New bellows for 8X10?

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removedacct1

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I've been given an old Kodak 8X10 camera and its bellows (cloth) are trashed. Who do I go to to get new bellows made for it? Any suggestions for the process - IE: what to do and what not to do? Thanks.

Paul
 

John Koehrer

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FWIW the bellows frames are attached by screws on the inside of the frames.
 
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removedacct1

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Thanks John.
I should have specified: I want to find a US maker who can manufacture what I need. There's got to be someone....
 
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How about Turner Bellows in Rochester, New York?

I contacted them once regarding a replacement for my Calumet C1 8x10 bellows. This was several years ago, but they quoted me under $300 and only 2-3 weeks.

(On the above site it now says only 1-2 weeks for custom units, with installation also available for an extra $50 fee.)

Ken
 

wildbill

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If turner can't do it Rudy from ecbuyonline2008 on ebay can. He does a nice job. Look up feedback on his bellows on the large format forum.
 
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removedacct1

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Thank you Ken and Bill. I will investigate both of these. Thanks!
 

heespharm

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Thanks John.
I should have specified: I want to find a US maker who can manufacture what I need. There's got to be someone....

Are you concerned about shipping? Or you concerned that you don't want foreign made bellows... Rudy s bellows are made in China but shipped from California


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rorye

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Are you concerned about shipping? Or you concerned that you don't want foreign made bellows... Rudy s bellows are made in China but shipped from California


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Interesting, when I've got them in the past they've come from Hong Kong, I wonder if he has a US distributor now?
 
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removedacct1

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I could care less about who makes the bellows - my concern is potentially finding myself having to pay outrageous duty on it or some such thing.
 

wildbill

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All the bellows I've gotten from Rudy (ecbuyonline2008) have been shipped from hong kong. No duty paid, ever. He's got great customer service as well. Just be very clear on your measurements.
 
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removedacct1

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All the bellows I've gotten from Rudy (ecbuyonline2008) have been shipped from hong kong. No duty paid, ever. He's got great customer service as well. Just be very clear on your measurements.

Thank you kindly. I will investigate further. I guess I had it in my mind that if it was more "local" I could ship the existing bellows and have them replicated, but I don't like the idea of shipping the old bellows to Hong Kong. Seems like there's greater risk for them to go missing. Maybe I don't need to be that concerned - I don't know how to gauge the risk.
 

heespharm

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Interesting, when I've got them in the past they've come from Hong Kong, I wonder if he has a US distributor now?

I just bought a toyo 45a bellows... Shipped that day from California... I think they have a small stash here in the usa


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rorye

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Thank you kindly. I will investigate further. I guess I had it in my mind that if it was more "local" I could ship the existing bellows and have them replicated, but I don't like the idea of shipping the old bellows to Hong Kong. Seems like there's greater risk for them to go missing. Maybe I don't need to be that concerned - I don't know how to gauge the risk.

I've sent Rudy standards twice (to HK) and both times they came back fitted properly with no issues
 

KelleyJohnson

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Thank you kindly. I will investigate further. I guess I had it in my mind that if it was more "local" I could ship the existing bellows and have them replicated, but I don't like the idea of shipping the old bellows to Hong Kong. Seems like there's greater risk for them to go missing. Maybe I don't need to be that concerned - I don't know how to gauge the risk.
Who did you end up getting your bellows from?
I have an Eastman View No.2 Improved ... that needs a new bellows, and I'm trying to understand how to get the front frame off so I can send the whole thing to someone.
Thanks
 

jacaquarie

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I have used Custom Bellows in UK for 5 x7 inch bellows. Sent the frames everything came back looking good.
No issues.
I have also used Sandy Lynch a few times.
I will recommend either.
 
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removedacct1

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Who did you end up getting your bellows from?
I have an Eastman View No.2 Improved ... that needs a new bellows, and I'm trying to understand how to get the front frame off so I can send the whole thing to someone.
Thanks

I never did. The camera was missing too many parts so I gave it back to the donor and bought a Deardorff instead.
 

Tel

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Who did you end up getting your bellows from?
I have an Eastman View No.2 Improved ... that needs a new bellows, and I'm trying to understand how to get the front frame off so I can send the whole thing to someone.
Thanks
I answered your frame removal question on the other thread you posted to: 12 screws on the back of the frame (don't remove the riser mechanism). For bellows, I've always used Rudy in Hong Kong (ecbuyonline2008 on ebay). He did the bellows for my View #2 so I'm sure he has a pattern for that camera. You won't need to send your bellows to HK unless you don't want to fit them to the frames yourself.
 

radiant

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I have wondered too many times why people just cannot give the direct link to something instead of referring to usernames or such.

edit: nevermind..
 
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MattKing

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I have wondered too many times why people just cannot give the direct link to something instead of referring to usernames or such.
Some sites prohibit it - so people develop the habit of describing how to find a vendor, rather than linking to a vendor.
 

Tel

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Or perhaps they'd rather post the name of the vendor rather than link to the wrong item. (That link does not take us the the Eastman View #2 bellows, in no small part because Rudy does not have that bellows listed for sale on ebay, though I know from prior experience that he can make it.)
 
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