I would like to know what has worked to preserve pseudo leather covering found on things like portable radios, some test equipment, quack medical boxes, etc. This material was often black and seems to me to be actually some kind of paper.

I have tried damp cloth for cleaning, vinegar to attack mold and Armor All as final protection. But I suspect there are better ways to preserve this stuff.

The Trans-Oceanic book by Bryant and Cones addresses the covering of T/Os, called "Black Stag" by Zenith. For scuffs, bare spots, etc., they recommend black aniline shoe dye (not liquid shoe polish). If Armor-All has been previously applied, it has to be removed with Murphy's Oil Soap.

Then the surface area can be restored with regular black paste shoe polish. Use two or three coats of the polish. Don't "spit-shine" to a mirror finish - rather it should glow, with the raised areas somewhat shiney and the depressed areas being jet black, but not shiney. They say that the black shoe polish idea was recommended by Zenith.

Somewhere on the internet, I seem to recall seing a source for replacent Black Stag covering. Installing that would be a chore, I fear.
Doug

:I would like to know what has worked to preserve pseudo leather covering found on things like portable radios, some test equipment, quack medical boxes, etc. This material was often black and seems to me to be actually some kind of paper.
:
:I have tried damp cloth for cleaning, vinegar to attack mold and Armor All as final protection. But I suspect there are better ways to preserve this stuff.
:

Black/brown/tan shoe polish is the best..the high "fat" content keeps material(s) plyable and it is a perfect preserver. It is what I have used for years and seems to work GREAT!!

:The Trans-Oceanic book by Bryant and Cones addresses the covering of T/Os, called "Black Stag" by Zenith. For scuffs, bare spots, etc., they recommend black aniline shoe dye (not liquid shoe polish). If Armor-All has been previously applied, it has to be removed with Murphy's Oil Soap.
:
:Then the surface area can be restored with regular black paste shoe polish. Use two or three coats of the polish. Don't "spit-shine" to a mirror finish - rather it should glow, with the raised areas somewhat shiney and the depressed areas being jet black, but not shiney. They say that the black shoe polish idea was recommended by Zenith.
:
:Somewhere on the internet, I seem to recall seing a source for replacent Black Stag covering. Installing that would be a chore, I fear.
:Doug
:
:
:
::I would like to know what has worked to preserve pseudo leather covering found on things like portable radios, some test equipment, quack medical boxes, etc. This material was often black and seems to me to be actually some kind of paper.
::
::I have tried damp cloth for cleaning, vinegar to attack mold and Armor All as final protection. But I suspect there are better ways to preserve this stuff.
::
:

Thanks for the replies.