Kodak Monitor 620 replacement bellows?

[Thorpelyon]

Can anyone recommend a repair person/shop who could replace the bellows on a Kodak Monitor? These cameras have amazing lenses (some say they're a folding version of the Medalist), but their bellows are notorious for pinholing with age. It's not a simple job since the bellows are riveted on one end, and I'm just not that capable.
Thanks,
James

 

[Donald Qualls]

For a first try, have you considered locating the pinholes with a strong light inside the bellows in an otherwise dim/dark room, and patching the holes?

I've got a couple 1920s vintage plate cameras that I've done this with. I used the thinnest split grain black dyed leather I could find, and rubber cement using the "contact adhesive" instructions (i.e. coat both surface, let mostly dry, then press together). The patches are thin enough they don't interfere with folding, and the bellows are completely light tight still, almost fifteen years later.

 

[Thorpelyon]

For a first try, have you considered locating the pinholes with a strong light inside the bellows in an otherwise dim/dark room, and patching the holes?

I've got a couple 1920s vintage plate cameras that I've done this with. I used the thinnest split grain black dyed leather I could find, and rubber cement using the "contact adhesive" instructions (i.e. coat both surface, let mostly dry, then press together). The patches are thin enough they don't interfere with folding, and the bellows are completely light tight still, almost fifteen years later.

Thanks, Donald... yes, I have considered this, because I've used this method on some of my other folders... but the Monitor's bellows are frail, cardboard Swiss cheese... every corner and fold has multiple holes. And every time I open and close the camera, I can hear the bellows cracking, and probably creating more new holes. I'm afraid it really needs a complete replacement.

 

[Donald Qualls]

Thanks, Donald... yes, I have considered this, because I've used this method on some of my other folders... but the Monitor's bellows are frail, cardboard Swiss cheese... every corner and fold has multiple holes. And every time I open and close the camera, I can hear the bellows cracking, and probably creating more new holes. I'm afraid it really needs a complete replacement.

I was afraid of that, but it was worth mentioning.

 

[wjlapier]

Sandeha Lynch has done several bellows for me. The latest was a Kodak Junior Six-16 II. Excellent work.

 

[bhaning]

I had good luck repairing the bellows on my Monitor 620 with Plasti Dip spray. Plastic Dip is sold at Lowes. I sprayed the liquid into a small container and painted the corners of the bellows on the inside and outside. I used a small water color paint brush to paint the rubber spray on the corners of the bellows. For the inside seams I bent the metal tip of the brush at a right angle so I could paint inside the bellows. I think it took 3 coats of Plastic Dip to seal the light leaks in the corners. I think I read the bellows for the Kodak Tourist fits the Monitor 620. If Plasti Dip doesn't work you might use the bellows from a Tourist.

 

[beemermark]

These used to be $5 cameras and overpriced at that. I see now they are in the $50 range. It doesn't require a high priced lens & shutter to make a nice negative on a MF negative. Getting a replacement bellows is way more then the camera is worth, espically considering the bellows normally never wear out. I would try the recommendations to repair the bellows or just buy another Monitor.

 

[John Wiegerink]

These used to be $5 cameras and overpriced at that. I see now they are in the $50 range. It doesn't require a high priced lens & shutter to make a nice negative on a MF negative. Getting a replacement bellows is way more then the camera is worth, espically considering the bellows normally never wear out. I would try the recommendations to repair the bellows or just buy another Monitor.

I disagree and from my experience these are underrated cameras. If you can find a Monitor 620 with a Kodak "SPECIAL" (in red letters) it is certainly worth the effort. Same goes for either model of the Medalist cameras, of which I have several. Money wise itmight not seem worth it to replace the bellows, but if you did you'd have a camera that last you a very long time. The Monitor 620 I have is as good or better than my mint Zeiss Super Ikonta C with the coated Opton Tessar and that's no joke. Kodak was always the leader in trying new things, but the material for these new bellows was a complete disaster. Not only were they frail, but micro-insects just loved to eat them up. I don't know if it was the glue or the material itself, but it must have been tasty to them. My solution was to shop around for a 2 1/4 x 3 1/4 folder with the same or very close pleat count and replace the bellows myself. I actually have two boxes of assorted Kodak bellows right from the factory, but none for the Monitor 620. I have searched the net, but never found any. If you watch the auction sites the Kodak bellows replacement numbers you want to look for are #69895 for the Monitor 620 and #63681 for the Monitor 616. These bellows also fit the Kodak Senior and Vigilant 620 and 616 cameras. So one could rob a Vigilant or Senior camera to get the bellows they need for their Monitor 620/616. The Monitor 616 with the SPECIAL lens makes an ideal Panorama camera when adapted to use 120 film since it has an automatic film counter built in. I just checked Ebay and just bought a 63681 bellows($15.00) for a Monitor 616 so I guess if you keep checking you might find one. JohnW

 

[choiliefan]

I have a 616 Monitor and it's definitely not junk.
Very well designed and certainly a better built camera than my 616 Z-I Ikonta.
Curiously, the bellows on mine is still intact and light-tight.

 

[John Wiegerink]

I have a 616 Monitor and it's definitely not junk.
Very well designed and certainly a better built camera than my 616 Z-I Ikonta.
Curiously, the bellows on mine is still intact and light-tight.

You have a gem then. Sure wish I had bought the last stocks of Kodak Verichrome-Pan 616 and froze it. JohnW

 

[Disconnekt]

Sandeha Lynch has done several bellows for me. The latest was a Kodak Junior Six-16 II. Excellent work.

I know this thread is a bit old, but I was able to get new bellows from Sandeha Lynch a couple weeks ago for the Kodak Monitor 620 for £58 (~$73 shipped)

I have a Kodak Monitor 620 that I was looking to get cla'ed & new bellows installed, and so far these 3 places said that they can do it, but you would have to include the bellows for them to do so. All 3 you would have to mail in the camera & belows to get a quote:

-Kurts Camera Repair in San Diego, CA. (when I first emailed them, they gave me a "rough quote" of ~$250 for a CLA & installing the new bellows for the KM620, I mailed it to them & waiting to see what the "offcial quote" is.)

-Camera Service Pro in Atlanta, GA.

-Vermont Camera Works in Pittsford, VT.