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    #1

    Old leather

    Hi. I have two somewhat old pieces which are made of leather. They both display different characteristics, but I'm at a loss for both.
    1. A WWI era helmet for which the thin liner has become brittle and tears easily along clean straight lines in areas of stress.

    2. A mid 19th century piece of thicker leather whose characteristics I would almost descibe as dry rot? It's feels sort of spongy and if I wrap my hands around it firmly and pull them away little bits of the leather no bigger than a pinhead come away with my hand.


    If anybody has suggestions or even technical/proper descriptions so I can read up on what I'm seeing I'd be appreciative.

    Thanks.
    Tags: None
    #2
    A little bit of vaseline- hand cream- always worked for me.

    Comment

      #3
      I use pure lanolin.

      Comment

        #4
        Leather care is a controversial subject. Perhaps the best advice is don't do anything if possible.

        I have used a lanolin based product called "Connolly Hide care" in the past. This does not darken the leather.

        Hi Ottomaton, the symptoms you describe sounds like the leather has dried out in the first one. In that case you could try a hide food? The second one sounds like the leather has red rot. This is due to the hide being incorrectly tanned when it was first made. Sadly there is nothing you can do about this Don't put anything on it. Keep handling to a minimum.

        Cheers, Ade.

        Comment

          #5
          Originally posted by Adrian Stevenson
          Leather care is a controversial subject. Perhaps the best advice is don't do anything if possible.
          AMEN. More often than not, collector applied conservation efforts do much more harm than good in the long run. In fact, these greasy leather preservatives that folks use can especially harm other items that the leather might come into contact with (uniforms, other equipment, etc.)

          I know that this risks offending the faithful followers of 'pecards' and other leather goop (I used to be one!), but the best thing you can do is often just to put down the tools and back slowly away from the artifacts...

          Here is a link to the NPS conservation bulletin on leather treatment. Not 100% militaria specific, but has some useful insights.

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            #6
            Originally posted by ottomaton
            Hi. I have two somewhat old pieces which are made of leather. They both display different characteristics, but I'm at a loss for both.
            1. A WWI era helmet for which the thin liner has become brittle and tears easily along clean straight lines in areas of stress.
            It sounds like you might be speaking of a WWI German with the fragile three pad leather liner system. If so, there are a few things that you can do to minimize wear and tear and subsequent damage.

            A) store the helmet upside-down. I know it isn't cool, but if the helmet is not on active display, this is best.

            B) when it is on display, use a post style hat stand (as opposed to a display head) that supports the steel crown directly. Before you set it upright, stuff a buffer such as acid-free tissue, cotton batting, etc. up inside the helmet around the hat stand to keep the liner pads supported and in place, without putting the weight of the helmet on them as you would be if you used a display head.

            C) handle the helmet as little as possible. This is why I like to sell my items through mail-order rather than taking them around the country to shows. That little bell that Jimmy Stewart kept hearing in "It's A Wonderful Life" was not another angel getting his wings - it was actually yet another Model 1916 helmet liner coming apart in someone's hands at a show.

            A friend recently approached a curator from a well-known museum to ask about preserving the leather items in his collection. He asked something to the effect of "How long should I expect these to last, and what can I do to make sure that they last that long?" The curator looked over his glasses and said "Leather is supposed to last for the life of the cow, kid. Anything you get after that is a bonus."

            Comment

              #7
              I've used Fredelka Formula on leather with good results. It's intended for leather bound rare books, but works well on holsters, etc.

              Comment

                #8
                Stay away from vasoline. Use a more liquid product like the one paramarine suggested..

                A couple of notes to add to Jeffs well spoken instruction. keep them away from your shop, laundry room, kitchen, etc. and in a room that does not get direct sunshine.

                Comment

                  #9
                  Old Leather

                  I have used a preservation formula from Pecard Leather Co. You can find them on the web. Pecard is also recommended by a number of museums that I have contacted. They have a variety of different formulas but the one I use is their "antique leather formula." It does not change the color of your leather, works great on very dry/brittle leather, and does not leave a greasy film. It comes in the consistency of honey butter (kind of a semi-solid.) Mike

                  Comment

                    #10
                    Originally posted by Jeff Shrader
                    AMEN. More often than not, collector applied conservation efforts do much more harm than good in the long run. In fact, these greasy leather preservatives that folks use can especially harm other items that the leather might come into contact with (uniforms, other equipment, etc.)

                    I know that this risks offending the faithful followers of 'pecards' and other leather goop (I used to be one!), but the best thing you can do is often just to put down the tools and back slowly away from the artifacts...

                    Here is a link to the NPS conservation bulletin on leather treatment. Not 100% militaria specific, but has some useful insights.

                    As a leatherworker/collector I concur with the link posted.I also agree with the warnings about handling and display.
                    Basically there is nothing you can do.Do not play with your antiques.!!!
                    I wrote a longer post under the heading "Hard leather what 2 do."

                    werner

                    Comment

                      #11
                      Why not use what the Germans used: LederVet

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