As a conscientious rebuilder, I am seeking the best possible pouch leather
for some sets of Ampico unit valves.  I am _not_ anxious to do them over
again!  I hope to be in heaven by the time they require restoration again!

Just three years ago, I sent to a well-known supplier for a half skin
of leather for this purpose.  I used some, and I kept the remainder
in a glass jar to exclude impurities in the air that might lead to
deterioration.  Much to my surprise, I found the newer leather slightly
decomposed, and unsuitable for any use at all! Some very old leather
stored in the same jar is in very good condition, so I doubt if could be
a storage problem.

Recently one of our readers put me in touch with The Leather Supply House
in South bend Indiana. In turn, they sent me a very nice catalog, and an
excellent sample sheet of their finest leather. The samples shown have
two different types of leather that I feel might be suitable. One: thin
.008 pouch leather  and Two: Chrome Pneumatic of the same thickness.

The tan is the usual kind we all have seen, but the Chrome is a very thin
white leather, and I am wondering if that might hold up better than the
other. Has anyone had experience with both kinds!

Original Ampico pouches were rubberized with a very very diluted coat of
rubber cement, so dilute that one would not suspect anything had been put
on them.  Next they were powdered with talcum to absorb any stickiness
and to seal them up.

I hear conflicting comments on the use of rubber cement, and would
appreciate hearing from a variety of sources. I have used Elmer's
rubber cement with very good results in the past. In the  fifties, I
used Carter's rubber cement to seal the leather of a model B sleeve
pneumatic and it is still in very good condition. Now I hear that
Carter's is not recommended.  I'd enjoy hearing from readers in the
Digest so others may benefit, or direct E-mail me at:  bac4@juno.com

Bruce Clark