Turner Bellows feedback

Hughjb · May 31, 2007

I have a 4x5 Linhof IV that is in dired need of a set of replacement bellows, so far I have narrowed my search to Turner Bellows in NY.

Was wondering if anybody have dealt with them in the past and if you will recomend the service.

Many thanks

Hugh

JG Motamedi · May 31, 2007

For Linhof I would buy from CameraBellows in the UK. They replaced a Technika bellows for me and it was perfect, just like the original.

Fifteen years ago Turner make a bellows for my 5x7 Deardorff, and I was not happy with the results. It was much stiffer than the original and never quite sat right on the camera. I currently have a 8x10 Deardorff with a replacement bellows made by Western Bellows in California which is just fine.

Peter De Smidt · May 31, 2007

As far as I know, CameraBellows is the OEM for Linhof and Sinar. I had them replace a Tech III bellows, and it was perfect. The US places I called would not guarantee that the camera would still close. Go with CameraBellows.

rknewcomb · May 31, 2007

I have used Turner Bellows Co., Camera Bellows in England and Western Bellows in Calf. Turner did a very nice job on the BIG bellows for a couple of studio portrait cameras 11x14 and 18x22. - the cloth they used is a little thicker then that used by the other two companies mentioned. For those large bellows though, Turner did a good job for a good price. The Camera Bellows of England are very nice people to deal with and made a very nice thinner bellows for a 2x3 view camera and a Plaubel Makina. They have two different kinds of manmade material - for a technical camera you might ask for the thinner nylon material. I have also used Jim at Western Bellows, He makes a very nice bellows indeed, but it has often taken months and months to get it done. They are beasutiful though.
Robert Newcomb

Roger Hicks · May 31, 2007

Dear Hugh,

I have no experience of Turner, and have no wish to detract from them, but I do have lots of experience with Camera Bellows and (like others) recommend them unreservedly.

Cheers,

Roger

Peter De Smidt · May 31, 2007

I had Western Bellows replace the bellows on an Agfa 5x7 once. They packaged the camera extremely poorly, and it was damaged during return shipping. They had me send it back to them, and they told me that they'd get some new hardware.... But this never happend. After a couple of months I told them to send it back. The bellows were fine, but their customer service sucked big-time.

Hughjb · May 31, 2007

Thank you all for the feedback

Hugh

Ian Grant · May 31, 2007

I'll add to the recommendation of Camera Bellows, when I bought my first 5x4 sometime in the 70's I went to the company for new bellows, I bought WA bellows instead, the camera was a whole plate, half plate 5x4 De Vere monorail.

The woman I dealt with went straight to a map drawer and pulled out the original pattern, because they were to be new I made the two metal panels to attach them.

When you know how many million sets of bellows the company has made you know they are the best in their field.

I seem to remember doing a research project & essay on the company in the late 90's, while studying Industrial Archaeology at University

Ian

Jim Chinn · May 31, 2007

I had Turner make 11x14, 7x17 and 12x20 bellows for me and thought they did a great job. Well made, folded perfectly and compressed very well. I have no complaints. If you send them the old bellows I think they would do a fine job. However, if you want to replace with something close to original I would go with Camera Bellows as they can replace it with leather. Turner only uses synthetic materials.

Paddy · Jun 1, 2007

Hugh, I had Turner re & re my Linhof Tech V Bellows, and rest assured, for the Technika, he uses the same material that CameraBellows uses, which is the factory replacement grade. In fact, he ended up shipping mine off to England for replacement, at no extra charge. He was pleasant & personal with his service too. BTW, I also purchased a Bosscreen from him, and it's a superb screen to focus with.

Turner Bellows feedback

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