D. L. Bullock says "The answer to this problem is simply to recover
every bellows system that was covered more than about 5-7 years ago
using the newer Australian gum rubber cloths".

I agree, but when I recovered the pneumatics on my Ampico five
years ago, I thought I was buying the very best Australian gum rubber.
(I went to great expense.)  In less than three years the pump cloth
leaks, the motor cloth leaks, and the striker pneumatics have pin holes
in the corners.  (Yes, I put felt spacers inside them to prevent
creasing.)

In addition to poor quality of pneumatic cloth, I think that climate
and chemical conditions in the air can contribute to premature aging of
rubber and synthetic, pneumatic cloths.  Ozone is very destructive to
rubber.  Some claim that neoprene is better.  I want the best, but just
because someone says it is the best does not mean that the particular
batch of cloth you get will be good or not good.  I have come to the
conclusion that it is all luck!

Interestingly, I had a sample book of Mutty's pneumatic cloth from the
1920s.  Some of the cloth was good as new, and others were dried out
like a potato chip.

The pneumatics in my 1920 Seeburg are original, as well as the pump.
The material is still excellent!

Observe rubber bands. They used to last for years, but now, in about
six months they are long gone.

I don't know how much truth there is to this, but the old timers told
me repeatedly, that homes heated with gas would age rubber cloth faster
than in homes heated with oil, coal or wood.  One old timer told me of
the numerous times he had to replace rubber tubing on the drawer of an
Ampico in the Hotel Rochester.  He blamed it on the fine mist of oil
from the French fryer.

Where can one buy good pneumatic cloth that is guaranteed?  I sure wish
I could find it.  The formulas for good rubber are hit and miss.  Good
for a time, then someone gets the bright idea to change the formula,
and we are back were we started.  Is the formula changed for planned
obsolescence, so we will buy more?  I hope not.

Bruce Clark