copper could be all looks and nothing substantial that could last the test of time.

Copper doesn't rust. It just turns green, I guess from the sulfur from car exhaust

That's why the clear coat. I've see a few uncared for Brooks copper stuff that turned green, but the rivets won't as long a butt keeps riding on the saddle, it's when a rider stops using it that after a prolong period of time the rivets could start to turn green around the edges first. The rails is a different story, those could turn green if the clear coat gets wasted, or if a person doesn't care for the copper like copper pots and pans.