Kodak Monitor 616 needs bellows

studiocarter · Dec 16, 2015

I'd like to get my Kodak Monitor 616 f4.5 camera ready to shoot film. The shutter works but the bellows is so shot it looks like a screen door. I have new film. I have a new scanner adapter. I have the Beseler 8073 anti newton double glass negative carrier. The film can be fit into it if screws are loosened some so it can be used in a 23c ll enlarger. Film fits on Patterson reels to develop. There is an old type reel and can that takes 70mm film to develop, too. Now the camera must be fixed. or. I may ask around for one already done. There are two local camera shops. Last I looked Bald Mt was the only place possible
Michael

BAC1967 · Dec 16, 2015

I just picked up a nice working Kodak Monitor 616 for $12 and the bellows are in excellent shape. I find that the bellows and shutters in many of the old Kodak cameras seem to hold up pretty well over time. I think your best bet would be to find another one with good bellows and make one good camera. It may be cost prohibitive to have a set of bellows made.

studiocarter · Dec 16, 2015

Lucky you! I have 3 as well as other 620 Kodaks all with bad bellows. I think finding one in good shape will cost as much.
It is the Zeiss bellow that are good.

nosmok · Dec 17, 2015

The bellows that Kodak used when they were making the Monitors, in the early 40s, are very prone to pinholing, especially in the corners. They are some form of synthetic leather, unlike the real leather Kodak used up through the 1930's. As I've said before, the best quick and dirty solution is 3M 850 black polyester tape. It's VERY thin and opaque and sticks to the bellows on these cameras very well, and appears not to affect the folding ability. I have a taped bellows that's still working perfectly after almost a year, so it's not a short term fix. Downsides are 1) the tape is expensive on a per-roll basis, although each roll lasts a very long time and 2) it's not pretty. But a couple hours or less with a scissors and you have a working camera again.

studiocarter · Dec 17, 2015

That is ok for 3 holes, not 3K holes. I use plasti dip.

studiocarter · Dec 18, 2015

But Plasti Dip made the bellows so thick the folder no longer closed. I'm getting new bellows.

nosmok · Dec 18, 2015

That's why I use the tape. I have patched a lot of holes in my Senior 616's bellows and they still close. I will try with my worst 616 Monitor and see. I have heard of thinned Plasti-Dip working, but I think straight xylene is what you need to thin it, and I don't relish having that stuff around. Good luck with your new belows, if they are good and affordable, please pass on the source to the list.

studiocarter · Dec 19, 2015

The camera was sent off. Will update later. This may take months!

studiocarter · Apr 23, 2016

I just paid for it and it is on the way back to me with new bellows

Hatchetman · Apr 23, 2016

studiocarter said:
I just paid for it and it is on the way back to me with new bellows

Who did the work?

studiocarter · May 5, 2016

Hatchetman said:
Who did the work?

Ken Ruth at Bald Mountain Camera
It is being picked up tomorrow.

Denverdad · May 7, 2016

I'm looking forward to seeing how that bellows came out. Any chance you will do a video on this one like you did with the Medalist II?

studiocarter · May 11, 2016

For sure.

Old-N-Feeble · May 11, 2016

Front/rear dimensions? Length?

studiocarter · May 13, 2016

The camera arrived and all is well.

An unspoiled old roll of film was needed to prove that the counter works properly. That film from 1952 was run through the camera twice. Perfect. Scotch tape repairs on other rolls cause the counting device to slip. That took all afternoon.

Film in the paper sandwich is 40 inches long. In order to use film without paper it has to be at least 50 inches loaded in total darkness. Inside the back door of the camera the red window needs to be blocked. A card is slipped under the pressure plate.

Video has been recorded but is as yet unedited.

The bellows is flawless. I cannot see any sign that it has been replaced, other than there are no more holes.

studiocarter · May 13, 2016

Old-N-Feeble said:
Front/rear dimensions? Length?

I didn't do the bellows. So, dimensions of the bellows are unknown. I have another scruffy version of the same model if you want to have a go at it. That counter works as is.

Old-N-Feeble · May 13, 2016

studiocarter said:
I didn't do the bellows. So, dimensions of the bellows are unknown. I have another scruffy version of the same model if you want to have a go at it. That counter works as is.

Sorry, I only asked because I thought you needed a bellows and I have a few NOS laying around in boxes somewhere. It's highly unlikely I'd have the size you would have needed anyway.

studiocarter · May 13, 2016

Not that I'd know how to do it anyway, thanks.

studiocarter · Oct 25, 2016

Kodak Monitor 616 needs bellows

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