Restoring Older Leather Camera Cases

W

whitecat

Lone Range(find)er
Local time
8:46 AM
Joined
Apr 7, 2006
Messages
1,345
Anyone try to add a gleam and a shine to older camera cases? I have some in good shape and want to just add a little life to them.
Thanks,
 
whitecat said:
Anyone try to add a gleam and a shine to older camera cases? I have some in good shape and want to just add a little life to them.
Thanks,
Click to expand...
Just a really good quality shoe polish, not one of these instant shine types.and a lot of "elbow grease"
(Find some older person who was in the Army, he will know how to "bull" up leather)

There is really no short cut.
I've restored quite a few, including relining them and repairing the stiching.
Nice job for a dark winter evening!!
 
How do you redo the stitching? It seems like it loops around inside the leather somehow and I can't figure out how to restitch my everready cases and Diamond case I have.
 
I have tried neatsfoot which did wonders in the past on leather baseball gloves and is recommended on leather book bindings. However, on leather cases, it is only ok. Many of the leather cases are really vinyl which leather restoration substances will not work on.
 
I use mink oil and spread it all over the case (inside and out). I then let it sit for 24 hours, lightly buff. After that I use Lincoln Brown or Neutral Shoe polish for a higher shine.
 
I'm no expert, but I can tell you what I did with mine, which was mostly just dirty. First I cleaned it using Armor All leather wipes, then hit it with black Kiwi shoe polish. I think it came out pretty nice.
 
I would try not to use those leather cases at all especially in more humid times as they would trap moist air and give rise to moulds in lenses. Water resistant nylon cases are much better practically. I do not object to restoring them though because they are so good to look at.
 
Does anyone have a source of replacement leather straps for older Leica cases? My case is fine, and the strap is not riveted, so it would be simple to replace. The fifty-year old strap has a weak spot where it has flexed, and I am afraid to use the case.

Jim N.
 
I've used mink oil on all my cases and straps, let the oil sink in for a while and buff lightly then apply a very light coat of Kiwi paste in the color you want. Buff it with a shoe shine rag and voila... a like new case.
 
The good folks at your local horsey saddle shop seem to know a thing or two about leather goods (I wonder if they have leather evenings...hmmm....).

They sold me some leather balm which is intended to restore older dry leather. Got to feed it apparently......

Oh, and if the price is anything to go by, it should be really good.
 
luketrash said:
How do you redo the stitching? It seems like it loops around inside the leather somehow and I can't figure out how to restitch my everready cases and Diamond case I have.
Click to expand...

Two ways to do it, that I know of.

1. You use one of these.
T-004lg.jpg


You thread the thing, push it through the hole in the leather and pull it out. You will see a loop of thread sticking through the leather. You put a second piece of thread through the loop and pull the loop tight. Repeat a few hundred times. This gives you a simple lock stitch.

2. Another way, using a plain sewing needle, is to use a double saddle stitch. A double saddle stitch would look like a double sine wave if the leather was invisible. This one is going to be a lot harder to do and you will probably need a set of pliers to push the needle into the leather and pull it out the other side.
 
Last edited:
OldNick said:
Does anyone have a source of replacement leather straps for older Leica cases? My case is fine, and the strap is not riveted, so it would be simple to replace. The fifty-year old strap has a weak spot where it has flexed, and I am afraid to use the case.

Jim N.
Click to expand...

Instead of just assuming that everyone here knows what kind of case you have, how about telling us how wide is the strap? How long? What color? What kind of leather?

That said, latigo leather (oil treated cowhide) is what is used to make most belts and straps. Saddlery shops and ebay both sell it. For example, if you needed 1/4 inch wide latigo straps I could just point you at these: http://cgi.ebay.com/Latigo-Lace-1-4...6553650QQcmdZViewItem?_trksid=p3286.m20.l1116 http://cgi.ebay.com/Latigo-Lace-1-4...6553599QQcmdZViewItem?_trksid=p3286.m20.l1116

If it was 1/2 inch wide, or 5/8 inch wide I could point you to other specific places.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom