The new Deardorff a letter to Barry Cochan

[B.S.Kumar]

Take, for example, Bob Salomon from HP Marketing - you can barely say "Linhof" or "Rodenstock" and the next moment he's posting.

You forgot "Wista"

Bob is THE product rep!

Kumar

[BrianShaw]

Amen to that. Excellent example of what product support should be.

Amen I say to you. But it takes a big corporation to fund a service like that. I assume Bob gets paid by HP to surf the web and be a presence. Smaller businessmen simply don't have that luxury... unless they they choose to work 24-7.

[BrianShaw]

... another is Helen, who shows up here-and-there on various forums cleaning up her companies messes. But, again, they are a bigger outfit than many.

[E. von Hoegh]

I have no experience with the new incarnation of Deardorff. But I do have experience with the old Deardorff. In 1989 I decided to refinish my V8. The original company had gone into recievership at that point, but directory assistance put me in contact with Jack Deardorff, who spent nearly an hour answering my questions, as well as giving me all the information he had regarding my particular camera, the 54th made with front swings. Jack was the real deal, and we kept in contact until his death in 2007.

[E. von Hoegh]

How about a 6-oz machinist's mallet, and a precision-ground 35-lb anvil?

How about disassembling it and bending it back where it belongs with your hands? Blacksmiths have strong hands.

[karl french]

As great of a resource as Bob is I don't think he's spending much time assembling new cameras as I suspect Barry is. Which might explain why things are moving slowly. Based on the emails we exchanged it sounded like a two person operation. How often do you get the chance to buy a brand new Deardorff? Some things are worth the wait and some extra effort.

Considering the permanence of these discussion forum threads it'd be nice if we kept it on topic as well.

[Bob Salomon - HP Marketing]

Amen I say to you. But it takes a big corporation to fund a service like that. I assume Bob gets paid by HP to surf the web and be a presence. Smaller businessmen simply don't have that luxury... unless they they choose to work 24-7.

Perhaps, but our company has a total of 8 employees. And no, I don't get paid to surf.

[Kevin Crisp]

The new Deardorff trashing going on here seems disproportionate to the original complaints. It was reportedly delivered late, and shipment was ultimately 5 days instead of 2 or 3 when completed. A camera shipped a long way -- to France, apparently -- was stiff when new. I'd have to see it to judge that, likely a change in humidity. The 4X5 back springs seem stiff -- well I am sure they are NOS Deardorff. Otherwise, it seems that these people have resurrected an iconic camera. Cue five pages of critical comments from people who apparently don't have this latest generation camera but feel they must chime in on how the business should be run.

Honestly, if I supplied this community I'm not sure I'd have patience with us.

[Leigh]

And no, I don't get paid to surf.

Well, we all appreciate the fact that you do surf.

Thank you, Bob.

- Leigh

[BrianShaw]

Well that surpises me Bob. Sorry to have made assumptions, both of which were wrong in your situation. I too appreciate your presence because you unselfishly share your knowlwdge and wisdom!