Replacement bellows

Jojje · Dec 22, 2021

Considering restauration of my ICA Ideal, nice shape except the bellows... Anyone tried: /www.etonephoto.com ?

mshchem · Dec 22, 2021

I don't know about bellows. China made film reels, sold by these folks. I wasn't impressed by the single reel I tried. FWIW

Tel · Dec 22, 2021

I've bought bellows from etone. As I recall, they were well made and easy enough to fit. Mostly I've bought from a guy named Rudy (also in Hong Kong) whose ebay handle is "ecbuyonline". His work is excellent and communication was always very good (he did some custom work for me a few years ago). Sandeha Lynch, in the UK, also does fine work.

Jojje · Dec 22, 2021

Exactly the information I needed, thanks, Tel!

Tel · Dec 22, 2021

You're welcome!

Edit: I just went to ecbuyonline and the link took me to etone. It appears they're one company now--I'm pretty sure they used to be separate.

AgX · Dec 22, 2021

Jojje said:
Anyone tried: /www.etonephoto.com ?

In find it weird to buy from a firm without a proper business name, moreover not even knowing where in the world they are located.

jacaquarie · Dec 22, 2021

I have had good, no! Great experience from Sandy Lynch.
Sandy is my first choice, go to guy whenever I want bellows. I have several 4x5 or 5x7 cameras with his bellows.
Makes me want to buy another project camera so I can get another set of bellows from Sandy!

Arthur

Ian Grant · Dec 22, 2021

AgX said:
In find it weird to buy from a firm without a proper business name, moreover not even knowing where in the world they are located.

These bellows and other products come from Chinese manufacturers who have been around for some years now. I guess my only quibble would be we don't know where they are based but more importantly there's probably not the protection of using Ebay and Paypal when buying from China.

I'm more than 100% certain that the same bellows are available from an Ebay seller I've used for over 10 years, ecbuyonline2008. But ebay fees add up so setting up your own store makes more sense, I'm not assuming it's the same person or people as others sell the same items.

Ian

AgX · Dec 22, 2021

My point was not about possible manufacturers, but the selling firm itself.

BrianShaw · Dec 22, 2021

I’ve bought from them, twice. Both times from their eBay sites and both times the deal was flawless. Once shipped from Kentucky; other time from China, I think.

awty · Dec 22, 2021

Tel said:
I've bought bellows from etone. As I recall, they were well made and easy enough to fit. Mostly I've bought from a guy named Rudy (also in Hong Kong) whose ebay handle is "ecbuyonline". His work is excellent and communication was always very good (he did some custom work for me a few years ago). .

Ive bought two bellows recently by this seller, one off the shelf size and one custom. The custom bellows took a bit of to and fro communication until we both new what was required. Both fitted perfectly and were excellent quality. Making was quick as well as postage.
I will note that when fitting make sure you have the corners correct before gluing.

Tel · Dec 22, 2021

Premo 8x10 2 by terry, on Flickr
This is the custom bellows Rudy made for me. It's a 1901 ROC Premo 8x10 camera. Extension is over a meter. If you look closely you'll see that he included a cloth tab with a d-ring that hooks into a hanger inside the box and supports the bellows in the middle so it doesn't sag. He did a phenomenal job.

mshchem · Dec 22, 2021

Excellent information!

nosmok · Dec 28, 2021

I've bought from both Sandeha Lynch and ecbuyonline/whatever they call themselves. Both do quality work. It's nice to have something to agree on, on this board sometimes!

Deleted member 88956 · Dec 28, 2021

Cannot go wrong with Custom Bellows in UK. This is in-house bellows manufacturing and I only had great experience with them. They do quality and they mean it.

markbau · Dec 28, 2021

VTLD said:
Cannot go wrong with Custom Bellows in UK. This is in-house bellows manufacturing and I only had great experience with them. They do quality and they mean it.

I second that. Custom Bellows do amazing work and are an absolute pleasure to do business with.

thuggins · Jan 13, 2022

markbau said:
I second that. Custom Bellows do amazing work and are an absolute pleasure to do business with.

I third it. The only drawback is that you typically need to send the old bellows to him as a pattern, and the shipping cost to get it to the UK from the US is only a bit less than the cost of the new bellows.

I once tried getting a bellows from some Chinese seller on the auction site (don't recall seller's name). It was an absolute nightmare. They couldn't get the size right, even with detailed drawings. And the bellows material wasn't even fully opaque. All my business goes to Custom Bellows now..

Deleted member 88956 · Jan 13, 2022

thuggins said:
I third it. The only drawback is that you typically need to send the old bellows to him as a pattern, and the shipping cost to get it to the UK from the US is only a bit less than the cost of the new bellows.

I once tried getting a bellows from some Chinese seller on the auction site (don't recall seller's name). It was an absolute nightmare. They couldn't get the size right, even with detailed drawings. And the bellows material wasn't even fully opaque. All my business goes to Custom Bellows now..

This happens when bellows are non standard. With common production cameras not the case, but that comes up in first communication.

When I inquired about Linhof Technika 70 he wanted old bellows, but not for size, just to fit new bellows to original mounting frames to be sure it is all correct, and all I would have to do is screw it all back in place.

jimjm · Jan 13, 2022

Another vote for Custom Bellows. I ordered a new bellows for a Deardorff V8 I was restoring and am very happy with the outcome.
Sent him the old bellows and frames and received the new installed bellows in less than 3 weeks (UK to US). Everything fit back into the camera perfectly.
Great communication and while not the cheapest, the quality and level of service was excellent.

Alex Varas · Jan 23, 2022

I have dealt with Sandeha in the past and right now waiting copper color for one Agfa Record III, he is my guy to go for bellows.

Jojje · Jan 25, 2022

An update might be in order. Changed some very friendly emails with Sandeha who said: "I am not making any large format bellows now, only small medium format folders, and also I am not making any new designs."
So ordered a nice red one from etone with measurements, arrived quite swiftly to my letterbox.
Scraping the old adhesive off I wonder what is this stuff originally used fixing the bellows in the frame - shellac? I'll probably use contact adhesive. Will post pics later, too many projects at the same time.

Tel · Feb 2, 2022

I ordered a new bellows for my (newly purchased) Gundlach Korona 8x10 from etone. It arrived today and I tried test-fitting tonight. Perfect.

Jojje · Mar 13, 2022

Etone replacement bellows final assembly. I'm glad i chose red, it's more subtle in reality.

Tel · Mar 15, 2022

Very good result; congratulations!

Jojje · Mar 15, 2022

Thank you, Tel! Next weekend I'll hopefully found out its picture making capabilities...

Replacement bellows

Deleted member 88956

Deleted member 88956

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