It's a lot of work but it's amazing what can be done to 55 year old leather.
I used a kit from Leatherique to strip and dye the lether.
I can't say enough about this product, it was like magic (with a lot of ebow grease).
Keeping it off the white cording was fun...
After redying I used a lot of conditioners but I found Leather Therapy to work the best.
A company in Massachusetts (Standard Rivet) still makes nickel plated spots made of brass just like original.
They don't make the large flat ones. I had to have them replated.
I used Chicago rivets (ones with threads) in place of originaly peened ones to hold the straps.
The orginal holes had been opened up years ago.
WWL Hardware also had great hardware for this restoration.
The bike is still in progress...
