camerabellows WAS ceasing production, resuming production as Custom Bellows

[JBrunner]

It's a sign of how Capitalism works US style, make a profit and we close you because our greed says that profit isn't high enough

Ian

Much as I get sick of people talking about the US based on stereotype, in this case I must admit Ian is more right than wrong, and it makes me sick. (the truth of it, not Ian being right)

 

[mikebarger]

I hate seeing any of the traditional photography companies go under for whatever reason, but I can't fault owners/investors putting their money where they think they will get a better return.

Kinda reminds me of a guy in Lawrence, Kansas that farmed and happened to own a 80 that was still virgin prairie. Not much of that left in NE Kansas.

Well, he decided he needed income from that 80 and set about plowing it under. He was close enough to Lawrence that people stopped and told him he couldn't plow up native prairie.

I think he gave them the day, maybe two, to get the money together if they wanted to save the 80. Anyway no one decided it was worth buying or preserving. It was in crops later that season. I know there are a couple guys here from Lawrence, help me if I get to far off base.

Capitalism or not, I think people should have the right to maintain their property as they see fit. Just as the Lawrence farmer did.

In this case, I wish they had chose differently. But it is their money and their choice.

Wish I had a flame proof suit.

Mike

 

[JBrunner]

I hate seeing any of the traditional photography companies go under for whatever reason, but I can't fault owners/investors putting their money where they think they will get a better return.

Kinda reminds me of a guy in Lawrence, Kansas that farmed and happened to own a 80 that was still virgin prairie. Not much of that left in NE Kansas.

Well, he decided he needed income from that 80 and set about plowing it under. He was close enough to Lawrence that people stopped and told him he couldn't plow up native prairie.

I think he gave them the day, maybe two, to get the money together if they wanted to save the 80. Anyway no one decided it was worth buying or preserving. It was in crops later that season. I know there are a couple guys here from Lawrence, help me if I get to far off base.

Capitalism or not, I think people should have the right to maintain their property as they see fit. Just as the Lawrence farmer did.

In this case, I wish they had chose differently. But it is their money and their choice.

Wish I had a flame proof suit.

Mike

You can't argue the right, but the wisdom of the choice is debatable. The whole mess everyone is in is precisely because of the need for "maximum ROI". Somewhere the business schools screwed up.

 

[Vivid-Vision]

it was quite probable that something might come from the ashes... ...it's probably easier to cease trading and then Tony Eaton start trading on his own...

Hi. Tony Eaton will continue trading under the new name "Custom Bellows". Check out www.custombellows.co.uk for more info. James

 

[David A. Goldfarb]

Good news! I've updated the title of the thread to reflect the current state of affairs.

 

[df cardwell]

YIPPEE ! My WATSON WILL LIVE AGAIN !

d

 

[Ian Grant]

That's excellent news

Ian

 

[Uhner]

This is good news indeed. I will in all likelihood use their services next year.

 

[michaelbsc]

Hi. Tony Eaton will continue trading under the new name "Custom Bellows". Check out www.custombellows.co.uk for more info. James

As an owner of a tiny little business myself, I am going to warn you about his survival. He's going to have more startup costs than anticipated? Why? I don't know, but that's always what happens; it *ALWAYS* takes more than planned. So if you want him to make a go of this, and you've got plans to order a bellows "soon" from him, then if you can possibly scrape together and order it *NOW* so that he's got a shot of cash at the start, then the long term prospect of survival are significantly improved.

After all, the previous owners didn't shut it down because there were buckets of money flowing in the door with no effort or risk on their part. They shut it down because it was a marginal business. Period. End of story. Don't kid yourself. Nobody shuts down a high ROI shop that has good long term prospects. They shut down risky or marginal operations.

That's not to say that Tony won't make changes which will turn it into a better business unit than he could make with the old owners, but to make any changes which ensure his long term operations he's going to need cash. Unless he just won a lottery that means he needs sales. So, if you're fence sitting, jump.

MB

 

[rwyoung]

I hate seeing any of the traditional photography companies go under for whatever reason, but I can't fault owners/investors putting their money where they think they will get a better return.

Kinda reminds me of a guy in Lawrence, Kansas that farmed and happened to own a 80 that was still virgin prairie. Not much of that left in NE Kansas.

Well, he decided he needed income from that 80 and set about plowing it under. He was close enough to Lawrence that people stopped and told him he couldn't plow up native prairie.

I think he gave them the day, maybe two, to get the money together if they wanted to save the 80. Anyway no one decided it was worth buying or preserving. It was in crops later that season. I know there are a couple guys here from Lawrence, help me if I get to far off base.

Capitalism or not, I think people should have the right to maintain their property as they see fit. Just as the Lawrence farmer did.

In this case, I wish they had chose differently. But it is their money and their choice.

Wish I had a flame proof suit.

Mike

I'll check into it for you Mike. Certainly sounds plauseable enough. Lots of ex-hippies around here who like to rouse rabble but when it comes down to actually DOING something they melt into the background...

 

[Ulrich Drolshagen]

Hi. Tony Eaton will continue trading under the new name "Custom Bellows". Check out www.custombellows.co.uk for more info. James

Though I am not in need of a new bellows now, I see this message with great relief.

Ulrich

 

[Ian Grant]

Go see the Funky pink Bulldog 5x4 camera too, there's a new website for these cameras too

Tony Eaton and his helpers have done a remarkable job in ensuring there's continuity by getting this new website up on the internet quickly, even though it's not finished yet, but it's an excellent start.

Ian

 

[df cardwell]

Ian, I've had warm feelings about the Bulldogs for a while...
for portraiture, with my 6" Ross Combinable,
it'd be about perfect.

Dunno about pink.

Maybe the nice family tartan.

 

[Ian Grant]

Ian, I've had warm feelings about the Bulldogs for a while...
for portraiture, with my 6" Ross Combinable,
it'd be about perfect.

Dunno about pink.

Maybe the nice family tartan.

Maybe paint the Bulldog a matching Green, you could cover the Bellows in the Tartan, or better still get a bespoke set made

Ian

 

[tim_walls]

Go see the Funky pink Bulldog 5x4 camera too, there's a new website for these cameras too

Tony Eaton and his helpers have done a remarkable job in ensuring there's continuity by getting this new website up on the internet quickly, even though it's not finished yet, but it's an excellent start.

Ian

Why on Earth have I not seen those cameras before? They look brilliant!

I wonder if I could convince the wife to go about 3 times over Christmas present budget this late in the day...

 

[Ian Grant]

Why on Earth have I not seen those cameras before? They look brilliant!

I wonder if I could convince the wife to go about 3 times over Christmas present budget this late in the day...

What's Christmas, they don't celebrate it here

You could have one each . . . . . . .

Trevor Chrone wrote a good review in B&W magazine, about 2 years ago, they are very basic but functional & cheap.

Ian

 

[df cardwell]

Maybe paint the Bulldog a matching Green, you could cover the Bellows in the Tartan, or better still get a bespoke set made

Ian

Gosh, Ian... can't you just see a tartan,
on a set of bellows whose pleats all line up like a kilt ?

Just incredible.

6 yards of bellows, though.

Maybe a nice deep gloss black with rhinestones like an accordion ?

 

[Trevor Crone]

SNIP; Trevor Chrone wrote a good review in B&W magazine, about 2 years ago, they are very basic but functional & cheap.

Ian

Ian, you can drop your H's

Actually I still have the review sample that I built for that review; they never did ask for it back. Indeed it's a basic kit but certainly capable of delivering good pictures that are no different from those taken on view camera's costing a grand or more. Just don't expect the same build quality, flexibility, longevity, you get what you pay for and what you pay for is a decent kit.

 

[Steve Hamley]

I'm assuming Tony may be watching the thread; I have a need for two ready as soon as he can take them, and two more in the very near future.

Cheers,

Steve

 

[tim_walls]

Actually I still have the review sample that I built for that review; they never did ask for it back. Indeed it's a basic kit but certainly capable of delivering good pictures that are no different from those taken on view camera's costing a grand or more. Just don't expect the same build quality, flexibility, longevity, you get what you pay for and what you pay for is a decent kit.

It sounds great; I'm seriously considering it - I have a monorail at home I use for still life/studio type stuff, but I've never been able to justify the cost of a field camera for the relatively few times I'd actually envisage using it (I can't drive so I get everywhere on foot or by public transport, which means I try to take a minimum of kit.) And the pleasure of building it is a big draw!

I also quite like the idea of painting it up in Chelsea blue and yellow .


And of course, it seems like it would be a good way of supporting Custom Bellows (assuming they do continue to make them, naturally.)

 

[Ian Grant]

And of course, it seems like it would be a good way of supporting Custom Bellows (assuming they do continue to make them, naturally.)

The Bulldog website is new I think, it's run by Vivid-Vision, as is the Custom Bellows site. It shows the 10x8 camera which wasn't on the Camera Bellows website, and the Shopping cart is Live and allows payment by Paypal.

So go for it.

Ian

 

[Trevor Crone]

It sounds great; I'm seriously considering it - I have a monorail at home I use for still life/studio type stuff, but I've never been able to justify the cost of a field camera for the relatively few times I'd actually envisage using it (I can't drive so I get everywhere on foot or by public transport, which means I try to take a minimum of kit.) And the pleasure of building it is a big draw!

I also quite like the idea of painting it up in Chelsea blue and yellow .


And of course, it seems like it would be a good way of supporting Custom Bellows (assuming they do continue to make them, naturally.)

Tim, its certainly light and compact enough to carry with ease. As its a none folder you can leave almost any lens attached during transportation.

 

[Keith Lowe]

Camera Bellows is coming back

Thanks to the powers that be, we have been closed down, it is unfortunate but there is light at the end of the tunnel. Myself and Tony Eaton are looking at taking the business over and hope to be up and running by late February, we have had excellent feedback from all of our customers who have been very supportive in our efforts to carry on with the business. We have a new website under construction at the momment www.custombellows.co.uk so please bear with us, we will be back soon

 

[herb]

Camera Bellows

I feel justified posting as I just read all 8 pages of posts, so entitled!

Mark Kapono made a replacement bellows for a 6x9 Horseman VHR, which is quite tricky as it has to fold up in a VERY tight space.

He did a great job, looks better than the original, and was not a long time in delivering.

Don't have any experience with larger bellows and Mark.

 

[jp80874]

Thanks to the powers that be, we have been closed down, it is unfortunate but there is light at the end of the tunnel. Myself and Tony Eaton are looking at taking the business over and hope to be up and running by late February, we have had excellent feedback from all of our customers who have been very supportive in our efforts to carry on with the business. We have a new website under construction at the momment www.custombellows.co.uk so please bear with us, we will be back soon

Congartulations and good luck for you. I am very happy with the 4x5 Linhof Technikardan bellows you built three years ago and certainly hope you are doing well when I need a new bellows for any of three cameras.

I think that it is a wonderful idea for you to keep in touch with this group as it is a most likely source of future business. If you have not already done so, you might also join the Large Format Forum as another good source of prospects.
http://www.largeformatphotography.info/forum/index.php

John Powers