Mini-Briefcase Project

This smaller briefcase was made in the 1970s and became my first restoration project.  I was looking for something I could carry to work that would fit my iPad along with the stuff I usually carry.  When I received it, the piping on two corners was damaged and the leather was very dried out.

Here are a couple of before pictures:

I honestly had no clue what to do with the piping.  I took a needle and thread to it, which may not have been the best idea.  I then gave the bag a bath to get it clean.  After several days of applying Leather Therapy, followed by Blackrock, followed by Obenauf's, with lots of brushing and buffing in between, the leather turned into this:

It is now a beautiful, dark chocolate brown leather.  I put several coats of EdgeKote over the piping.  It is passable, but not great.  I'll try something else next time.  For my purposes, it is fine.  

I absolutely love my "new" old bag.