Folding shovel restauration question

Hello,

I recently picked up an old 1950s/1960s folding shovel and cover. Both are in a somewhat rough state and I would like to restore them a bit.



The cover is complete, the leather needs a bit of work as it is somewhat dry and brittle. The fastener in the center has been dented; it closes but also opens (too) easily.



The shovel itself is rusty but I think this will clean off with ease. After this I might try to paint it. The handle seems to be added later. It is attached with nuts and bolts instead of rivets. It also has an high gloss finish.



I would like your advise on this; what should I do?, what do the original shovels look like?

Glencoe

The handle is, for sure, a replacement. I would not repaint or rework the shovel - perhaps remove any loose rust or dirt, and then apply a light coating of oil or wax as a preservative. These shovels are fairly common, so it should be possible to find one that has the original handle and that retains much of its original paint.

The cover can be cleaned gently with soap and water. Saddle soap may be used to freshen up the leather.

They appear complete on marktplaats quite a bit, and Douwe's Dump in Ommen has a box of them in varying conditions.