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[tfalk]

I have tried everything to remove old adhesive from the leather ( or leatherette) from a Crown speed graphic. It is also on the plastic of the rangefinder. Orange solvents don't work, film cleaner doesn't, water doesn't.
Scraping has removed alot of it, but there is still residue. Any ideas?

[speedtrials]

try lighter fluid

[brian d]

I have a can of "Mueller Tape & Tuffner Remover
Adhesive remover
...for Athletes"
It works pretty well and seems to be safe for leather/leatherette.
Sorry but I dont know where it came from, I assume a sporting goods place.

[troublemaker]

Is there old glue all over the outside of your camera? Or did you strip the leatherette?
If it's on the letherette which is still in place on the camera is it fresh or years old from a previous messy batch job?
Last couple glue repairs I did the contact cement balled right off by rubbing it with my finger tip.
I have one junk camera that someone partially stripped and made a mess of, gave up, or who knows; looked like it was dropped once or twice too. Anyway, I got all the old glue off the mahogany using a mild paint remover and careful scraping with a sharp straight edge same way I would old varnish on a fine piece furniture or an old tripod.
If its old adhesive on the outside of the leatherette it's kinda hard to say. Laquer thinner, acetone, trichlorethane, or something really aggressive might only damage the old covering and not soften the glue very much. Naptha lighter fluid may work a littel better but don't burn the house down. Not as harsh as Acetone type reducers. Green cleaner probably wont phase it, nor paint thinner. if it wont chip off the leatherette it has bonded made a good bite with the surface of the covereing so be careful. If it's not too bad it may be better to leave it alone for now, and just not worry about it.

[tfalk]

It came from some peel and stick Vecro put on by the previous owner, probably to keep the focusing cloth in place. There are now square spots that are whitish in appearance and I'd like them to blend into the leatherette as best as possible. I quess some kind of touch up to make them less noticeable is the best answer. Thanks for the ideas, though.

[troublemaker]

Hum? yeah probably the velcro thing.
If it's adhesive I might try carefully picking or scrapingit off with a razor blade but trying not to take off the synthetic letherette with it. If it wont come off dry, maybe soften witha little solvent as suggested. Then if the covering is discolored either use a dye shoe polish maybe even paint, but with an eye for blending in the spots like you intend.
As is ussually the case with instructions I seem to read after the fact on product labels, I'd start with the most inconspicuous spot.
Have fun.