Caring for Norma's Bellows

[Woodhead]

Does anybody know what material the Sinar Norma bellows was made from please, and how to care for it?
I have square tapered, regular and bag in an Expert kit I've just bought and they smell musty (as does the case).

I'd like to do apply some caring treatment but am unsure which products might work best.
They appear to be possibly leather on the outside, I say that as they have a shiny surface.
And the interior appears woven so I presume a cloth.

I certainly don't want to do them any harm by jumping in with the wrong treatment.
I've read suggestions of Brooks proofide, Neatsfoot oil or Neutrogena hand cream for leather, but I'm not sure if Sinar are real leather or a synthetic.

Thanks.

 

[AgX]

Have you found a cause for that smell?
Not that there necessarily must be one; I got several super-clean plastic cameras that just took over most extreme musty smell from their storing environment before I got them. The same for books. Even they can take over such smell without showing the slightest visual sign of fungus anywhere.

 

[Woodhead]

I think it's the case which eminates the mustiness as the filter pouches also smell the same.
Have just had a good go with isopropyl rubbing alcohol on the case, though I'm hesitating using that on bellows.

 

[Jerevan]

Whatever you do, get the camera out of that case. Unless you absolutely need to work out of the case and transport the Norma to odd locations, just get rid of it.

The case is really a home for musty smells and future fungus, almost no matter how you store it.

As for the bellows, I have used a damp cloth to wipe them down. I think they made leather bellows early on for the Norma, but the later ones seems to be of some other material.

 

[shutterfinger]

When I get a musty smelling camera its usually from the inside of the bellows so I spray them down with Lysol Disinfectant Spray http://www.amazon.co.uk/Reckitt-793...?ie=UTF8&qid=1449950688&sr=8-3&keywords=lysol .
Camerapedia shows the Norma was introduced in 1948 so there is a good chance the bellows are made from Naugahyde. If they are very dirty you can clean them with Isopropyl Alcohol 90% version preferred then coat with Pledge
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Pledge-Furn...&qid=1449950895&sr=8-2&keywords=pledge+polish . The lemon oil and beeswax in Pledge will soften and protect leather or naugahyde. I use neetsfoot oil on leather that is very dry. Use the pure neetsfoot oil not the blended on camera leather. Any good vinyl cleaner or conditioner should work fine. I'm not a fan of Armorall and would not use it on camera gear. Lexol leather conditioner will sometimes leave a sticky residue. I have also used Windex window cleaner to clean vinyl bellows followed with pledge with no ill effects.

Have the bellows fully extended and support from the inside when cleaning and treating with conditioner. I spray the Windex on then wipe off with a paper towel. I spray a heavy coat of Pledge onto all sides of the bellows, allow it to sit for 5 to 30 minutes depending on how dry they appear then rub in while wiping off the excess. Apply neetsfoot oil sparingly with a cotton ball or similar.

 

[Woodhead]

Thanks all, very useful info, appreciated.

 

[DREW WILEY]

My Norma bellows are synthetic. I would never use beeswax or lemon oil or handcream (!!#*!) etc on something like that. As far as products
alleged marketed for vinyl protection are concerned, always read the label or MSDS sheet to be sure no silicone is in them, or it is likely to degrade the inner lining fabric.

 

[Woodhead]

Thanks Drew. I used 'Leather Silk' aerosol for the outside, which has in big letters "Non Silicone". This seems to have cleaned them gently and left a nice lustre. The instructions says for real and synthetic leather. I haven't used it on the inside though.

While waiting for Lysol to arrive I tried a 50/50 dilution of isopropyl alcohol and distilled white vinegar to wipe down the inside pleats. This seems to have killed the musty smell, though replaced it with one of vinegar! So I've had all three bellows (square, square tapered and bag) set up extended on the rail with a desk fan blowing a constant draft through the tunnel for a day. This seems to have rid the sour vinegar odour.

The Expert case which seemed to be the source of the problem I first doused with the alcohol, then the vinegar and it still stank. So I had a go with a Dettol disinfectant spray and that's fixed that. Personally I don't enjoy the looks of the 1950's suitcase so this will be retired as soon as I find a more modern Sinar box. I did try packing the kit in a couple of bags I have, and even the massive Cinebags Camera Daddy couldn't comfortably take it. The clever design of the Sinar cases seems to really make use of every inch.

 

[AgX]

..., always read the label or MSDS sheet to be sure no silicone is in them, or it is likely to degrade the inner lining fabric.

I do not see how it could degrade the fabric.
But Silicone oil and grease easily form a hard te remove slippery mess. That is why wherever possible I try to avoid them.

 

[DREW WILEY]

Guess I was lucky that my Norma came from a studio where gear was pampered and the original tapered bellows was pristine. Then I doubled my luck and found a second tapered bellows in new condition. That should last me the duration. I really prefer the original tapered bellows to the later Sinar box bellows. It's more versatile, over a wider range of lenses without resorting to an intermediate support. But I also have a fine bag bellows as well as a 28-inch Horseman long bellows in good shape that doesn't sag, left over from my f2 days. The standard box bellows come in handy for compendium lens shades with the Sinar rod and clips. I carry my gear in external-frame backpacks
of similar vintage. They just don't make packs like they used to either!