How to make a brooks saddle

recently i got to visit the brooks factory in birmingham to see how they made a brooks saddle. i guess the most amazing thing is seeing that the entire process is done by hand, on machines that look like they're as old as time.

so a brooks saddle starts life as a chunk of leather. they only use the thickest part of the cow (the ass).

all the leather is cut out by hand using heavy dies

then the leather is soaked in a bath to soften it

and then meets its first press that gives it shape

it's trimmed afterwards

then it meets its second press

it then gets branded with it's model number

and of course the brooks badge

then the saddle gets its first good polish

meanwhile in another part of the factory, the metalwork is made (by hand, of course). the saddle skeleton is stamped out

and then punched into shape

titanium ones are harder, so they need to be heated to red hot first. brooks does this by putting them on the bricks, under two acetylene torches.

the rails are cut out and bent by hand

and the two parts are rivetted together

back in the leatherworks, someone rivets the nose to the saddle

the rails and skeleton are then riveted onto the saddle

and the rivets are hammered so that they're flat (!!!)

and for a swift (and i've always wondered how this got here) the sides are cut out -- by hand, of course

the saddle is then tensioned

and polished

and that's how you make a brooks saddle!

there was a good video i saw that showed it all
i think this is it
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z9w-y24Waz4

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aYirlnS19-s&feature=related

Top thread. Thanks for sharing.

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This had made me love mine even more! Great thread, cheers for posting Teddy

fascintaing and all by hand- more than justifies the price. I am hinting to my Mrs already for my birthday in Sept!

i was expecting a cheap knock off way of making a brooks, pretty cool though!

what are the white saddles in the photo before the metalwork info? i didnt know brooks made white leather saddles?

yeah i'm amazed at how labour-intensive the process is... and how much craftsmanship goes into a brooks saddle. it's the antethesis of an assemblyline. really amazing to witness.

this is the machine that tests the saddles (a bit like those ikea machines that open and close kitchen cupboards):

what are the white saddles in the photo before the metalwork info? i didnt know brooks made white leather saddles?

they're the special edition white swallow stussy collaboration. lush.

now i know why those fuckers are soo expensive....top investigation there teddy, great stuff

Wow. Great stuff Teddy. its great to see an art form still exsists

i had a similar tour of skullyChops

found the secret south london location..

Met with a secret handshake...

design process started first thing...

before the crafting phase

they're the special edition white swallow stussy collaboration. lush.

Bike Workshop in Notting hill are Londons #1 Brooks seller. they have one of these in a box. limited edition given to Brooks asellers.. its lovely. glad they have a new one on release!

wow, great pics! thanks for sharing.

thats rather tasteful for stussy not even graphiced... now how much more than a standard very expensive swallow is it?

Great, Teddy thanks for sharing, that was like watchin an episode of 'How it's made' on Discovery!

mmmm i love my brooks! thanks teddy...

Oh yeah got the the info back on your mercian ted the other day. I can scan it in and send it to you. where you want it sending to? pm us...

Jamie...

And that is why they are awesome. Tell me anything like the same care goes into a Rolls.

+1 nice pics

Good job Teddy; really excellent post.

Funny though to hear Greasy describe Bicycle Workshop (run by the fabulous Nina - best mechanic in London) as being in Notting Hill. I would have said Ladbroke Grove or Westbourne Grove. Its like people who have recently downsized to Peckham, they say its East Dulwich.

awesome work ted

I fukin live in Birmingham. Why have I not been here yet?

that's fantastic ted, a much better insight on how Brooks make their saddle, far better than what the video show.

oh man that looks like such a dream visit~