Questions about my new Ansco 5x7

John Garand wrote in message . ..
ON Sun, 8 Aug 2004 16:06:25 -0700, "Richard Knoppow"
WROTE:

snip

If your camera is complete it would be worth having a new
bellows made. The cost is around $150. I've posted a list of
bellows makers in the past but the best are probably Western
Bellows and English Bellows. English bellows is the only one
who will work in leather. While leather looks nice synthetic
material is far longer lasting.

Is the 5x7 Universal replacement significantly cheaper than the 8x10
Commercial? My "low" estimate was double that, plus shipping, plus
labor to install on the frames.


That's pretty high, who did you contact? My 8x10 Agfa Universal
bellows were made by Flexible Products in Florida, they were about
$150. I sent them the old bellows with frames so they could re-use the
frames. The bellows are quite servicable but I was not impressed by
the workmanship so don't recommend Flexible. I also replaced the
bellows on my Calumet C-1 but I was able to get original equipment
bellows from Calumet. These also were about $150. I can see $300 for
something fancy. For instance, the square corner bellows used on
Deardorf cameras are expensive to make. A 5x7 bellows would not cost
much less than an 8x10 bellows because the main part of the cost is
the labor. Now, both of my bellows were replaced a few years ago so
its likely that prices have gone up but I don't think they have
doubled. I've posted a list of bellows makers to this list a couple of
times in the past, its probably still in Google. I'll post it again if
necessary. I think at least one of the companies I listed no longer
makes camera bellows.

Richard Knoppow
Los Angeles, CA, USA

ON 15 Aug 2004 00:41:47 -0700, (Richard
Knoppow) WROTE:

John Garand wrote in message . ..
ON Sun, 8 Aug 2004 16:06:25 -0700, "Richard Knoppow"
WROTE:

snip

If your camera is complete it would be worth having a new
bellows made. The cost is around $150. I've posted a list of
bellows makers in the past but the best are probably Western
Bellows and English Bellows. English bellows is the only one
who will work in leather. While leather looks nice synthetic
material is far longer lasting.

Is the 5x7 Universal replacement significantly cheaper than the 8x10
Commercial? My "low" estimate was double that, plus shipping, plus
labor to install on the frames.


That's pretty high, who did you contact? My 8x10 Agfa Universal
bellows were made by Flexible Products in Florida, they were about
$150. I sent them the old bellows with frames so they could re-use the
frames. The bellows are quite servicable but I was not impressed by
the workmanship so don't recommend Flexible. I also replaced the
bellows on my Calumet C-1 but I was able to get original equipment
bellows from Calumet. These also were about $150. I can see $300 for
something fancy. For instance, the square corner bellows used on
Deardorf cameras are expensive to make. A 5x7 bellows would not cost
much less than an 8x10 bellows because the main part of the cost is
the labor. Now, both of my bellows were replaced a few years ago so
its likely that prices have gone up but I don't think they have
doubled. I've posted a list of bellows makers to this list a couple of
times in the past, its probably still in Google. I'll post it again if
necessary. I think at least one of the companies I listed no longer
makes camera bellows.

Richard Knoppow
Los Angeles, CA, USA


Richard,

I used Western for the 36" 8x10 Commercial bellow, sending them the
old bellow with frames attached. Absent a refund (I haven't been home
to get the returned new bellow yet, but it's probably unlikely) of
some of the estimate, it was a little over $350 with shipping, etc.
Went to the website of Camera Bellows in England, filled in their
e-Mail estimate form - never heard from them. Turner in Rochester, NY
was about the same base price (a little higher, but may have included
return shipping) and so my selection turned on the praise of Western
workmanship posted.

John Garand wrote in message . ..
ON 15 Aug 2004 00:41:47 -0700, (Richard
Knoppow) WROTE:

John Garand wrote in message . ..
ON Sun, 8 Aug 2004 16:06:25 -0700, "Richard Knoppow"
WROTE:

snip

If your camera is complete it would be worth having a new
bellows made. The cost is around $150. I've posted a list of
bellows makers in the past but the best are probably Western
Bellows and English Bellows. English bellows is the only one
who will work in leather. While leather looks nice synthetic
material is far longer lasting.

Is the 5x7 Universal replacement significantly cheaper than the 8x10
Commercial? My "low" estimate was double that, plus shipping, plus
labor to install on the frames.


That's pretty high, who did you contact? My 8x10 Agfa Universal
bellows were made by Flexible Products in Florida, they were about
$150. I sent them the old bellows with frames so they could re-use the
frames. The bellows are quite servicable but I was not impressed by
the workmanship so don't recommend Flexible. I also replaced the
bellows on my Calumet C-1 but I was able to get original equipment
bellows from Calumet. These also were about $150. I can see $300 for
something fancy. For instance, the square corner bellows used on
Deardorf cameras are expensive to make. A 5x7 bellows would not cost
much less than an 8x10 bellows because the main part of the cost is
the labor. Now, both of my bellows were replaced a few years ago so
its likely that prices have gone up but I don't think they have
doubled. I've posted a list of bellows makers to this list a couple of
times in the past, its probably still in Google. I'll post it again if
necessary. I think at least one of the companies I listed no longer
makes camera bellows.

Richard Knoppow
Los Angeles, CA, USA


Richard,

I used Western for the 36" 8x10 Commercial bellow, sending them the
old bellow with frames attached. Absent a refund (I haven't been home
to get the returned new bellow yet, but it's probably unlikely) of
some of the estimate, it was a little over $350 with shipping, etc.
Went to the website of Camera Bellows in England, filled in their
e-Mail estimate form - never heard from them. Turner in Rochester, NY
was about the same base price (a little higher, but may have included
return shipping) and so my selection turned on the praise of Western
workmanship posted.

I guess prices have just gone up. Western makes very good bellows,
I've not used them but have seen many of their bellows.
I think I will have to fire up to make bellows:-)

Richard Knoppow
Los Angeles, CA, USA