The Workshop Journal
Est. 2001 • Long Island, NY
I'm a lifelong woodworker, amateur photographer, and collector of antique cameras. As a retired electrician turned full-time craftsman, I've spent my second career doing the kind of work I've always loved — working with my hands and bringing old things back to life.
My interest in restoring and collecting vintage cameras is what started all of this. I began crafting replacement leather straps for classic Kodak Brownie cameras as a way to help fellow collectors bring these historic pieces back to their original glory. That one project became Whisky Leather.
Today I make handcrafted leather straps for Brownie, Rainbow Hawk-Eye, and other vintage box cameras, along with NFC-embedded leather keychains. I also restore antique Singer sewing machines and build custom wooden display bases for them. Everything is made by hand, one piece at a time, right here on Long Island.
01 — Select & Cut
We start with quality full-grain leather, selecting the right weight and texture for each product.
02 — Shape & Finish
Each piece is hand-cut and finished. For Rainbow Hawk-Eye straps, we apply period-accurate paint by hand.
03 — Quality Check
Every strap is inspected and tested before shipping. We're not happy until it looks like it belongs on your camera.
Custom sizes at no extra cost
If we don't list your camera model, just ask. We'll make it fit.
Personal communication
We verify every order and reach out if something doesn't look right.
Fast turnaround
Most orders ship next business day.
25+ years in the community
We collect and restore cameras ourselves — this isn't a side hustle.
0
Customers
0
Positive Feedback
0
Years of Craft
Ready to Restore Your Camera?
Browse our collection or reach out for a custom order.