Is Wisner out of business ?

Falkenberg · Dec 18, 2007

I have tried to email the people at Wisner for some time, but with no reply. Tried to call the today, but the phone seemed to be down with no reply.

Do any of You know why they are not ansvering ?

Richard T Ritter · Dec 18, 2007

The truth be told no one knows.

If you need parts or service I have been repairing his cameras for the past 10 years.

Richard Ritter
www.lg4mat.net

Emile de Leon · Dec 18, 2007

Ron Wisner is still in business. His workshop in Marion MA is up and running. I visited there 2 mos ago and all the equipment up is ready to go. Essentially the company consists of Marie (his head woodworker for 15 years) and him. Cameras can take longer or shorter to make, you can never tell. But patience is definately a virtue here. The cameras that have been coming out recently have been a cut above those in the past. He has and wants less orders (doesnt want the pressure anymore), and takes his time with the cameras now so the fit and finish is much better. If you need a small order like a lensboard or similar, if it is not in stock be prepared to wait. I'm taking orders for him at this point in time and am his only dealer for new equipment right now. I have some lensboards and Wisner adapter boards in stock at good prices. Emile/www.deleon-ulf.com

Dave Wooten · Dec 18, 2007

Thanks Emile, that is good news indeed!
Best of luck to you, Ron, and Marie, and a joyous holiday season to all!

Michael Kadillak · Dec 18, 2007

Richard T Ritter said:
The truth be told no one knows.

If you need parts or service I have been repairing his cameras for the past 10 years.

Richard Ritter
www.lg4mat.net

For the last ten years Richard has been fixing what should have been caught and corrected by any semblance of quality control from the Wisner factory. Fact is that people that drop significant dollars on a ULF camera are not to keen on waiting for protracted periods for simple repair jobs because they (like me) want to make photographs. If it were not for Richard I would have been screwed, blued and tattooed with my Wisner experiences.

No offense Emil but the average LF/ULF photographer has about as much patience as a bear that just came out of hibernation. Qualify all you want but when I hear that there is Ron and a single employee in the camera making business, I question just how much work is really capable of being done? That may very be the reason that the phone is not being answered. Obviously it is rather difficult to use a band saw and take a camera order at the same time.

Thankfully that there are several new camera makers that have come into this market and are meeting this demand for quality Lf and ULF cameras very effectively.

That said, the future is still very bright and vibrant.

PHOTOTONE · Dec 18, 2007

Perhaps Wisner has an independent income, and this is more of a serious hobby business for him? Nothing like needing to earn a living to get production up.

Keith Pitman · Dec 18, 2007

If he doesn't answer emails inviting business, I would say he has abandoned his business. Who would want to do business with someone who doesn't want the business? Save yourself a lot of frustration and find someone else to buy a camera from or repair a Wisner. Too bad, I really liked his cameras. I still have one I use.

michael9793 · Dec 18, 2007

My ebony is of quality and nothing short of perfection. I have a 8x10 and a 4x5. The only other LF or ULF camera that can match is a deardorff, and from what I heard was the Deardorff family is getting back into the camera business.

mike a

garysamson · Dec 18, 2007

I have been waiting a year for two 12x20 film holders. When I occasionally reach him via email there is always the promise of delivery in a week or so but......................... you know the rest of the story.

John Kasaian · Dec 19, 2007

michael9793 said:
My ebony is of quality and nothing short of perfection. I have a 8x10 and a 4x5. The only other LF or ULF camera that can match is a deardorff, and from what I heard was the Deardorff family is getting back into the camera business.

mike a

From what was posted on Tuan's site, Jack Deardorff has sadly passed away.

jgjbowen · Dec 19, 2007

garysamson said:
I have been waiting a year for two 12x20 film holders. When I occasionally reach him via email there is always the promise of delivery in a week or so but......................... you know the rest of the story.

Gary,

I would have sent that order to Quality Camera (S&S) or Fred Newman (AWB) so fast and never looked back. A year is waaaaaay toooooo loooong to wait for a couple film holders.

Just my 2 cents,

Falkenberg · Dec 19, 2007

Wisner contact

Emile de Leon said:
Ron Wisner is still in business. ...

If You talk to Ron could You ask him if there is any chance that he might put out the design specs on the Polaroid Developer and filmholders. From what I read elsewhere he discontinued the production of them. It would be a nice gesture to the ULF society. Or perhaps someone with good connections at Polaroid can make the publicise the specs.

Dave Wooten · Dec 19, 2007

Falkenberg said:
If You talk to Ron could You ask him if there is any chance that he might put out the design specs on the Polaroid Developer and filmholders. From what I read elsewhere he discontinued the production of them. It would be a nice gesture to the ULF society. Or perhaps someone with good connections at Polaroid can make the publicise the specs.

There was one for sale on ebay a few weeks back....check the archives, I think it still might be on the market.

I certainly would not give my designs for zip!!!

Keith Pitman · Dec 19, 2007

jgjbowen said:
Gary,

I would have sent that order to Quality Camera (S&S) or Fred Newman (AWB) so fast and never looked back. A year is waaaaaay toooooo loooong to wait for a couple film holders.

Just my 2 cents,

I waited for over a year for film holders from Ron a few years ago. I finally gave up and acquire filmholders elsewhere. I'm not sure Wisner ever made a filmholder.

Ted Harris · Dec 19, 2007

1) Go to Richard ... he is great and work far superior to Wisner's

2) Ron has money from other sources so yes, you could call it a hobby business

Daniel Grenier · Dec 20, 2007

I own a 7x17 Wisner and although I love the camera, I hope the hell I never have to get anything from Wisner as they have taken mediocrity of service to new lows.

Don12x20 · Dec 20, 2007

Gary

AWB Enterprises can, and does, make 12x20 (and other holdes).
Alan is very responsive and will give you an honest estimate of the length of time it takes. His work is excellent. I've had 6 of each 7x17 and 12x20 holders since 1995 and have had NO problems with them. He can also custom build hard cases for your holders - I use these for transport.

Gary -- maybe its time to cancel and find another source?

I have not ties with AWB, other than a satisfied user.

Don

resummerfield · Dec 20, 2007

.....And I'm another very satisfied AWB user.

TheFlyingCamera · Dec 20, 2007

Me three. I have three of his 5x12 holders. Beautifully made, no leaks, gaps or other issues. When I have another spare $1K to burn I'll order three more to take on a major expedition somewhere. They're objects of true beauty in addition to total functionality.

RobertP · Dec 20, 2007

I use AWB holders also. for 8x20 and 12x20. I agree with Don. They are some of the best built on the market. He is also building a wet-plate holder for me now. My only complaint is I can never get off the phone with him once we start talking. A good guy and great craftsman. He is basically a 1-3 man operation so his lead times can be somewhat long but he will be upfront and honest with you about when you will get your order. His double light trap design makes for a really light- tight holder. And I also have no ties with AWB... just another satisfied customer.

Robert Brummitt · Dec 20, 2007

Grrrr.

Don't get me started on Mr. Wisner. He doesn't have customer services and I would never forward his cameras to anyone.

Mahler_one · Dec 20, 2007

Wisner quality

I too was thinking of purchasing a Wisner camera, but necessarily on the "used - but excellent, and like new". market After some inquiries, I noted a repititious response: Wisner cameras were, for a while, well made and reliable. However, after a time the quality control became very poor, and new cameras with assorted defects arrived at vendors and end users. Repairs became difficult to obtain, and the promises noted previously were never kept. Not knowing whether or not the factory had a "bad day" when a given camera was built, I decided not to take a chance on a used Wisner camera-despite the wonderful reputation of Mr. Ritter. There are other cameras on the market, made of both wood and hybrid materials. Thus, there appeared to be no need to "take a chance" on a camera that might have been, originally, "a lemon". One wonders if the "new Wisner factory" is making cameras any better. If Ron Wisner is serious about getting back into business it is possible that he might have to sell some cameras "on approval" before he will be trusted again. Just my two cents.

Edwin

Emile de Leon · Dec 20, 2007

I'm really sorry to hear there is so much dissapointment in Wisners service years after he has for all practicality...dissapeared. This is why it is so good to have guys like Richard Ritter available and willing to fix the problems that Ron will not address. Ron is responsible for most if not all his service problems as head of the company and can either take resposibility for this or not. I myself at times have been frustrated w/Ron but he always came thru in the end for me without fail. He would straighten out any and all of the issues I had, no matter how small but... I live near the factory and can just drive over for a fix if necessary. If I lived further away the situation might have been different. Basically as I read it Ron loves cameras and loves making them. Eventually his business got too big to manage effectively and he overloaded on it and made the decision to downsize extensively to the point of invisibility for everyones sake. There are those out there who love his product and those who are less than enchanted. At this point in time for those who are interested let me know what you want and I might be able to get it for you but there are no guarantees. He has essentially dissapeared but will make orders now and then for those interested. He is more than capable of making an entire camera himself and is also lucky to have Marie there to help as well with the bellows/lacquering/etc. Money I would think is not the motivating factor here so those who order will have to wait and if the camera does not arrive on time will receive a refund.
One more thing...please get your ULF filmholders from one of the major companies extant. This should be obvious to anyone in the ULF field. As far as the 20x24 camera specs...Ron does not want to make these anymore because of Polaroid's bankruptcy issues and general instability.
There are many companies out there now, here and abroad that will be happy to make a ULF camera for you. Probably faster than Wisner. For those that need a Wisner or rear gearing etc. He might make one for you. For those that can't wait...you know where to go...
Happy Holidays.

sanking · Dec 21, 2007

jgjbowen said:
Gary,

I would have sent that order to Quality Camera (S&S) or Fred Newman (AWB) so fast and never looked back. A year is waaaaaay toooooo loooong to wait for a couple film holders.

Just my 2 cents,

Not sure what your time line is but we (S&S) just made a batch of 30+ holders in 12X20 size and could deliver to your door in 2-3 weeks. You can order directly from S&S (me) , or through QCC in Atlanta, or through Richard Ritter for his cameras or modifications.

Sandy King

Robert Brummitt · Dec 21, 2007

"For those that need a Wisner or rear gearing etc. He might make one for you. For those that can't wait...you know where to go...
Happy Holidays.[/QUOTE]

No where? :confused:

Is Wisner out of business ?

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