In answer to David Price [120802 MMDigest], I have re-covered about
fifty of these Aeolian roll motors and I have always used tan pouch
leather for the central section and glued the leather to the rubber
cloth with a flexible rubber glue (similar to a bicycle patch glue).

I never had any problems with any of them and assumed like you that
the Aeolian development team probably tried other ways and settled on
this way.  I also think it looks aesthetically pleasing to the eye.

Brian Chesters