[CR]Subject: Reconditioning old leather saddles

Thanks to new CR list contributor Charly Kingsbury ("Michael Butler") who mentioned as an aside in his introductory post on lugless frames:

“Be very careful in the use of neats foot oil on saddles. This can over soften and ruin a perfectly good seat. There is a product available here in Britain called Dubbin which is wonderful for restoring dried out leather saddles, there is also a product very similar to this available in Germany but I cannot remember its name.”

I agree with Charley's cautionary advice on neats foot oil. If you do a Google search for : “Dubbin leather,” you'll find a host of tack shops in the U.S., Canada and the U.K. that sell Chelsea “Dubbin” Leather Food, extensively used in the saddlery trade and very higly regarded as a non-greasy, non-marring, non-destructive saddle conditioner. Other than what I’ve read, I’ve no idea as to how well Dubbin actually works. But as I’ve just picked up a nice--but dry--Chiorda Extra (Magni) saddle from another CR Member in beautiful Umbria, I’m planning on getting some Dubbin and experimenting. I’ll report results to all. Thanks again, Charley.

Peter Jourdain Whitewater, Wisconsin Slowly working on his big (64cm) "Ideor.”

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