Storage in a leather case?

[jolefler]

It's taken a while, but I've finally put together an outfit that isn't intended to be used regularly or heavily. My thoughts are to tuck this away (except for running a roll through it every 3-6 mo.) as part of my estate (really as a touchstone of my interests to my wife or son).

After coming up with the gear, I found a Leica Combination case that was destroyed inside, but unexplainably nice on the exterior. A morning at a fabric store and a few hours of work made the case's interior usable again, though not authentic. After piecing this together, the question arises: Should I store gear in a leather case? What about lens fungus and corrosion and all the other baddies that go along with leather??? Or is this all much about nothing?

Thanks,

Jo

 

[Erik L]

f you get worried there are always desiccant packets

 

[tmfabian]

f you get worried there are always desiccant packets

what he said...just drop a few of them in there...they make some that, when they reach their maximum moisture saturation, change colors so you can just toss em in your oven and reset them.

 

[maddoc]

Darkness is one ideal growth condition for fungus. I have banned all leather straps, half-cases, lens pouches, and cases. Especially if you intend to use your cameras / lenses rarely it is much better to store them in a wooden cabinet with glass sliding doors, having the lens caps removed and a hygrometer to control humidity. Just my two cents of course ...

 

[Laforet]

I would not, at least not in the humid auckland weather where relative humidity reaches 80% easily indoors, after two cases of catastrophe:

Sent away my 50mm elmar for a CLA, left the IIf in a old "hand sewn in england" case. Lens took over a month to come back and the camera had fungus in the rangefinder, then had to send the camera away to have the insides cleaned and the technician was unable to remove the fungus in some tricky places. The case is barred from getting anywhere near my equipment, however I lack the courage to throw it out.

One as-is Minolta Himatic E came with a very crude case apparently made by the previous owner himself (people actually did these things back in the olden days, I used to have a Mamiya C2 in a lovely homemade case). Left the whole thing into the cuoboard which holds some other non-working gear pending for attention. Checked again two weeks later and every single item had some bloom, must have been a highly contangious strain....

 

[Bill58]

The general "rule" is don't store knives, guns or anything metal inside a leather case where the the metal contacts the leather. If you doubt that see some brass stud, rivet or buckle on an old belt.

 

[tmfabian]

The general "rule" is don't store knives, guns or anything metal inside a leather case where the the metal contacts the leather. If you doubt that see some brass stud, rivet or buckle on an old belt.

well that's certainly a good rule to be aware of...thanks for the tip.

 

[Laforet]

Leather is often tanned with acidic agents, Bill was right. That is also why many cases have a felt/fabric lining which prevents direct contact.

 

[jolefler]

So, what everyone is saying is: throw in a couple of dessicant packs, and as long as there is no contact between the leather and the equipment, I'd be OK?

I did take some care to assure the case is completely lined with foam and polyester velveteen. To bond the materials together, I used an acid-free craft adhesive.

Who knows!?! Dill's stories of Auckland RF rot are somewhat scary......Oh, & watch those "back in the old days people actually...". I just finished rebuilding this one! Guess I'm more of a dinosaur than I'd like to admit! :>)

 

[peter_n]

I keep leather as far away from my photo gear as possible, and don't use leather straps, cases, or body covers. Why invite trouble? I store my stuff in a metal office cabinet.