balg leather maintenance

Recently a Ica Lloyd came into my possesion. It is still in good

shape and I want to use it.

However it might be wise to take care of the leather balg after 80

years. What would you recommend as non aggresive, smoothing for this

leather?

 

Thanks in advance,

 

Mathilde

If it helps, 'balg' is German for 'bag' or 'bellows'. But I don't know the answer to Mathilde's question!

My suggestion:

 

Use a camp cotton ball and saddle soap to carefully clean the leather. Do it several times until you've removed all of the grime. Use a lot of cotton balls -- they are cheap.

 

Wipe dry with a clean rag.

 

Use more cotton balls to apply black shoe polish.

 

Buff lightly with a clean cloth.

 

I often use forceps to hold the cotton balls.

 

I've done this with a lot of cameras (and I mean a lot), and it has always worked out well.

I used ordinary leather shoe polish on a couple of bellows and it worked very well. You really need the sort that's rich in Linseed oil and it helps if you don't mind strong smells!

For leather, nothing beats Lexol. You should be able to find it at any large hardware store, like Home Depot or Lowe's, etc. I've used this on some old shoes and luggage and was stunned at how much improved and supple the leather became.

 

Cheers,

Brooke

> <i>Use a camp cotton ball -- ???</i><P>

 

I meant: Use a <u>DAMP</u> cotton ball. Wet it with water and squeeze out most of the water.<p>

 

Use a light touch when cleaning the bellows. Don't scrub!<P>

A 'camp cotton ball' and linseed oil might just do. I don't know if Lexol is available in Europe...

 

I know from past experience with reguly polishing my shoes that some shoe polish, including silicon oil can be quite agressive to leather over time. Ofcourse I will not polish the bowel every week, but still it would be sad to shorten the life due to over enthousiastic renewal treatment. I hope the camera will last me many years.

<i>balg --- bellow --- bowel</i> - What's the difference? <b>;)</b><p>By the way, all good advice for my folder project.

B䬧 - in swedish.

What the? A questionmark instead of the word? Ok, here's a jpg of the word instead!

Have there been Swedish/Scandinavian ba"lg camera's in the past?

Maybe we should set up a travelers pocket vocabulary for photographers with balg camera :-)

(With helpfull sentences like: Could you please advice me the best shop for glass negatives? Help, my bowel needs immediatly repair!)

Mathilde wrote: "Have there been Swedish/Scandinavian ba"lg camera's in the past?"

 

Hmm, a couple of lagre format cameras I believe.

 

"Maybe we should set up a travelers pocket vocabulary for photographers with balg camera :-) (With helpfull sentences like: Could you please advice me the best shop for glass negatives? Help, my bowel needs immediatly repair!)"

 

"My hovercraft is full of eels"