Salvaging an old Brooks
 

So, I scored a beat up old Brooks saddle on Monday and would liek to restore it to rideable condition. I'm soaking it with leather restorer, but am worried about two rips in the leather. They're right at rivets, and seem kind of worrysome. My question to you is this: what is the best way to deal with these cracks? I've wanted another Brooks for awhile now, but am not going to shell out 60 or 70 bucks to do so. I'm wondering if I could wrap some leather around the "problem areas" to keep it all down. Thanks a lot.

I'm not sure if you can. Are the rips clean through the leather? What exactly is leather restorer and what normally is that used for? Is it some kind of oil or wax?

How often do you plan on riding the saddle? I have an old B15 in good but not excellent condition but ride only occasionally (I "restored" it with Proofide). I honestly don't know what you can do about the cracks except live with it and save your pennies for a new one.

Mr. el, save your money and get a new or lightly used Brooks... They'll last you for so long, you'll wonder why you didn't get one sooner. Other than maybe trying some flexible super glue at the cracks (flex ZAP comes to mind here: http://zap.supergluecorp.com/pt32.html ), I can't think of anything to save the old sadle once cracked at the rivets....unless you try bigger rivets!

Yeah, I kinda figured it'd be mostly hopeless. She's so pretty, though. The restorer is a shoe leather oil. Works quite nicely. I like the super glue idea, maybe hot glue could work? Put it all around the rivet...

I was thinking super glue, 'cause it should soak into the leather, and make the area around the rivet solid. The flex "ZAP" will give a little, and isn't so brittle. You may want to try the big copper rivets though...

Hmm...I like the big rivet idea. Was it Yellow Jersey that had them? I know I've seen them somewhere.

Bill Laine at Wallingford used to sell rivets for Brooks saddles.
what model brooks?

marty

Either a B17 or more likely a B15.

I believe it's a B15. And I like the look of those 16.5 mm rivets from Wallingford.

OK. New plan. How about I sinch the wings up with string (like the Butchered and Tied saddles) in order to give it some strength? I figure if the rivet can't hold the leather, I might as well let the leather hold the leather. Thoughts?

I've heard a Brooks devotee used Red Wing Boot oil religiously for years with great success
so your shoe oil may be the thing

I say keep it and make it a long term project
if it comes around into shape, put it on a bike and run with it for a while. If it doesn't round into shape the way you want, hang it on the wall by the bench... a classy object d'art

Now that you've already soaked the leather, no glue I know of is going to adhere very well. You need to apply glue to unconditioned or "dry" leather.

New rivets applied thru leather grommets (or a grommet doughnut for the entire rivet set) stitched and glued onto the bottom side of the saddle leather is the only way I know of reinforcing a saddle torn like that correctly.

maybe a shoe repair person could assist

I *think* that CA or super glues will adhere, especially when used with a primer. Also, while I've never tried replacing the rivets in a Brooks, the bigger rivets may also have a bigger stud that requires a bigger hole drilled in the cantle plate....(?). I guess it all depends on how much tearing there is around the existing rivets. If no more than about 3/16", I say give the glue a try first, and if that's a no go, then try the big rivet... If your tear is bigger, start saving for that new saddle.

I like the shoe repair idea, Sigurdd. I'll look into that. And yes, nothing is more beautiful than an worn-in Brooks, so art is not out of the question.