Jack Deardorff speaks

[eclarke]

I had the pleasure of attending a joint meeting of the Mid-states Imaging and Photographic association and The Chicago Photographic Collectors Society. Jack Deardorff spoke about the history of the Deardorff company, it's cameras and camera related innovations over the years. Jack has founded a new company called Deardorff Phpotographic Products International and is making new view cameras in all formats including even some new ones. A design for a 5.5x14" model is pending! He showed a 12x20 bellows with 52" of draw which had virtually no sag. He also had 5 of his new 5x7 DPPI convertible 5x7s (all sold which is good because I had the money in my pocket and was saved from spending it). He has 4 more sold , has a couple 11x14s sold and countless inquiries, many for 4x10 cameras and backs for existing cameras. I think he's probably already got a huge wait for new cameras..Evan Clarke

 

[David A. Goldfarb]

I just spoke with a friend who lived in Chicago for some time and is now in Wisconsin, has two older Deardorffs and is in more in the Deardorff loop than I am, and apparently Jack Deardorff has been making cameras to order and selling them privately for quite some time, and it only seems that he just started doing it, because Midwest Photo Exchange has been promoting them and stocking perhaps one or two cameras at any given time, and Helix and a few other places are taking orders.

 

[eclarke]

He was bankrupted in 1988 due to some employee theft of payroll taxes and at the auction was able to buy camera parts but Komamura (Horseman) bought the rights to the Deardorff name, patents and the rights to make the Deardorff camera. Jack said that he has recently ironed out his rights regarding the manufacture of cameras and refers to the camera as a new camera whose parts interchange with a Deardorff..EC

 

[Alex Hawley]

This sounds like good news. Maybe when I can afford that 8x20, a Deardorff will be available.

 

[dphphoto]

He was bankrupted in 1988 due to some employee theft of payroll taxes and at the auction was able to buy camera parts but Komamura (Horseman) bought the rights to the Deardorff name, patents and the rights to make the Deardorff camera. Jack said that he has recently ironed out his rights regarding the manufacture of cameras and refers to the camera as a new camera whose parts interchange with a Deardorff..EC

I didn't know that part of the Deardorff history (the theft, that is.) Can you imagine buying an absolutely brand new 8X10 V8? I'm saving my pennies. Dean

 

[eclarke]

You should contact him. He said he has 8x10 parts and has some plans to make them but he is not a youngster!!...EC

 

[Dave Wooten]

You should contact him. He said he has 8x10 parts and has some plans to make them but he is not a youngster!!...EC

Does he have a website or an online catalogue?

 

[Magpie]

Does he have a website or an online catalogue?

Hi Dave could not find a website but did get these address details, Deardorff Photographic Products International, 58 West Lincolnway, Valpariso, Indiana, 46383, ( 219 ) 464 9748

If you find an email address I would be interested, otherwise I might need to use that paper stuff and a stamp! (if I can find one that is).

Regards

Brendan

 

[Dave Parker]

Yeppers Jack is Back...

I ship an order of glass to him back in June and am just waiting until he gets back in the swing to ship the rest of his orders, but he is indeed back and making cameras.

Dave

 

[Capocheny]

Dave,

No, Jack doesn't have a website or email address... I contacted him directly via telephone from Vancouver, BC in Canada regarding the 4x5/5x7.

Apparently, he's looking to set up such a system but I don't believe he's done it yet. Hopefully, he'll get around to it sooner rather than later.

However, he is more than happy to send you out his "printed" catalogue. IMHO, it's quite an amusing read!

Cheers

 

[Dave Wooten]

Dave,

No, Jack doesn't have a website or email address... I contacted him directly via telephone from Vancouver, BC in Canada regarding the 4x5/5x7.

Apparently, he's looking to set up such a system but I don't believe he's done it yet. Hopefully, he'll get around to it sooner rather than later.

However, he is more than happy to send you out his "printed" catalogue. IMHO, it's quite an amusing read!

Cheers

thanks all,

what info have you found out on price and delivery (at the time you made the inquiry)?

 

[Emile de Leon]

If you want Deardorff cameras etc. I'm a Deardorff dealer as well as Wisner and Lotus and can get Ebony as well. Jack said this week to me that the 12x20's could be available by June as well as the 11x14's. He needs to check to see if he has the 11x14 parts in stock though to be sure, but he definately has the 12x20 stuff ready. The main issue is that deposits are needed to get things in motion (purchase and make parts etc.), before anything can be started. If you are interested in prices look on my website www.deleon-ulf.com. Best regards, Emile.

 

[Dave Wooten]

Thanks all, thanks Emile,

interesting web site.