I have 4 featherweights and one of them had been stored in a damp area because the bottom of the case was completely rotted and had fallen off. My husband rebuilt the bottom and I recovered it inside and out. This case was so bad most would have thrown it out. It turned out beautiful. As for the smell, it is really difficult to remove. I crumble up some newspapers and close the case up for a while. Also, I never completely close the cases because the odor becomes strong again. Enjoy your new featherweight!