lxmike
M2 fan.
My camera system and lenses may have changed over the years but one constant has not my good old billingham bag, I'm taking it to the cobblers tomorrow to see if he can fix the strap, I cant complain really only had this bag since 1981 this got me wondering, how many other members are using Billingham bags at the moments and how many of them are as battered and tatty asmine
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Sejanus.Aelianus
Veteran
I've owned three, over a forty year period, but never really got on with them. They are superbly well made, though.
david.elliott
Well-known
mine is a couple years old and still looks new. 
peterm1
Veteran
My first Billingham was a second hand large model (I forget the model number) which is pretty tatty. The older style of Billinghams had a waterproof middle layer that tended to harden and become delaminated over time. The previous owner also did noit use it much but stored it in a damp basement - so it ended up with sokme mould and rust stains on it. But its great for manhandling a few lenses and a large DLSR plus all the bits and pieces needed for a 10 day trip. For day to day use I have an original Hadley that I bought new in the UK about 10 years back. Its still in good nick and gets a regular washing when it gets too grubby. I also bought a few Billingham pouches. These are great for safe transporting of a lens when travelling.
folville
Member
I've used a Hadley pro for about nine months, and the shoulder strap is starting to wear ever so slightly at the point of contact with the brass ring it loops through.
I'm not concerned, as the warranty is generous, but for the price, I expected the bag to at least wear appreciably better than a Domke.
I'm not concerned, as the warranty is generous, but for the price, I expected the bag to at least wear appreciably better than a Domke.
Lflex
Lflex
Peter, I am curious; how do you wash it and how does it affect the leather? If I recall correctly, the instructions advise against washing.
Anyway, my Hadley pro is 5 years old so it shows only very little signs of use.
peterm1
Veteran
I cant recall what the instructions say about cleaning.
But I use a high grade wool wash (liquid - not powder) - I prefer one with eucalyptus oil in it. I find it works perfectly, perhaps because of the slight oil content - eucalyptus oil particularly seems compatible with leather and is widely used in Australia anyway for cleaning natural products like cotton or wool (and in my case leather).
The technique is to fill the bag with cloth (I use old towels) till it's tight. I mix an appropriate amount of wool wash with warm water and sponge it on without getting the sponge too wet - you do not want the bag to be saturated through completely - only the dirty exterior layer.
For any tough stains I use something like a soft nailbrush to remove the stain. This usually works but some stains seem more resilient than others. I also find it more effective to go over the entire bag exterior otherwise if you spot clean after drying you can be left with dirt rings around spots you have washed.
Then I swap the wash water over with clean warm water and go over the bag once more to rinse out the residual soap / wash solution.
Finally, I leave the towel-stuffed bag to dry slowly by hanging it up somewhere (e.g. like using the strap on a door handle) in a spare room or laundry where its not too hot or cold. Takes maybe 24 hours plus minus to become dry depending on ambient conditions. For the last bit I remove the towels so the interior gets a chance to dry perfectly too. (You may wnat to make sure its totally dry by leaving it a few days more before putting expensive camera gear in it.)
The idea of stuffing the bag is to help it retain its shape. Also its easier to handle this way when washing. This works, believe me I have done it half a dozen times and it keeps my Hadley bag looking pretty much new. I am not sure about the older bags which judging by my older bag uses different fabrics. It works here (I have tried it) but perhaps not so well.
Never apply heat to dry it when drying. This is particularly important for any leather - leather that is saturated and dried in heat often becomes hard and brittle. My technique works well and I have never had any problems. If worried you can carefully rub a little leather conditioner into the leather trim.I have done this using an oil painters artists brush with a flat cross section as its easier to control so as to avoid getting the oily leather condiitoner on the bag fabric.
Much harder to describe than to do, its easy and I as I say seems to work perfectly causing no damage to the bag or trim.
Lflex
Lflex
Peter, thanks for the detailed instructions. I will bookmark this thread.
johannielscom
Snorting silver salts
Mine is an old Press.
Removable side pockets have their leather straplets torn off and are permanently removed. The bag got too much of a lump with them anyway.
Rubber in the top flap is gone. The document pocket on the rear is ripped bare in one spot because the house keys that I carry in my left back pocket have rubbed through the canvas (jeans first go at the corresponding spot too). At the corner it's torn because it always grips the zipper of my jacket. Shoulder strap is repaired at several places as well.
It's a lot less clean than the iPhone makes it look Leather is in good condition though, I treat that regularly.
I like my bags worn and torn. Pickpocketers hardly ever go for tatty old bags, only for the ones that scream 'expensive gear inside!'
Removable side pockets have their leather straplets torn off and are permanently removed. The bag got too much of a lump with them anyway.
Rubber in the top flap is gone. The document pocket on the rear is ripped bare in one spot because the house keys that I carry in my left back pocket have rubbed through the canvas (jeans first go at the corresponding spot too). At the corner it's torn because it always grips the zipper of my jacket. Shoulder strap is repaired at several places as well.
It's a lot less clean than the iPhone makes it look
Leather is in good condition though, I treat that regularly.I like my bags worn and torn. Pickpocketers hardly ever go for tatty old bags, only for the ones that scream 'expensive gear inside!'
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Frontman
Well-known
Yours looks minty compared to mine. I love my Billingham, but carrying it with my typical outfit (Rolleiflex, two M4's and associated junk) gives me shoulder and neck pain, so I have started using a backpack
Michael Markey
Veteran
I have three Billinghams.
A 335 bought about 20 years ago and in truth hasn`t seen much use so its as new.
A small Hadley which is still only 4 years old.
The one I use most is the 5.6 which I bought second hand and that needed some cleaning.
I threw it in the washing machine on a low wash and hung it out to dry and its fine although the leather did need additional treatment.
A 335 bought about 20 years ago and in truth hasn`t seen much use so its as new.
A small Hadley which is still only 4 years old.
The one I use most is the 5.6 which I bought second hand and that needed some cleaning.
I threw it in the washing machine on a low wash and hung it out to dry and its fine although the leather did need additional treatment.
Sparrow
Veteran
... yep, mine goes in the washing machine too ... life's too short