softening a 90 year old bellows

[Jim Noel]

I just received my 5x12 Korona. The bellows is original, seemingly with no leaks. Although I can extend it, it is very stiff. Does anyone have experience with making these bellows more supple/flexible. They are not leather so Lexol and similar are out of the question.
Thanks,
Jim

[LabRat]

They are possibly fabric and/or paper construction, so not much that might be applied, that might not damage them... Water based stuff is probably out...

Let me think about this...

Steve K

[AtlantaTerry]

What about the stuff made for horse saddles?

[RichardRitter]

New bellows.
Even if you soften the bellows you have they will fail very quickly when you start using the camera.

[LabRat]

What about the stuff made for horse saddles?
OT/ AT, clear your inbox!!!

SK

[LabRat]

New bellows.
Even if you soften the bellows you have they will fail very quickly when you start using the camera.

+1 unless it's a display camera, or once a year Sunday shooter... Once that wack-a-mole light leak thing starts, :-0 ...

The cheap Chinese bellows will turn it into a solid shooter...

Steve K