Vintage Brooks Saddle
12-17-09 | 10:32 AM
#1
Thread Starter
Fixedgrbiker
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 92
Likes: 0
From: Grand Rapids, MI
Bikes: 73 Atala Super Professional, 09 Motobecane Jury, 80 Schwinn Voyageur 11.8 and a Trek 1500
Vintage Brooks Saddle
I got this saddle off a bike i picked up at the thrift for $25. It came off a Schwinn Le Tour 12.2.
What would you recommend to recondition the saddle? Oh and what model is it?
What would you recommend to recondition the saddle? Oh and what model is it?
12-17-09 | 10:37 AM
#2
Fuji Fan
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 1,887
Likes: 338
From: Central IL
Bikes: Was Fuji and got my grails (Pro, Pro SR, Design Series, & Ti). Now I hunt 50's/60's road bikes.
I just stick to Brooks Proofide, but other BFers swear by some other products.
Nice score by the way.
Nice score by the way.
12-17-09 | 10:42 AM
#3
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 659
Likes: 1
Really - you did good for $25. The leather will soften a bit with some proofhide or simply by riding on it. And the green oxidation on the copper rivets can be knocked off with sandpaper if it bothers you.
The model should be stamped in the logo on either side. It might be faint in the leather after all this time but should still be readable. I'm going to guess it's a B15 since those were that shape and popular for quite a while, but you could look on the saddle and say for sure.
The model should be stamped in the logo on either side. It might be faint in the leather after all this time but should still be readable. I'm going to guess it's a B15 since those were that shape and popular for quite a while, but you could look on the saddle and say for sure.
12-17-09 | 11:12 AM
#5
Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 17,197
Likes: 761
From: Ann Arbor, MI
Bikes: 1980 Masi, 1984 Mondonico, 1984 Trek 610, 1980 Woodrup Giro, 2005 Mondonico Futura Leggera ELOS, 1967 PX10E, 1971 Peugeot UO-8
eboard, that leather looks fantastic, why do you think it needs reconditioning? I would just give it a light saddlesoap wash and ride it. After that, decide if it needs Proofide. Have you ridden it? How does it feel?
12-17-09 | 01:59 PM
#7
Señor Member
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 18,487
Likes: 1,568
From: Hardy, VA
Bikes: Mostly English - predominantly Raleighs
I'd condition the carpet before thinking about monkeying with a saddle that looks to be in as good a shape as that does. 
__________________
In search of what to search for.
In search of what to search for.
12-17-09 | 02:18 PM
#9
Senior Member
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 10,106
Likes: 2,762
From: Fredericksburg, Va
Bikes: ? Proteous, '65 Frejus TDF, '73 Bottecchia Giro d'Italia, '83 Colnago Superissimo, '84 Trek 610, '84 Trek 760, '88 Pinarello Veneto, '88 De Rosa Pro, '89 Pinarello Montello, 'Litespeed Catalyst'94 Burley Duet, 97 Specialized RockHopper, 2010 Langster
Got one just like it from 1972. Still a great saddle.
https://i985.photobucket.com/albums/a..._Saddle_00.jpg
https://i985.photobucket.com/albums/a..._Saddle_00.jpg
12-17-09 | 03:39 PM
#10
Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 265
Likes: 10
Please don't sandpaper off the oxidised green copper from the rivets. They will scratch and look that way for ever after.
Carefully polish off with Brasso or some other metal polish. Don't rub the blackened rag on the leather, though.
You may need to mask off the rivets with a not-too-sticky tape (such as for masking skirting boards when painting walls), and polish up the rivets before using Brooks proofide. After that, your shorts will auto-polish for you.
If you dont polish up the rivets, you will get green shorts..
Carefully polish off with Brasso or some other metal polish. Don't rub the blackened rag on the leather, though.
You may need to mask off the rivets with a not-too-sticky tape (such as for masking skirting boards when painting walls), and polish up the rivets before using Brooks proofide. After that, your shorts will auto-polish for you.
If you dont polish up the rivets, you will get green shorts..
12-17-09 | 11:57 PM
#12
Rustbelt Rider
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 9,105
Likes: 390
From: Canton, OH
Bikes: 1990 Trek 1420 - 1978 Raleigh Professional - 1973 Schwinn Collegiate - 1974 Schwinn Suburban
+1 Brooks professional, you can see a bit of the marking on the side in the second picture. Another +1 for brasso on the rivets. I use painters of masking tape around the rivet to protect the leather. Nice score, I really like how these saddles look when they have aged.
__________________
|^^^^^^^^^^^^^^| ||
|......GO.BROWNS........| ||'|";, ___.
|_..._..._______===|=||_|__|..., ] -
"(@)'(@)"""''"**|(@)(@)*****''(@)
|^^^^^^^^^^^^^^| ||
|......GO.BROWNS........| ||'|";, ___.
|_..._..._______===|=||_|__|..., ] -
"(@)'(@)"""''"**|(@)(@)*****''(@)
12-18-09 | 06:53 AM
#14
Freewheel Medic
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 13,578
Likes: 3,327
From: An Island on the Coast of GA!
Bikes: Snazzy* Schwinns, Classy Cannondales & a Super Pro Aero Lotus (* Ed.)
__________________
Bob
Enjoying the GA coast all year long!
Thanks for visiting my website: www.freewheelspa.com
Bob
Enjoying the GA coast all year long!
Thanks for visiting my website: www.freewheelspa.com
12-18-09 | 08:17 AM
#16
surly old man
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 3,393
Likes: 44
From: Carlisle, PA
Bikes: IRO Mark V, Karate Monkey half fat, Trek 620 IGH, Cannondale 26/24 MTB, Amp Research B3, and more.
Hey now, this is a family-friendly forum. Keep that stuff under your hat or I will report you to a mod.
j
j
__________________
Cross Check Nexus7, IRO Mark V, Trek 620 Nexus7, Karate Monkey half fat, IRO Model 19 fixed, Amp Research B3, Surly 1x1 half fat fixed, and more...
--------------------------
SB forever
Cross Check Nexus7, IRO Mark V, Trek 620 Nexus7, Karate Monkey half fat, IRO Model 19 fixed, Amp Research B3, Surly 1x1 half fat fixed, and more...
--------------------------
SB forever
12-18-09 | 03:01 PM
#18
Ride heavy metal.
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 1,538
Likes: 2
From: Teenage Wasteland, USA
Bikes: '74 Raleigh LTD-3, '76 Motobecane Grand Jubile, '83 Fuji TSIII (customized commuter), '10 Mercier Kilo WT (fixed obsession), '83 Bianchi Alloro, '92 Bridgestone MB-1 (project), '83 Specialized Expedition (project), '79 Peugeot UO-8 (sold)
The more I read the thrift store finds on CV, the more I am convinced that there is seriously something deficient in the thrift stores around me...
Seriously, bro...for $25 I'd say you'd struck gold. Superb find. Enjoy it.
Seriously, bro...for $25 I'd say you'd struck gold. Superb find. Enjoy it.
12-19-09 | 06:30 AM
#19
Membership Not Required
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 16,853
Likes: 18
From: On the road-USA
Bikes: Giant Excursion, Raleigh Sports, Raleigh R.S.W. Compact, Motobecane? and about 20 more! OMG
I know the feeling. I haven't gotten a decent bike from a thrift store, flea market or yard sale in my area in years. CL isn't much better.
Aaron
__________________
Webshots is bailing out, if you find any of my posts with corrupt picture files and want to see them corrected please let me know. :(
ISO: A late 1980's Giant Iguana MTB frameset (or complete bike) 23" Red with yellow graphics.
"Cycling should be a way of life, not a hobby.
RIDE, YOU FOOL, RIDE!"_Nicodemus
"Steel: nearly a thousand years of metallurgical development
Aluminum: barely a hundred
Which one would you rather have under your butt at 30mph?"_krazygluon
Webshots is bailing out, if you find any of my posts with corrupt picture files and want to see them corrected please let me know. :(
ISO: A late 1980's Giant Iguana MTB frameset (or complete bike) 23" Red with yellow graphics.
"Cycling should be a way of life, not a hobby.
RIDE, YOU FOOL, RIDE!"_Nicodemus
"Steel: nearly a thousand years of metallurgical development
Aluminum: barely a hundred
Which one would you rather have under your butt at 30mph?"_krazygluon
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
Charles Wahl
Classic & Vintage
0
05-18-10 06:50 PM
