flared sides on brooks b17

[PW]

I currently have 2 1970s vintage B17s, and a brand new Swift. The B17s are like carpet slippers, I don't know I'm sat down. The Swift I'm getting used to, gradually.

[skipper]

The suggestion for lacing the sides together was one that was also made to me just recently by an older guy commenting on my Brooks Swift and what, in his youth, he and his friends did to counteract the flaring of leather saddles.

As an aside, the Swift seems to suit me very well and so much so that I am after a second one .............so if anyone has one but is unhappy upon it, let me know.....

skipper

[glueman]

This issue can be addressed by drilling some holes along both of the edges of the saddle and lacing the sides together.

That's sabotage to work of art and workmanship..

In case anyone should imagine lace holes are a homebrewed mod, Brooks supply some models with drillings already done, as they have in the past. I think Wrights' saddles were often drilled for lacing too.
Fashions have changed between one or two ferruled holes to a line of decorative perforations, but both do the same job of gathering the sides together.