Recommendations on restoring Deardorff 8x10

[david_munson]

I'm about to start restoration of my recently acquired Deardorff 8x10. However, I'd like to hear from some of you who may have done this before. Any recommendations on removing/reapplying finish, reconditioning bellows, polishing metal, etc.? Also, are there any online resources for this type of thing? Finally, does anybody know where I can get a new leather handle to put atop the camera? Many thanks in advance.

[jim_ryder]

you could try http://members.xoom.com/Deardorffcam/indexa.html

[neil_poulsen1]

You might speak with Ken Hough, who restores these cameras, and who

worked at the Deardorff factory before it closed. You could have him

restore it; but, I've heard that turnaround time is high.

 

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http://members.xoom.com/_XOOM/Deardorffcam/indexa.html

[steve_barth]

I completely restored a 1959 Deardorff 8X10 about 9 months ago. It

was well worth the work. I now have a very functional 8X10 and I am

only in it about $350 (not including the price of the E+ dog I bought

mail order from a prominent New Jersey Camera seller). I

disassembled the camera completely and marked all the parts. I made

notes where I thought There might be confusion in reassembly. I had

the wood parts stripped down to the bare wood. (I stripped a camera

myself once. It was very tedious and messy. If you can get it done

affordably consider it.) I carefully but completely sanded all wood

pieces. This was the hardest part. Deardorffs have a red dye under

the clear lacquer that can be mostly sanded thru (except where

hardware mounts and clearance is an issue). Cleaning all the

hardware takes time but is not too difficult. I replaced some of the

plated brass screws with stainless steel.

 

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I decided to use tung oil instead of lacquer to finish the wood. I

plan on using the camera, not displaying it. I replaced the badly

leaking bellows with a synthetic item that looks just like the

original, square corners. The bellows were made in England and cost

around $250. It is pretty easy to install bellows. Now the camera

easily extends to a full 30". In retrospect, it was a generally

gratifying experience. I only wish I had more time to shoot.

 

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Good luck!

[david photographic]

Dave

I purchased an old 8 x 10 Feardorff about 2 years ago and

subsequently spent about 100 hours restoring it. Here are a few tips.

- When you dissamble take lots of photos and make notes and mark some

of the parts in an inconspicuous place. i.e. left and right rails.

- Seperate and save small screws in labeled film containers.

- once you are down to wood parts, strip, sand and laquer with at

least 2 coats.

- Most metal parts are brass plated with nickel. I had all of may

parts replated for abot $300. I nickle plated the small screws myself

using an electroless nickle plating kit. (You boild the items in a

special bath). Do not recommend this for the large parts as the

nickel plate is not all that thick.

- Prior to assembly I took round toothpicks - dipped the end in glue

and inserted into each screw hole and broke the toothpick off flush

and left to dry. This fills any loose holes and gives the screws a

tight hold on reassembly.

- As for the handle I simply cut out a pattern based on the photos

from various websites and wnet to a shoe repair shop and had a handle

made.

- Reassemble carefully and you will end up with a greta camera.

- I was able to get a few missing parts from Ken Hough.

You can see my camera at my site www.clickondavid.com It forms part

of my collection. I have also inserted a cronology of the Deardorff

in the resources section of the site.

regards

Dave