Walker Cameras for sale?

Roger Hicks · Apr 25, 2007

Normally I'd wait to get hold of Mike before posting anything, but I've tried, and can't get hold of him for further information. Anyway, I've heard a rumour that Walker Cameras (www.walkercameras.com) might be for sale. This strikes me as incredibly unlikely, as Mike really loves making cameras, and last time we spoke I had the distinct impression that he was having difficulty making them fast enough to keep up with demand. On the other hand, his injection-moulded designs are far more suitable for production-line assembly than 'woodies' so it's not impossible that someone wants to build a really good, really versatile, incredibly durable camera in larger quantities.

What I'm asking, really, is not whether anyone else believes this rumour -- I don't -- but whether anyone else has heard it and if they have any idea where it started. Unfortunately I can't divulge my source.

Cheers,

R.

eclarke · Apr 25, 2007

That would be too bad. I have one of his 4x5s and while I use my Arcas, I like the Walker camera too much to sell it..Evan Clarke

percepts · Apr 25, 2007

Roger,

I would have thought you would know better than spread this private rumour by making it very public by posting it here so that everyone in the photographic community knows about it. You could have verified its truth or otherwise by just waiting to contact Mike instead of tripping over yourself to make it public. I'm not impressed.

Roger Hicks · Apr 25, 2007

percepts said:
Roger,

I would have thought you would know better than spread this private rumour by making it very public by posting it here so that everyone in the photographic community knows about it. You could have verified its truth or otherwise by just waiting to contact Mike instead of tripping over yourself to make it public. I'm not impressed.

Sorry you're not impressed but it struck me as so intriguing that I'd see if anyone else had heard it. Of course I heard it from C who had heard it from B who had heard it from A, and I wondered if anyone other than A, B, C and now myself D had heard it.

Part of my reason for posting it was for Mike's entertainment. As far as I recall, Zone VI sold for millions and if someone offered Mike huge enough sums of money, I imagine he'd sell them the company.

In other words, it's a sort of meta-rumour. As I've already said, I don't believe it; I know Mike pretty well; I'd love to know where it came from; and I think Mike would too. I can't quite see your problem with this.

Actually, I've now contacted Mike, and he said, "No comment." I don't know whether he's saying this because he really has received an offer, or because (like me) he wants to see where the rumour came from. He added that there is no possibility of the cameras being discontinued: the only reason he would consider selling is to a company who wants to make them in larger quantities, 'because otherwise there'd be no point in selling.'

Cheers,

R.

percepts · Apr 25, 2007

Roger Hicks said:
Sorry you're not impressed but it struck me as so intriguing that I'd see if anyone else had heard it. Of course I heard it from C who had heard it from B who had heard it from A, and I wondered if anyone other than A, B, C and now myself D had heard it.

Part of my reason for posting it was for Mike's entertainment. As far as I recall, Zone VI sold for millions and if someone offered Mike huge enough sums of money, I imagine he'd sell them the company.

In other words, it's a sort of meta-rumour. As I've already said, I don't believe it; I know Mike pretty well; I'd love to know where it came from; and I think Mike would too. I can't quite see your problem with this.

Actually, I've now contacted Mike, and he said, "No comment." I don't know whether he's saying this because he really has received an offer, or because (like me) he wants to see where the rumour came from. He added that there is no possibility of the cameras being discontinued: the only reason he would consider selling is to a company who wants to make them in larger quantities, 'because otherwise there'd be no point in selling.'

Cheers,

R.

sounds like bullshit to me

PHOTOTONE · Apr 25, 2007

I don't see what you find objectionable about Rogers original post? He was asking? The fact that a company "might" be up for sale, is not an indication that it is going away...in fact, as stated, sometimes the only way to "grow" a company is to sell it to someone with deep pockets and more manufacturing capability. Why not?

Roger Hicks · Apr 25, 2007

percepts said:
sounds like bullshit to me

Far from impossible.

Anyone else heard it?

Cheers,

R.

davekarp · Apr 25, 2007

Well, if Mike can sell and ensure his retirement, then great for him.

I have a Titan SF and love it. Mike is great to deal with, supremely customer oriented. So, if he is out of the business, it will be tough for the new owner to meet Mike's standards for customer service.

Curt · Apr 25, 2007

Maybe this should be under Lounge or Joke?

Tom Stanworth · Apr 26, 2007

maybe he is on holiday?

I certainly dont find this an apprehensible or irresponsible act. The post made the question clear rather than made a statement based on BS. Quite different...

I hope he's still going strong as his 5x7 is superb. Really superb.

QualityCamera · Apr 26, 2007

Have not heard the rumour, and find it highly unlikely for a number of reasons. However any small business owner with good sense would alway be willing to consider serious and qualified offers.

One major problem with Roger's suggestion is the fact that he apparently has a misunderstanding about the way Mike's cameras are made. They are not injection-moulded. They are milled in very much the same way that wooden cameras are. They are simply made of a different sort of material.

Roger Hicks · Apr 26, 2007

QualityCamera said:
One major problem with Roger's suggestion is the fact that he apparently has a misunderstanding about the way Mike's cameras are made. They are not injection-moulded. They are milled in very much the same way that wooden cameras are. They are simply made of a different sort of material.

No, I'm not the one that's mistaken. The Titan SF is 100% injection moulded. On the 4x5 XL, the front and back standards (all parts) are injection moulded, but the base is machined. The only injection-moulded part on th 5x7 in the front standard which is of course common to the others.

I've only used the SF, hence the partial misapprehension.

Cheers,

R.

Mark Fisher · Apr 26, 2007

QualityCamera said:
One major problem with Roger's suggestion is the fact that he apparently has a misunderstanding about the way Mike's cameras are made. They are not injection-moulded. They are milled in very much the same way that wooden cameras are. They are simply made of a different sort of material.

Maybe some of his cameras or parts were/are milled from barstock, but I could have sworn that the parts I saw at the last view camera conference were injection molded, structural foam ABS (structural foam is a way to add small air bubbles to the plastic to allow thick sections and thus stronger, lighter parts). Structural foam molds are not all that expensive so I'd be surprised if he milled them if there was any quanity at all.

davekarp · Apr 26, 2007

They are molded. Mike himself told me that he designed and made the molds himself. Quite remarkable, as that was not his profession, and considering that the fit and finish is outstanding.

QualityCamera · Apr 26, 2007

Sorry if I have caused aggravation or confusion. Indeed the front panel (part that the front of the bellows connects to and the lens board rests against) as well as the 4X5 filmplane and 4X5 ground glass frame are molded. However the point that I had hoped to make was that most of the parts are still done by hand and even the molded parts are finished individually by hand. All of Mike's cameras are individually hand assembled and finished. They are really fine cameras and are build to provide a lifetime of service. The point that I had hoped to make was that the Walker cameras do not lend themselves to "mass production" anymore than any other camera. The Canham metal cameras are similar in that the parts are all machined and annodized by others for Canham however each individual camera is assembled by either Keith or his son.

CarlRadford · Apr 27, 2007

I think you'll find that diversification could well be the answer

Walker Cameras for sale?

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