I have recently acquired an Anniversary Speed Graphic which I think is a wartime model, as there are no chromed metal parts, all of them are blackened. The serial number is 318023. Could you Please provide me with a date?

Finally, the leather cover of the case is a bit dirty and dry. Any suggestions about the correct way of cleaning it without ruining it?

Thanks in advance and regards.

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: guscano on 2004-10-18 00:44 ]</font>

Since it's leather, I suppose the correct thing to use would be saddle soap. However, I'm not one to stand on tradition so I just spray 'em with Formula 409 and rub it off with a rag. You will be surprised how much crud you can get off one of these things. After it's clean enough that the finish looks even, I touch it up with some black leather dye where needed and give it 2 or 3 good coats of Kiwi Parade Gloss shoe polish. Don't use liquid shoe polish. Others will have alternate ideas and might yell at me for the 409 but it works very well.

For a deep clean I use D&L hand cleaner. When I worked in the Conservation Dept at The Henry Ford Museum, we used D&L exclusively for leather harness, tack and such.

Thanks for your help. I´ll have to check out the equivalent in Spain of some of the products you mention, but I´m sure that with your suggestions the leather of my camera will last another 60 years.

Best regards.

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: guscano on 2004-10-17 00:23 ]</font>

D&L hand cleaner is a trade name for waterless hand cleaner used my auto mechanics, another trade name is Goop. Both basicall the same but D&L had lanolin in it to keep the leather from drying out.

I never thought of using the hand cleaner but it makes sense. Gojo is another brand that I believe has lanolin. You should be able to find the hand cleaner under many brand names at auto parts stores. Be sure you don't get the kind containing pumice though. That would not be good.