Hi, robert, nice find! I would proceed slowly, doing the least "invasive" things first. I'd follow the medical oath of "First, do no harm." After brushing off any dust, I'd give it a light coat of Proofide on the bottom and let that soak in for perhaps two days. It should feel incrementally more supple. If the top surface does not seem fragile, I'd go ahead with a light coat of Proofide on the top, and let it settle for a couple of days.
I would at this point only turn the bolt to take up any slack it might have. I would not add any tension to the leather skin.
If all looks well, put it on a bike and try sitting on it for a few minutes. If it survives this, you might not have any deep cracks forming into tearing, and some lengthier sitting is worth a try. Also, with butt contact the finish should start to re-polish (I saw this on a 197x B17 I had). After this point, you have done the easy stuff other than perhaps some saddle soap to replenish the leather further. You have to reassess to decide if the saddle is coming around, and if it is solid enough to withstand use. I'd mainly look for cracks deepening and propagating.
Ken Freeman Ann Arbor, MI USA
On Sat, Apr 18, 2009 at 8:30 PM, <robertsasher@aol.com> wrote:
> Hello< I just aquired a Brooks Pro from 1966? It has a good bit of
> crackling but on the top finish only,probably the sun?I wondered what i can
> do to make it look better???? as it is still plenty solid ,but sagging a bit
> also? If I turn the bolt on the front considering age should i proofide the
> saddle and be gradual with the tightening of it? Robert Sasher Atlanta Ga