Source for custom-made bag bellows needed

[audidudi]

I recently purchased a Toyo 45G quite inexpensively and am using bits

to create a "field" camera that combines the 2x3 front standard from

my 23G with the 45G's 4x5 rear standard. Sort of like Arca's field

versions, only larger, bulker, with geared movements and made in Japan...

 

Anyway, Toyo did offer a bellows that fits this combination but they

are rare as hen's teeth and while I bought a NOS pleated bellows on

eBay a few weeks ago, I really need a bag bellows for the shorter

(50-75mm) lenses that I will be using most of the time.

 

I have a spare set of mounting plates for both sides of the bellows and

while I'd like to make it myself, I'm a hopeless klutz with a sewing

machine and the one we have isn't happy sewing thicker material even

if I wasn't. Besides, I'm employed again and can afford to splurge a

bit and have somebody who knows what they're doing make a proper one

for me.

 

The question is, who does this sort of stuff? I've checked with a few

of the usual sources for bellows and they didn't seem to be

interested. Mind you, I'm not looking to fund anyone's IRA

contribution for the year but I am willing to pay a reasonable price.

Any suggestions?

[steve_hamley]

Jeffrey,

 

Camera Bellows

Units 3-5

St Paul's Road

Balsall Heath

Birmingham B12 8NG

England

Tel: 0121 440 1695

Fax: 0121 440 0972

http://www.camerabellows.com/

 

Universal Bellows Co. Inc

25 Hanse Avenue

Freeport, NY 11520

Phone: (516) 378-1264

 

Western Bellows co.

9340 7th street #G

Rancho Cucamonga CA 91730

909 - 980-0606

Flexible Products

14504 60th St. N.

Clearwater, FL 727-536-3142

Phone: (813) 536-3142

http://www.flexproducts.com/

 

Turner Bellows

526 Child St.

Rochester, NY 14606

Phone:716-235-4456

 

GORTITE A & A Mfg. Co., Inc.,

2300 S. Calhoun Rd., New Berlin,

WI 53151

(414) 786-1500

 

Thanks!

 

Steve

[ken_hughes3]

check ebay, I've seen many there.

[audidudi]

Ken, there are plenty of Toyo 4x5 bag bellows but in over four years, I have yet to see one made for a 4x5 rear standard and a 2x3 front standard. If you do ever see one of these -- like I said, they're rare as hen's teeth -- please do drop me a note... :^)

[golliegwillie]

Won't the Toyo 45 Cx wide angle bellows work for you? The Cx uses a 4x5 rear standard and the 110mm x110mm field camera lensboard front standard.

[audidudi]

Son of a gun ... it looks like you're right! Frankly, I never paid much attention to the Cx models and didn't realize that it uses the smaller front lensboard. Now, to find a good, used one somewhere...

 

Thanks!

[audidudi]

<P>Well, as it turns out, the CX bag bellows does <I>not</I> fit the 23G front standard. While the CX uses the same 110mm lensboards as the 23G and the bellows mounting plate on the 4x5 side fits just fine, the mounting plate on the 2x3 side is about 10mm smaller. :^(

 

<P>On the positive side, though, I bought mine on ebay for a great price ($99.90 brand new versus $249 used!) and I have a worn 23G bellows from which I can scavenge the appropriate mounting plate. So, in the end, I can make it work, it just won't work off the shelf.</P>