Brooks Saddle Rivets

[iandusud]

I've just picked up a s/h Brooks B17 which would appear to have had very little use. However for some reason or other two of the rivets have been replaced. What I assume to be the originals are small copper ones. The replacements are steel (plated) and are a little corroded. I'm not too bothered by this and might replace them at a later date.

But this has got me thinking about the use of copper and steel rivets on Brooks saddles, particularly the small rivets. I'm very aware of the fitting of larger copper rivets but not of small copper rivets. Does anyone know why or when Brooks used small copper rivets rather than the steel ones?

Thanks, Ian

[MarcusT]

As far as I can see, they still use the small copper rivets. A quick look at their website should be able to help you

[iandusud]

I can't see any saddles on their website using small copper rivets, only small steel or large copper.

Ian

[Brucey]

they used to use small copper rivets at one time. I have seen saddles from the late 1950s made this way. Dunno when they changed.

FWIW I think that the steel rivets are a bad idea; sweat makes rust and any rust soon turns acidic, and this rots the leather.

I have reworked quite a few saddles using large copper rivets.

cheers

[iandusud]

I think this particular saddle dates from the mid 90s going by the badge. It is possible that all but two of the rivets have been replaced with steel ones but it looks more like two of the copper ones have been replace with steel. Small copper rivets still seem to be available:

https://www.sjscycles.co.uk/saddles/bro ... ad-byb248/

Edit: According to Brooks website that rivet, BYB248 is 12.5mm diameter although described as "small head". I'm confused!

[lescargo]

Believe I have, somewhere in a "bacca tin" Brooks type large copper rivets.
If you need these I will put them in the post if you will make donation to "Charlottes Tandems".

[iandusud]

Believe I have, somewhere in a "bacca tin" Brooks type large copper rivets.
If you need these I will put them in the post if you will make donation to "Charlottes Tandems".

Thank you for the kind offer. What I would like is a couple of copper washers with 8.75mm diameter head.

Cheers, ian

[lescargo]

Test run

[lescargo]

Washers needed?
have you tried-
A) Brooks?
B)Saddlers?
C) ad. on CTC site-someone must have tried this previously and there may be maintenance electricians with access
to SIMILAR copper washers.

Your Size??? 8.75mm. od.

IIRC From S1 (1958) washer dimensions were based on bolt shank size --D
hole =D +small clearance, outside diameter = D x 2 in your case 8.75mm. , thickness = D x 0.1 .

My guess is that Brooks would, themselves, use SADDLER's industry standard parts which evolved from 1800?? not
based on say Whitworth? bolts?
A and B best bet; you might get something very close from bag copper washers from B & Q etc.
What are you going to use as "rivet set" to support but not bruise the "face" , outside of rivet while "setting" the section inside saddle?

[alexnharvey]

I once tried to use a copper washer to repair a brooks saddle which had torn around the original rivet. It did not make a very satisfactory repair. While I've managed to dress the edges of new copper rivets I've fitted to be reasonably flush with the leather, I found it much more difficult to dress the washer edge and it stayed proud. Thinking about it again now, maybe this was because the edge of the rivets taper down or are rounded whereas the washer had a square edge. Maybe rounding it off before it's riveted would've been a good idea.

[roger]

FWIW back in the mid-fifties I got involved in modifying Brooks saddles. My father obtained the rivets and I still have tin marked "CU RIVETS" in chalk, obviously heavy duty chalk.