Help me preserve this leather saddlebag!
January 30, 2009 9:09 AM Subscribe
Help me clean/revive/preserve my mother's vintage leather saddle bag!
I have a brown leather saddle bag that my mother purchased in 1970 in the SW (Arizona, I believe). It has been in a closet for decades, out-of-use, but is still in decent condition, though there are some marks on it and what appears to possibly be a little mold (weird circular indentations, three, on one fairly small area--each indentation is roughly .5" in diameter).
I'm in the PNW, and have been using the bag for about 6 months now. The other day, with a strange flurry of snow, I noticed that it looked like there were a few very small white particles affixed to the bag. They are not all over, and seem kind of random, and I've never noticed them before that day.
I bought some Saddle Soap at the store and went over the bag as much as I could and as carefully as I could (though I plan on doing some more 'coats'), but was wondering if anyone had any specific product/technique recommendations for this kind of item. I'd like to get it as clean as possible, and also preserve it, as it's a very special item to me and also very beautiful.
*I am trying to find an image that corresponds to the bag I have and am not having luck. It isn't an actual saddle bag that is attached, but rather more like a woman's purse with a similar style. It also has a large brass (?) ring which serves to weigh down the top flap and close the bag. Other than that it is not very ornate--the only decoration is leather thread that binds the seams of the bag (all in good condition).
Thanks for any help!
I have a brown leather saddle bag that my mother purchased in 1970 in the SW (Arizona, I believe). It has been in a closet for decades, out-of-use, but is still in decent condition, though there are some marks on it and what appears to possibly be a little mold (weird circular indentations, three, on one fairly small area--each indentation is roughly .5" in diameter).
I'm in the PNW, and have been using the bag for about 6 months now. The other day, with a strange flurry of snow, I noticed that it looked like there were a few very small white particles affixed to the bag. They are not all over, and seem kind of random, and I've never noticed them before that day.
I bought some Saddle Soap at the store and went over the bag as much as I could and as carefully as I could (though I plan on doing some more 'coats'), but was wondering if anyone had any specific product/technique recommendations for this kind of item. I'd like to get it as clean as possible, and also preserve it, as it's a very special item to me and also very beautiful.
*I am trying to find an image that corresponds to the bag I have and am not having luck. It isn't an actual saddle bag that is attached, but rather more like a woman's purse with a similar style. It also has a large brass (?) ring which serves to weigh down the top flap and close the bag. Other than that it is not very ornate--the only decoration is leather thread that binds the seams of the bag (all in good condition).
Thanks for any help!
I have had good luck with neatsfoot oil.
posted by OolooKitty at 3:01 PM on January 30, 2009
posted by OolooKitty at 3:01 PM on January 30, 2009
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by hellboundforcheddar at 9:12 AM on January 30, 2009