Cracked leather

[Hartigan]

I have a german backpack with a few leather straps that look really dry and are badly cracked . I was wondering what is the best way to add some moisture on the leather and increase its flexibility. Shall I use a hand cream?

[Paul R.]

Do not apply anything. Don't wast you time or money. Things like creams, saddle soaps, lotion, lanolinor a product like Picards. These products will have a tendencies to further dry out leathers. Once the hide is off the animal and tanned there is nothing that will rejunivate leather back to a soft supple state. Conduct a search in the conservation on leather. Paul

[bobcam1]

Are there no exceptions to this way of thinking? I received a leather jacket in 1969, that was 20 years old when I got it.
The leather was so dry that it flaked like dust, when I brushed my hand over the surface.
A local saddlery owner made a paste from Lanolin and Neatsfoot Oil, by boiling both in a double boiler.
He applied this paste to the jacket, and within a day or so, it had darkened about a half shade, but was as supple as the day it was made. My son wears this jacket today, 39 years later, and it still feels and looks great. In fact, it almost looks as good as when the paste was applied.

When will the drying-out effect that these treatments are supposed to have, start taking place? Have there been published studies on the long-term deterioration of leathers and suedes, due to treatments being applied?
I'd like to read some, so that I'm better informed.

[bobcam1]

I actually took Paul's advice and searched sites that deal in Leather conservation.

There are some interesting archaeological leather treatments recommended by both the Smithsonian and the British Museum at:

http://nautarch.tamu.edu/class/anth605/File7.htm

I'm leaning toward their expertise being proven enough to alter my thinking of leather treatment as being harmful.

My experience with the "museum conservators" that I've talked to, here in NY and others online, has been somewhat disappointing.

Some have been virtually ignorant when it comes to things other than fundraising for their departments, and others that I've spoken to who claimed to work for specific museums, have turned out, when researched, to be employees of those museums, but have not worked as conservators.....

[Hartigan]

thank you very much for your advice and the link for Leather Conservation!
It seems to provide very interesting information! I will read it carefully, research the topic a little bit more and see if I can apply any of these treatments to the leather straps cause I hate watching them falling apart!

[Paul R.]

Hartigan. It a good idea to research all conservation topics more closely. I have been in the field of conservation for many years. Research is your best tool. In the end these are your items to do as you want.
All conservation professional do not all sit in a plushy office doing grant writting. There are many of us actually doing our own studies and research to help provide you with that information. I have not seen any product that can reverse the damage to a new tanned hide. I have conducted any test. I have not found any silver bullet for this condition. If your read in my past articles, and other conservationist. On how procees in tanning were compermised during wartime, and what that leather went through ie. all weather conditions, dirt. grime,sweat, and finially poor storage conditions from past owners. All the past has damaged the leather. It is a wise consideration to research, and not get caught up in some ones hype on a miricle cure.

[Larry Lipps]

There's been a ling standing argument between the firearms guys and militaria collectors for years. The firearms guys claim that it's necessary to treat holster leather and the militaria guys say don't. I inherited my fathers guns and know that he routinely treated the holsters with gun oil. For the most part, they seem to be in great shape. Things like this make it hard for me to decide what really is the best course of action.

[Stahlhelm]

I agree that the best thing for anyone to do is research the many different possible perspectives of anything, before making decisions and taking action. Way back when I first began collecting, I made the mistake of taking the advice of the first seemingly knowledgable person who had ideas about various conservation issues. In some cases the advice worked, and other times I found the advice to be very incorrect and damaging, as well.

In the end, all we can do is evaluate everything we've learned--what just makes sense, what has been proven effective by others, and ultimately, sometimes through an unplanned sacrifice or intentional experiment, what we have learned ourselves.

Without the intent to sound like I know it all (because I surely don't) I have at least already went through the above process with everything that concerns me. So far, everything I do works for me, if not for others. Yes, sometimes something working "for me" and NOT for others is, indeed, part of the great mystery here. That is one I don't even attempt to explain, of course.

However and finally, in this particular case, I must completely agree with Paul R. I agree because I have come to the same conclusions in my own research and in my own experiences over the years I've been collecting. If, at some point, something ceases to work for me about the way I deal with leather (which is to NOT treat it), maybe then I will consider something else. Like most of you, I'll do whatever it takes, in the least invasive way of course, to keep this stuff here as long as possible.

Chris

[bobcam1]

Chris,
Well said.....

Bob.

[Stahlhelm]

Chris,
Well said.....

Bob.

Thanks, Bob!

Chris