MTFCA Forum

My original 1922 Touring top saddle pads and straps were in poor condition.
I had ordered some from a supplier and they did fit but were made from very very thin leather, unlike the originals.
I bumped into a leather crafter here in Victoria, and he made some for me with thicker black leather and new buckles which looked remarkedly like the originals.
Were the original buckles plated or simply painted black?
Just curious.

Best regards,

Steve Boothroyd
Sidney, B.C.
Canada

Hardware items intended for use with leather should be brass or nickel-plated brass, as the chemistry of tanned leather is mildly corrosive, and ferrous items do not hold up well. Perhaps the originals were "raven finish" steel, but I don't know. Paint would not wear well on buckles.

Further to Rich's observations, the very best quality harness buckles were solid nickel. Brass will still corrode, with green deposits. Nickel plating them slows this. Solid nickel just goes a little darker in colour. Heavy duty buckles like those on girth straps often had a plated steel pin as these were stronger. Russ Furstnow would be the man to ask.

Allan from down under.

Thanks for the feedback regarding the straps and buckles.
I do wonder if Old Henry would bother to make sure the strap buckles were plated due to frequent cost cutting initiatives; perhaps on the older T's?

Regards,

Steve Boothroyd
Sidney, B.C.
Canada

My father made up a new set of straps and pads for my '17 roadster. He used the original straps and pads for patterns and restored the original buckles.

Click on this link to view the straps:

http://www.mtfca.com/discus/messages/70 ... 1504485238