On the subject of telling leather (or ivory, or bone) from rubber (or hard
plastic, or resin) another method besides the dissecting microscope is to
heat a straight pin to red hot (with a match or lighter) and apply it to an
inconspicuous part of the object in question. If it smells like burning
hair, it's organic. If it smells like burning rubber or plastic, or just
melts, it's man-made. At least that's what the guy on the Antiques
Roadshow claims. :-).
By the way, the covering on the wheel of my 74 TR6 is without a doubt
molder rubber. Tiny chunks have come off the backside.
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