Bencher is gone: copystands and Majestic tripods

[darkroommike]

I've been poking around online and the Bencher website now redirects to two makers of radio equipment. I finally sent both an email. The firms are Vibroplex, LLC and DX Engineering. It seemed to me a shame that the amateur radio parts of the business were passed on and nothing is left of the copystand and Majestic tripod part of their business. Both responded, the one company DX Engineering referred me to the other company, Vibroplex. Vibroflex, on the other hand just said that Bencher is closed.

It would seem to me a shame that the photo community has less interest in such things than the amateur radio market. I have a couple of Majestics that have issues (mostly DIY repairs done by former owners!) and I would have liked to pick up a couple extra camera screws. (Their baseplate screw is marvelous, only works with the Majestic plate, and is pretty complicated.)

Any help would be appreciated, does anyone know if these parts are sitting in a warehouse or who I could contact?

 

[Rick A]

Old news, Bencher shut down more than a year ago.

 

[darkroommike]

Well yes, Rick, and thank you for your very, very helpful comment. Since I just this week tried to get a tripod screw this week it was new news to me. And I am sure that others are in the same boat. I have continued contact with the companies that bought the ham radio inventories and product lines of Bencher and they both say the tripod and copy stand inventory not longer exists. Who knew that amateur radio was a bigger market than photography?