Leather camera strap lifespan

[telenous]

I was looking today at the camera strap I use with a Leica M, a Luigi strap if that matters, something that I may not have done again after the first few days of buying it fifteen years ago. It is very supple and has a nice patina out of many years of use but there's a definitely a wrinkle on the underside, one third of the way of the entire length of the strap. It's nowhere near as heavy as, say, the wrinkle/tear present in watch leather straps when they are about to perish. It's much fainter than that, but it is there. I usually wrap the strap 2-3 times around my wrist, rather than hang the camera with it, so it is really a safety net in case the camera escapes my hands. It made me wonder though whether it's a sign I should be looking for a replacement. I mean, what good is a 'safety net' if it's about to give. Then again, I may be worried about a complete non-issue, I don't know.

Has anyone had leather camera straps perish? I know it is conceivable they do after some time but how long did it take for that to happen?


Thanks in advance.

 

[Dogman]

Never had a real leather strap break. Not that they're unbreakable but it's certainly a rarity. Most probably leather will deteriorate over many years and dry rot.

 

[kram]

As long as it is of suitable quality, strength and looked after , should last decades. I have a dog lead over 20 years old, which has got wet numerous times, restraining a energetic mutt and it shows no real deterioration. Poor quality leather of an inappropriate strength left to dry out would be a different matter.

 

[raydm6]

The only camera straps I had problems with, are those that come riveted to those 40s/50/60s style ever-ready cases; usually a German brand. I’m sure we have all seen them. They are treated on one side and the other side exposed and not treated. (Sorry I don’t know the correct leather processing terms). They become dry and brittle over time and you can usually see stress cracks forming at the buckle hole when bent. I avoid using them.

 

[cboy]

Probably needs some maintenance. Some leather conditioner will help restore it.

 

[Deleted member 65559]

I still have perfectly useable Leica straps from the early M4 era (circa 1968)....the black leather ones ostensibly crafted from the leather of stillborn calves. I know Erik VS uses them too.

 

[santino]

I had one break - from the original ever ready case of the Leicaflex SL.

 

[Erik van Straten]

I still have perfectly useable Leica straps from the early M4 era (circa 1968)....the black leather ones ostensibly crafted from the leather of stillborn calves. I know Erik VS uses them too.

That's right, but there are many types of them, for example those for screw-mount Leicas, M-Leicas and Leicaflexes are all different. Those for Leicas with screw mounts are very thin and flexible and those for Leicaflexes are quite thick and stiff. The later ones have stamps in them. They are all painted black at one side. I've seen unpainted brown ones too, made from very supple leather, I presume these are prewar. When bought new the straps were very expensive. I've never seen one break. Typical German quality.

I keep my Leicas 1A in their carrying cases because they have no eyelets. The straps of the cases are always brown. They can be over 90 years old, but I've never seen them break.

gelatin silver print (heliar classic 50mm f1.5) leica mp

Erik.

 

[Deleted member 65559]

Yes, they were expensive at the time....but now $135 USD plus $23 shipping & $11 import fee.
Glad I have a few.....

 

[David Hughes]

Leather needs to be looked after and will keep for ages.

I was told by a shoe repairer in the next town that some of his customers made their shoes when they were apprentices in the shoe factories in the 1930's and they are still OK but they would know how to look after them. Most of the famous makes of British shoes are, or were, made in this part of the world

There's all sorts of potions etc that are claimed to do it but just what is beyond me.

Regards, David

 

[Deleted member 65559]

David, I think it likely depends on the quality of leather and how it was tanned. I've never applied anything to the Leica straps i use and they've survived very well..... no appreciable stiffening or cracking at all.

 

[David Hughes]

Daivd, I think it likely depends on the quality of leather and how it was tanned. I've never applied anything to the Leica straps i use and they've survived very well..... no appreciable stiffening or cracking at all.

Well, yes and no, I have elderly straps on some very elderly cameras and some are u/s and others are in vgc. It seems to depend on how they are stored and how well looked after,

I have tried getting replacements made but the quotes I got frightened me, when they did reply. Something else to pass on is that they are scornful here of modern leather which they say is split and then disguised as good stuff. Most of the old skills seem to be dying and the craftsmen can't be replaced. Often skilled workers (called clickers btw) would work into their 80's for a couple of days a week as they were so scarce. The experts I knew are long gone, otherwise you'd get an answer from the horse's mouth as we say.

Edit: no sooner had I typed and posted that when I recalled a conversation about it years ago; some recommended something from the old Soviet Union, another recommended saddle soap and silicone oil mixed and something sold to and used by bookbinders on leather was mentioned but I've no idea what it was called. Very frustrating but It might make someone remember something.

Regards, David

 

[Vince Lupo]

I’ve made several replacement straps for old leather camera cases that came with my glass plate cameras (Ermanox, Gaumont Spido, etc) and it’s really not a big deal. Oftentimes if it came with the old strap you can reuse the buckle. I simply buy the same width and colour of the original (or at least as close to the original colour as possible) plus the matching rivets. One thing to also use is this stuff called gum tragacanth, which is used on the backside of the leather to burnish it. You’ll need some kind of a burnishing tool, but I just use a shot glass and it works fine.

 

[Canyongazer]

Walking down hill in Maine USA while attending the Rockport Photo Workshop my Nikon original leather strap broke in two and deposited my Nikon FTn plus 50mm f2 lens onto the asphalt sidewalk below.
Camera and lens were OK.
That was in 1995...strap was 24 years old...I was 35.
Strap was a total loss. Me, not so much...not yet anyway.

 

[Deleted member 65559]

I've also made a few camera straps. Recently I crossed some interests. Both cowboy leatherworkers & high-end mandolin players value kangaroo leather because it braids very well. It's thin and somewhat stretchy so the finished piece if much smoother than calf. My friend Jo Brooks, (Little Satchel on Facebook) who does fancy leatherwork in Australia sent me some strips of kangaroo. I made several straps: one for a Rolleiflex, one for a Leica CL, and a wrist strap for an M4. It's thinner (but not split!) than calf and very strong.

 

[telenous]

Thanks to all for your valuable replies. I should have known by now that starting a Leica thread, even when it concerns just leather straps, almost always concludes in a costly way for the OP. So, I bought four straps to replace ones I have that seem in a little precarious condition. Three of them are of the older Leitz Wetzlar type, described above by Deardorff38 and Erik van Straten. They seem sturdy and they are very, very pretty, especially, I think, with brassed black paint cameras.

 

[Bowman Leather]

A proper veg tan leather strap will last decades if looked after properly. This means cleaning, leaving to dry naturally (if it gets wet) and applying a good balm periodically.

I was looking today at the camera strap I use with a Leica M, a Luigi strap if that matters, something that I may not have done again after the first few days of buying it fifteen years ago. It is very supple and has a nice patina out of many years of use but there's a definitely a wrinkle on the underside, one third of the way of the entire length of the strap. It's nowhere near as heavy as, say, the wrinkle/tear present in watch leather straps when they are about to perish. It's much fainter than that, but it is there. I usually wrap the strap 2-3 times around my wrist, rather than hang the camera with it, so it is really a safety net in case the camera escapes my hands. It made me wonder though whether it's a sign I should be looking for a replacement. I mean, what good is a 'safety net' if it's about to give. Then again, I may be worried about a complete non-issue, I don't know.

Has anyone had leather camera straps perish? I know it is conceivable they do after some time but how long did it take for that to happen?


Thanks in advance.

On the topic of wrapping the strap around your wrist for safety, I make a range of leather straps that have a wrist slot built in so that they are actually a wrist and neck strap in one. Its a bit safer and more comfortable than wrapping the strap around your wrist several times!