REFURBISH OLD ENLARGER BELLOWS

[tonyowen34]

I have an old Photax Paragon quarter plate enlarger. But the bellows are quite stiff. Does anyone know how to put the elasticity and flexibility back into the bellows - material unknown?

regards
Tony

 

[Ian Grant]

It really depends on the material they are made of. If leather Pledge furniture polish works well, this was perfect for the bellows on the Johnson V45 I refurbished. You need to be careful as often there's two layers with thin card stiffeners in between, there's water in Pledge so you do it slowly until they are supple.

Some are a sort of paper based imitation leather and these can't be restored and need replacing.

Ian