Part I: The original camera
I bought this camera and wanted to restore it. The camera frame looks good, but the bellows is bad and several knobs are missing, no rear extension rail.
This camera is about 100 years old and was made in Rochester, New York, USA. It weighs only 12 ½ lbs without the extension rail and constructed of mahogany/cherry with polished brass hardware. Focusing is accomplished via front and back rack and pinion movements. This camera has rising and falling in the front standard, swing and tilt in the rear standard.
Part II: Camera was cleaned and the bellows was removed
Camera without bellows
Bellow frames
Part III: Make a 11x14 bellows
Fabric: 2 layer Gore Tex nylon
Craft bond glue and poster board
Pleat design for bellows
Pleat printouts
Pleats are made from poster cardboard and are ready to be glued on to fabric
Folded bellows
Folded bellows
Part IV: After installation of bellows
Is the bellows a sandwich of Gore tex, poster board, Gore tex or Gore tex, poster board, blackout panel? I have 3 cameras the need bellows and cannot afford to buy them. One is a 6x12 custom, a B&J 4x5 commercial (stripped, stained, oiled), and a large Kodak Century of unknown vintage (mostly gray enamel yet) that a cat moved into.
ReplyDeleteSeeing your grear really makes me want to get my in shape and out into the light.
Thanks.