purebikes 

I just picked up a Brooks B72 frame and I was thinking of trying my hand at some leather work. It is missing the nose piece and the tension bolt though. Anyone have an extra laying around? Thanks.

Clydesdale Scot

they are available as spare parts from Wallingford's
Nosepiece (currently out of stock)
Tension pin
and I am interested in your project, a photo essay is most welcomed.

purebikes 

Thanks Scot. I will look into it

KonAaron Snake 

I'm very interested and am doing something similar, but lazier. I'm using a brooks rail and having a leather worker make the hide for me...I haven't decided on the design yet, but he said a plain hide would be too boring for him to consider doing.

Sigurdd50

I re-rivetted a Brooks leather top to a frame, nose, and tension screw I got from Wallbike. The original broke. Had to drill out the rivets. A bit of bashing and MacGyvering but it worked good. For your project make sure the screw is in the nose when you install... getting the screw in AFTER is a BEAR. Of course I did NOT document the project (bah).

purebikes 

There's is a shop here in Asheville that sells scraps of leather, cheap. I made some lace up leather bar wrap recently so I thought this would be the next step. Much more ambitious for sure but it wont be that expensive and if i screw up I can just start over. I have also heard Brooks will re-leather saddle rails for about half the cost of a new one but I am not sure how this will add up with shipping, etc. and it might take forever. Anyone ever done this?

nlerner

I think I have those two pieces from a junked saddle, but it wasn't a B72. Would that still work?

Edit: Actually, now that I think of it, I have a B72 with a torn, dried out top that you're welcome to for the cost of shipping. Send me a PM if interested.

Neal

ebr898

I just completed a Wrights narrow. It went pretty well, I have to ride it some more before I claim it to be a succsess. Here is what I learned so far:
I didn't need to vacume seal it over my mould; hand forming it did most of it
Heat curing it to get the correct firmness ( gauged against my B-17's) in the oven was nessassary.
"Chicago screws" were a God send allowing me to take it apart again and again to correct mistakes.
Cutting a standard screwdriver groove in the face of the tention bolt wonderfull.

I am looking forward to doing another saddle or two, once I find some junked ones.

purebikes 

Thanks. Pm sent.

rhm

Purebikes, if you can get leather for the saddle, any chance you could get me a piece while you're at it? I have not been able to source any in my area nor, unbelievably, on the internet.

ebr898

Rhm, I bought mine local here in the Kansas City area (https://www.leathersmithsupply.com/)
But this is where I was going to buy the leather from if I needed it shipped. I got a quote of about $11 from them shipped
https://www.brettunsvillage.com/sitemap.html

purebikes 

Sure RHM I will keep an eye out. It is kind of hit or miss with this place. I have seen some pretty thick scraps in there before but it might take a few visits. What color do you want?

purebikes 

Thanks ebr898 for the advice

rhm

What color? Oh, I'm easy on that score. Challenge me! Black, brown, navy blue, chartreuse, whatever! If you strike gold, I'll even take two pieces. Figurative gold, that is, though I'd even accept gold colored leather....

What's on your wishlist? Other than saddle parts, that is....

purebikes 

I have seen some pretty hideous scraps in there so watch out what you wish for! I will let you know what I come across, the shop isn't far from my house so I will stop in regularly.

I dont have anything on my wishlist as of right now but I will let you know if I think of anything. Thanks.

ebr898

FWIW the guy at the leather shop here recomended using a piece that perpendicular to the spine, so there would be less strech. He did say that parallel would be an ok also, but cut mine on a perpendicular line

Big Block

my previous
try shoe repair suppliers for shoe sole leather; I went to the supplier and bought a piece large enough for two saddle covers. He was stamping some leather shoe soles from a suitable half side when I arrived.
Ask for Vegetable tanned (not chrome tanned) 5-6mm thick butt leather. They were happy to be caught up with my project. Just bought it by weight. When I finish this one I will take it back to show then, builds up goodwill for next time, Friday afternoons are best.
This time I am hand forming the wet leather for a Brooks frame, as the curves will accomodate it, but I will vacuum form another Dunlop spring frame as the curves are too tight to form by hand.
The final shape I am seeking for the Brooks frame is a recreation of this. I have two chromed Competition frames, one I have blocked the candleplate, then made the outer and then inner mold.
I am away for a week and is on my to do list on return.

ebr898

Big Block, thank you for the insperation to do my saddle:
I have read several of your postings here and on Leatherworkers.net for referance.

rhm

I guess I have greater faith in my ability to change what I don't like than in my ability to see hideous colors. Color is really not my specialty, so I don't think about it much.