Leather Case Restoration

Caleb Hauge · Mar 8, 2024

Hiya folks! I received a gorgeous, near-mint condition (other than some dirt and dust, and natural shrinking of leatherette) Bolsey Model B2 for Christmas, and it came with the box, case, manual, and accessories (along with some Kodachrome II and Agfachrome). Everything works, and the case is in stunning condition, but it's roughly 75 year old leather. It's dry, rough, papery, and I can see cracks forming on the outside whenever I use it. How can I restore it and/or make it more durable and prevent it from tearing during use? I've owned one case before, and the camera straps tore off because the leather was just too old and fragile.

Kino · Mar 8, 2024

You are probably better off storing it for display than trying to use it. I've had lots of vintage cameras and while I could restitch the seams, I found little to keep the leather/composite materials from disintegrating with use.

Added is the fact that most leather conditioners radically darken leather or imitation leather AND sometimes facilitate the old material in falling apart.

Face it, the camera is probably at LEAST a couple of decades older than you and the cases were probably only designed to last a maximum of 20 years with normal use.

Why not put the case up on a shelf and store the camera in it when on display?

For field use, since the camera is an unusual shape (at least as far as typical 35mm cameras) might try to design a short, half case with strap slots that can be 3D printed. A normal 1/4 inch bolt with 20 pitch threads will secure the camera to the case if you drill a hole in the bottom.

mfagan · Mar 8, 2024

I’ve had my best experience, after trying other brands & types of leather preservatives that didn’t work for me — one of which seems to have dissolved thread, with Obenauf’s (hope spelling is correct). I use their oil for camera straps and where there will be flexing, and the leather preservative where there is less flexing, or for dry leather. They will, as Kino mentioned above, darken leather; and the leather preservative will leave a waxy finish that I like. (I don’t work for or invest in that company). I think they would offer their opinion on appropriate product if you decide to go the preservation route and call them.

Mike

xkaes · Mar 8, 2024

Since you have nothing to lose, try some BICK Leather Conditioner. It's used on saddles, boots, etc. to maintain leather items and keep them waterproof. Sold at Western wear or leather shops -- along with similar leather products.

Chuck1 · Mar 8, 2024

Obenaufs is great (the waxy stuff in the tub) for boots

Caleb Hauge · Mar 8, 2024

Kino said:
You are probably better off storing it for display than trying to use it. I've had lots of vintage cameras and while I could restitch the seams, I found little to keep the leather/composite materials from disintegrating with use.

Added is the fact that most leather conditioners radically darken leather or imitation leather AND sometimes facilitate the old material in falling apart.

Face it, the camera is probably at LEAST a couple of decades older than you and the cases were probably only designed to last a maximum of 20 years with normal use.

Why not put the case up on a shelf and store the camera in it when on display?

For field use, since the camera is an unusual shape (at least as far as typical 35mm cameras) might try to design a short, half case with strap slots that can be 3D printed. A normal 1/4 inch bolt with 20 pitch threads will secure the camera to the case if you drill a hole in the bottom.

That's a shame, it really is a gorgeous case that works perfectly with the camera. I don't mind the changing of the appearance but if conditioner might make it worse, then I'll just have to let it be. Or I could find a way to support the strap/take the pressure off of it. The strap is where it'll break, no doubt about that.

jeffreyg · Mar 8, 2024

Check with Preservation Solutions they have a variety of products

Bill Burk · Mar 9, 2024

I’d unstitch and stitch in new straps and condition the leather with a bees wax compound. I’m partial to Sno-Seal but Outback Leather Seal might be as good. If the threads need replacing I’d do that too.

But at least by replacing the straps you won’t drop the camera when the old leather splits.

guangong · Mar 9, 2024

I use Neatsfoot oil. Bought a lifetime supply at a tack shop when daughter was taking riding lessons many decades ago. Periodically used on all my cases. As mentioned in previous threads, I am a great believer in cases.
A question. I have leather holsters for WWII German pistols that are just as pliable and strong as when new without Neatsfoot treatment. Does anybody know how that leather was made, and why not used for cameras.

Kino · Mar 9, 2024

I'd lay money that the Bolsey case body is not even real leather, but a composite material.

Check it before putting leather restorers on the material; it could totally fall apart.

cliveh · Mar 9, 2024

As guangong mentions, Neatsfoot oil. I soaked a case for my Leica II in it. Wonderful stuff.

ic-racer · Mar 9, 2024

I spent this last winter redying the leather seats in one of my cars. I used a hobby airbrush for the whole project. I contemplated doing something similar to some other leather items but it was a lot of work.
Maybe for a camera case, just buy a new one.

jeffreyg · Mar 9, 2024

As a kid I used to use Neatsfoot oil to break in a new baseball glove

Caleb Hauge · Mar 10, 2024

Kino said:
I'd lay money that the Bolsey case body is not even real leather, but a composite material.

Check it before putting leather restorers on the material; it could totally fall apart.

What composite material would they likely have been using in 1949? Do you know of a way to check for that? I tried Googling, but Google isn't particularly helpful.

Caleb Hauge · Mar 10, 2024

ic-racer said:
Maybe for a camera case, just buy a new one.

As another forum member stated, this is an unusually shaped camera. There really isn't another camera case that'll fit this specific camera. I could use a camera bag, but I heavily prefer being able to carry my camera on my body using the neck strap, and with the small size of the camera I can just put it into a jacket or shirt pocket at that point. Plus the neck strap on the Bolsey B2 is also a ruler! How cool is that?

Caleb Hauge · Mar 10, 2024

Bill Burk said:
I’d unstitch and stitch in new straps and condition the leather with a bees wax compound. I’m partial to Sno-Seal but Outback Leather Seal might be as good. If the threads need replacing I’d do that too.

But at least by replacing the straps you won’t drop the camera when the old leather splits.

Lucky me, the camera straps are bolted in! I'd have to find a way to undo them without damaging the rest of the case. This is a really weird Bolsey. I've owned three other ones, and all of them came with a case that used buttons to disassemble the case, and they all had a ruler on the neck strap. This one has neither. The cameras themselves also had slightly different knobs. I'm starting to wonder if this was a demo unit, or a reject, or something different from the standard B2. (On an unrelated note, how do I use the multi-quote button? I really don't like writing three messages to quote three people, it feels spammy).

Kino · Mar 10, 2024

Caleb Hauge said:
What composite material would they likely have been using in 1949? Do you know of a way to check for that? I tried Googling, but Google isn't particularly helpful.

Ground-up leather, paper and other materials, heated and pressed into a mold. The way I found out was when a case I treated started swelling and delaminating in layers.

I thought it was leather, and it looked like leather, but in retrospect, the unfinished side was just a bit too smooth for real leather.

Leather Case Restoration

Privacy & Transparency

Privacy & Transparency