Emo Wetzlar Germany Ball Heads - Are they still around?

[atcace]

Yesterday I bought a NOS Emo Wetzlar foto + video panorama ball head from Samys... Really nicely built, over the top construction. Is the company still around? Does Bromwell rep them still in the US?

I picked up the largest sized head they made, though I'd like a smaller one too. Samy's never carried them, this happened to be a special order someone never picked up. I payed $300 for it, really happy with the build quality, very very well built. Not much info online about the company...

This is the one I found:

[Emmanuel BIGLER]

Some pieces of information, not that much, unfortunately.
As of May, 2012, the EMO company in Wetzlar is still recorded as an active company

However as of May 29 2012, the web site is off line
http://www.emo-wetzlar.de/

[Sevo]

Emo Seibert probably is best known for designing/making the lens for the Minox miniature camera series, the Emoskop (a miniature tele/microscope - now licensed away to China) and the slide loupe designed for Leitz/Leica. As far as I know they were about last year, but were already reduced to little more than a one-man (close to retirement) company doing design for other Wetzlar companies - they may have closed shop, sold out or merged with someone else by now.

[Brian Ellis]

Doesn't look like Bromwell sells Emo products.

http://www.bromwellmarketing.com/

[Bob Salomon]

Last time I was there Bear Images in Palo Alto still had some of these.

[atcace]

Thanks for the info. I gave them a call to see if still in stock, they're not sure and checking for me. Shame the company is gone, I like the design.

[Bob Salomon]

Tell them it was in the showcase with the Contax equipment in front of the wall with the Linhofs.

[atcace]

Great. That is a big help, they were talking about checking warehouse stock. I appreciate the info Bob. See you in nyc soon, finally moving back this weekend.

Wish these heads were readily available, I like them better than Arca counterparts in the same class. The two point locking system is brilliant.

[John Koehrer]

I've had one for years, appears not to be the same model though. Mine is ~5" tall, has both the short screws and long handles for tightening the head.
Both the tripod screw and socket are reversible using a handle as a wrench. A six ball race in both the upper and lower rotating section and the axle holding the ball in place for three way operation can be removed so it becomes a ballhead.