TLR Ever-ready Case Repair?

[Vics]

My Rolleiflex 3.5F came with a beautiful leather case. I need to have all the stitching resewn. Does anyone know where to send it? The local leather repair guy says he sees this problem all the time, and says he won't touch it. It's sewn with cotton thread, and it just rotted out through old age. Our guy says it will take a lot of specific expertise (and money) to fix.

 

[roboflick]

find a local saddle shop and ask them to take a look at it. I've had the local leather and saddle shop repair a number of camera cases for me. The results have been functional but not pretty. Patches of leather of slightly different color
Nik

 

[bigeye]

I sent an old camera bag (replace the zipper) to an old-style shoe repair shop and it came out like new. Depends on the craftsman...

 

[nikon_sam]

Go on You Tube and look for "How To Repair" videos...you can learn alot there and see if it's maybe something you'd like to try...or try a local saddle or shoe repair guy...
I resewed a case for my Weston Master lightmeter...it took some time but looks great...

 

[archeophoto]

I had absolutely zero (meaning none whatsoever) sewing experience before and I repaired my Rolleiflex case myself. It turned out beautifully. It's not hard at all, just take your time. Walmart sells a thread that's really close in color to the original.

 

[kerne]

I re-sewed my Yashica D case. Piece of cake.

http://pheugo.com/cameras/index.php?page=stitching

http://www.stereoscopy.com/cameras/re-stitching.html

 

[Vics]

Thanks, all! I guess the concensus is DIY. As I said in the original post, I DID take it to the local and very highly thought of shoe and leather repair guy, and he didn't want any part of it. So, I guess I'll give it a go. BTW, it's not a camera bag. It's an ever-ready form-fitted case for a Rolleiflex.

 

[Dektol Dan]

Do it yer self

Do it yer self

I've repaired quite a number of old Leica cases. Get the right thread and needles (Tandy in the US), and be sure to have some high powered readers. If you are into old cases be sure to store them in a box with a humidifier. I use violin or guitar case humidifiers. They may actually bring an old case to life, but if you pop the old cotton, it's gone.

 

[draw_de]

I took out the old threading on my Rolleiflex case and replaced it with red ones.

 

[mike_j]

Same problem with my Yashica TLR. Totally rotted through on both sides, one side glued up with PVA. Case only held together by metal clips on suspension lugs. Ebay seller claimed he "didn't notice". He was quite offended when I politely suggested that was a lying git (not in those words.)

Anyway, the repair wasn't too bad as the holes are preformed from the previous stitching. I cleaned them up with a fine drill bit in a Proxxon hand drill (similar to a Dremel) especially the ones blocked with PVA then restitched then with a large needle and thread bought from a saddler carefully following the pattern of the previous stitching. I then blended them in with a light tan wax shoe polish and the result is barely noticeable. Good for many more years.

Took some time but I'm pleased with the result.

 

[Vics]

Well, I may give it a try. Funny, I saw a Yashica case yesterday in a shop that had been glued up.