Saddle Preservation?

[MazdaFlyer]

I have this old seat off of my '38+/- Hawthorne. It has some wear and tear from years of use. I'd like to maintain the original cover.
Does anyone have any experience with applying a sealer or flexible coating to a similar seat cover?
I've toyed with the idea of trying FlexSeal...any ideas?

The undercarriage I can clean up.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Indyjps]

Dont think I'd want to sit on flex seal.
Get some leather oil into that thing and make it pliable again, saddle soap may also work. Some careful stitch work will give it a worn, repaired, still hanging in there look.

Criss crotch stitching with thick thread would look cool.

 

[RustySprockets]

I suggest mending the tears with 100% polyester thread and a curved upholsterer's needle. That thread is harder to find than the cotton blends, but is much more weather resistant and durable.

I wouldn't be quick to assume the saddle is wrapped in true leather. More likely it's an early product called Fabrikoid. Looking at the "fringe" surrounding the large tear leads me to believe this is so. DuPont Fabrikoid was made by coating canvas with thick nitrocellulose, so it can be sensitive to alcohols. Leather treatments might clean it, but I'm doubtful it will do much to "soften it up."

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fabrikoid

 

[MazdaFlyer]

I suggest mending the tears with 100% polyester thread and a curved upholsterer's needle. That thread is harder to find than the cotton blends, but is much more weather resistant and durable.

I wouldn't be quick to assume the saddle is wrapped in true leather. More likely it's an early product called Fabrikoid. Looking at the "fringe" surrounding the large tear leads me to believe this is so. DuPont Fabrikoid was made by coating canvas with thick nitrocellulose, so it can be sensitive to alcohols. Leather treatments might clean it, but I'm doubtful it will do much to "soften it up."

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fabrikoid

You are correct, it isn't a leather cover. It is a coated fabric. I'm assuming the description you are using for it is correct.
I have made an attempt to salvage it as depicted in my RRBBO12 thread: Born Again Hawthorne.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[RustySprockets]

I admit I haven't been following everyone's build threads the way I should. When I went back and reviewed yours...WOW, what a difference! Way to turn initial disappointment into satisfaction.