[pure-silver] Re: Replacement bellows for full plate camera
- From: Eric Nelson <emanmb@xxxxxxxxx>
- To: pure-silver@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Mon, 2 Feb 2009 16:15:25 -0800 (PST)
Out of curiosity I googled western bellows and found this info on a web site
that was fairly recently updated.
Eric
"Sources of Bellows Replacements
Here are some websites and other contacts for replacement bellows:
1. http://www.camerabellows.com/ This one is in the UK, so it might
not be of use to North Americans. The site provides some useful information.
One alternative, for someone who is somewhat "handy," is to send just the
original bellows to the UK folks for replication, rather than the entire
camera. These people seem to have the best reputation.
2. http://www.turnerbellows.com/ Located in Rochester, NY.
3. Western Bellows Company
9340 7th Street Suite-G
Rancho Cucamonga, CA 91730-5664
Phone: (909)980-0606
The contact information above may be dated. Apparently, the company never
bothered providing an internet presence. Some people like them, some don't.
Here's another address, which may be their newest location:
Western Bellows Company
11647 McBean Dr
El Monte, CA 91732
818-579-2766
And, here's one more address. Who knows where they are?
Western Bellows
7454 Henbane St
Etiwanda, CA 91739
(909) 980-0606
4. http://www.gortite.com/ This a new one for me. I don't have any
feedback for them.
5. Universal Bellows Company
25 Hanse Ave
Freeport, NY 11520
516-378-1264
This name appears frequently, but they may no longer be in business. Again, I
can't find an internet presence."
________________________________
From: Richard Knoppow <dickburk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: pure-silver@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Sent: Monday, February 2, 2009 3:23:49 PM
Subject: [pure-silver] Re: Replacement bellows for full plate camera
----- Original Message ----- From: "Ole Tjugen" <ole@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: <pure-silver@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Monday, February 02, 2009 10:52 AM
Subject: [pure-silver] Re: Replacement bellows for full plate camera
> Camerabellows were closed down recently, it seems the owners wanted money
> more than business.
>
> BUT: The key personnell have bought all the machinery and patterns and
> materials, and restarted the business as Custom Bellows!
>
> http://www.custombellows.co.uk/
>
> They already have the patterns for all "common" cameras (they have made all
> Linhof original bellows for the past 50 years); with non-standard things
> they prefer having the original bellows to work from. Their prices are very
> reasonable.
>
> --
> Ole Tjugen
Its good to know these people are still in business, they had the reputation
of building the best bellows and being reasonable. They were also the only
bellows maker who would work in genuine leather.
Turner bellows also has a very good reputation. I don't know if Western
Bellows is still operating, it was essentially a one-man operation.
Bellows makers usually want the original bellows with the frames if
possible. The bellows must be fitted to the frames. Probably even broken frames
will do although new ones will have to be made.
Modern bellows are usually made of synthetic material. They can look just as
good as leather bellows and have a much longer life.
The usual construction for a camera bellows is to use three layers. The
outer layer is leather or a synthetic, the inner layer is rubberized cloth with
the rubber layer facing the center of the sandwich. Modern bellows use
synthetic rubber or plastic coating on this layer. The center is made of
stiffeners. In traditional bellows these are heavy paper of the sort known as
Manilla. Modern construction uses synthetic material. The stiffeners are cut to
shape for the particular bellows and the inner and outer coverings cut. The
stiffeners are then cemented to one layer spaced with string or rods which are
later removed. Then the other layer is cemented in place and the bellows fitted
to the frames, then the seam is cemented.
Leather tends to dry out and to rot. Leather dressings in general don't do
much and once leather begins to rot nothing can be done to save it. Bellows
that develop pin holes will continue to develop more and must be replaced.
While leather is the authentic material for many bellows synthetics are better
for a practical camera.
Canvas of various sorts was also used for many old bellows.
I have a list of bellows makers but I think several of them are no longer
in business. I will post it if desired.
--
Richard Knoppow
Los Angeles, CA, USA
dickburk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
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