Gentlemen, I've have thoroughly enjoyed this forum, to the point that I have taken the step to try to rehab old gloves. I've only tinkered with newer gloves (60's on) so I'm not sure about the old gloves and what to look for. I bought an old Rawlings Eddie Mathews Playmaker to use as my "project" (being a lifelong Braves fan and still having my old Hank Aaron glove from my childhood).
A little advice on a few items would be greatly appreciated. I have removed the basket and old broken lacing and began cleaning the glove with FastOrange and then wiped it down with petroleum jelly. I considered this the initial step. It removed a lot of grime and black.
1. At what point should I quit trying to clean the glove? I don't want to rub the thing to death but would like to get it to some semblance of the original color (if possible). By the way, what would I expect on the original color, a dark brown?
2. How soft and flexible should the glove get? Were the thumbs and pinkies designed to be stiffer? The leather is in good shape with some superficial cracking but no splits. Should I work the glove like a modern one to try to make it more flexible?
I probably have more things to ask but don't want to bore or run you guys off.
Thanks in advance for your advice,
Scott