Leatherette kit for Rolleiflex Baby Grey 4x4

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Deleted member 88956

Not sure if 127 falls under MF section.

Anyone has replaced leatherette on the Rolleiflex Baby Grey 4x4? SO far I have found CameraLeather listing it, but their site is partially working so cannot see what they are offering. Not sure what their quality / precision is either.

Any recommendations?

Just out of the blue got a really nice Baby Grey today locally but has one side cover missing and slower shutter speeds are sluggish. Might as well change the covers while CLA is being done.
 

Kino

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I have, but I am at work and can't remember the seller! Let me look it up tonight and get back to you...
 

jim10219

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I have experience with Hugostudio and they're work is excellent!
 

bdial

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Another source is Aki-Asahi in Japan, though the website doesn't show coverings for the baby Rollie, only the big ones.
The baby is a bit of an orphan, so if only CameraLeather shows that they have a pattern, there may not be better choices, though CameraLeather has a bit of a negative reputation. Based on the tales told, it seems that you ether order and get the product within a few weeks or a few years. I have no direct experience with them, however.
 
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Deleted member 88956

You mean the reputation is about actual delivery not product quality?
 

bdial

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Witold said:
You mean the reputation is about actual delivery not product quality?
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Yes, every post I've seen regarding CameraLeather is that the product quality is very good. The problems seem to be in response and delivery.
However, as I stated earlier, I have no direct experience, but there are many threads, here and in other forums detailing issues people have had.
 
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Deleted member 88956

So far so good with CameraLeather on that. I've been back and forth with Morgan on choices and will likely order something tonight. He says shipment usually the same day. I'm torn right now between two suggestions as there is nothing like original rather smooth covering. He suggests Griptac in grey or "restoration grey".
 
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Deleted member 88956

So far so good with Morgan at Cameraleather. Several quick and thorough back and forths over details and order is in for leather kit in darker grey, which is not what original color is, but apparently gets closer to camera's paint and I seem to like that idea. It would not look like original anyways, no matter what I stick on.

Now I need a repair manual for Baby Grey, anyone has a pdf?
 

Ray Morgenweck

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I ordered a covering fora Leica 1Afrom cameraleather, they substituted a different type leather than I ordered. Put it on...fir ok but not what I wanted. They said they would “think it over” about a different cover ( the one I ordered) but never heard back from them. Kind of disappointed....
 
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Deleted member 88956

How long ago was this? All I can say things were more than good communicating with Morgan. Once I get my kit I'll be able to follow up in this.
 

wjlapier

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The covering for my Autocord came from cameraleather. Not the fastest shipping but I got it along with the Oleson screen and sent my camera off for the CLA. The leather fits great and looks nice. I'm happy with it. This was in the last year.
 
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Deleted member 88956

Yesterday I had a quick, constructive exchanges with Morgan Sparks at CameraLeather. The way it went it gave me confidence in ordering and so I did.

Less then 24 hours later my kit has been shipped. Next step is to see what I get, but have no reason to believe it isn't what I expect.
 

Thorpelyon

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Are you committted to reskinning it yourself? Blue Moon Camera has done an amazingly good job of reskinning several of my vintage cameras. Reasonably priced, but not exactly speedy turnaround.
 
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Deleted member 88956

Thorpelyon said:
Are you committted to reskinning it yourself? Blue Moon Camera has done an amazingly good job of reskinning several of my vintage cameras. Reasonably priced, but not exactly speedy turnaround.
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Likely so. It will be my first, but I'm not exactly both left handed either. Need to open it up anyways for shutter slow mo awakening. Camera was not used much, not sure how it lost its cover as I don't see any marks on any screws.
 

Dan Daniel

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Thorpelyon said:
Are you committted to reskinning it yourself? Blue Moon Camera has done an amazingly good job of reskinning several of my vintage cameras. Reasonably priced, but not exactly speedy turnaround.
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Reskinning TLRs is a pretty simple task all in all. The only curve is on the back and there are enough index items to make it go smoothly.

I lick the adhesive. I know Morgan says to use alcohol hand sanitizer but I can't find any without additives. If you lick all of the back it reduces the stickiness, then evaporates and the skin settles into place. Morgan's acrylic adhesive film is very stable; Hugo usually uses a VHB tape material which doesn't have the stability of the acrylic sheet; the VHB is more of a rubber adhesive in a roll that doesn't stabilize the skin shape.
 
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Deleted member 88956

What is working time to get it all lined up before it settles?
 

John Will

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Witold said:
What is working time to get it all lined up before it settles?
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About 0 seconds. Seriously Morgan's material sticks quickly and firmly. I have re-skinned 6 cameras with his material and some are easier than others. Including 2 Rollei Automats which are very easy, except for the front plate which requires a bit of care getting it around the various levers.

My method is to use 99% Isopropyl Alcohol in a spray bottle and spray a light coat over the adhesive. This then gives you a few seconds of slip to position the cover in place. The alcohol will evaporate quite quickly. Just take it carefully one piece at a time.

There are several good videos on YouTube showing different methods.
 
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Deleted member 88956

Thanks, quite helpful.

And what is best method of removing old leftovers and goo before new piece go on? Gentle heating to lift, naphtha to wash off, alcohol for final "rinse" ?
 

John Will

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Witold said:
Thanks, quite helpful.

And what is best method of removing old leftovers and goo before new piece go on? Gentle heating to lift, naphtha to wash off, alcohol for final "rinse" ?
Click to expand...

Depends on the adhesive used for the original covering. You may have to try several methods to find what is best for your particular camera. Sometimes you find that a previous owner/repairer has removed the covering and re-attached it with an adhesive that sets like cement.

I actually have a Rolleicord IV which I'm in the process of recovering where most of the old covering was easily removed with alcohol and a flat scraper. However one side cover has been re-attached using some type of adhesive that does not easily react to anything I have tried (alcohol, lighter fluid, heat gun, nail polish remover, white spirit). The best success I've had is with nail polish remover (acetone) but it is a very slow process as you can only do a small section at a time. By the time I'm finished it will have taken the best part of a day. Hopefully yours will not be a problem.
 

Dan Daniel

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Witold said:
What is working time to get it all lined up before it settles?
Click to expand...
With water (licking) and Morgan's adhesive, maybe a minute. And it is removable after that with gentle lifting. And sometimes i need to keep pressing down areas because they don't grab. Someone recommended alcohol which will, as they say, evaporate much faster. Your call on how much open time you want. Although Morgan warns against lifting and reapplying, well, it can be done smoothly with care. Again, TLRs are easier than most cameras because almost all pieces are flat. And the one curve is very large and gentle with lots of flat material on either side to keep it in place.
 
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Deleted member 88956

Just to add to my order from CameraLeather.com order was placed on 6th, shipped on 7th and received it today on 14th, so 7 days from EUSA to Poland, I say it is a very good turnaround time. Kit looks great, it is darker grey than original, but much closer to camera's paint job, which I like. It won't be an immediate job fixing it in place, mainly due to shutter needing work on slow speeds, but I'll post some pics when done.

At this point cannot complain about my dealing with Morgan Sparks though.
 
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