Installing new bellows: How to marry the old frame with the new bellows?

[Eric Woodbury]

I just got a new bellows for my Beseler 45M. The old one isn't that bad, but starting to disintegrate in the back, so I bought a brand new one while I still can. The new one has the lower frame installed, but no upper frame, so I cut the old frame from the old bellows. Why wasn't there a new upper frame with the new bellows? How do you get the frame inside the new bellows without cutting it or bending it? Is there some magically 5th dimension geometry of which I know not? Maybe I should not use the frame at all and install, instead, four little trim brackets on the outside. What's the collective wisdom?

Thanks. Y'all are wonderful resource.

--ejw--

[Tin Can]

My newer looking blue 45MCRX has the focus bellows glued to the bottom of the negative stage and has a bottom frame screwed to lens stage.

Glue it UP!


added

Then I looked at 45 CB7 which is older but similar in that area. It uses 4 steel strips riveting the focus bellows top to the neg frame.