Bellows whatzit on an Eastman #2 8x10...

[Scott --]

There's this spring-loaded, hinged, felt-covered flappy thingie on the inside top of the bellows on my Eastman #2 8x10. Right up ag'in the front standard:

https://c2.staticflickr.com/4/3672/12822660545_2fb4960065_c.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/scott--/12822660545/)
IMG_1676 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/scott--/12822660545/) by Scott -- (http://www.flickr.com/people/scott--/), on Flickr

I have no idea what it is, or what it's for. I'm *guessing* it's some kind of anti-sag device, but it seems like, if that was it, it'd extend past the first few folds. Anyone clue me in?

[blueribbontea]

You're right, the anti-sag device. Have one on my 2-Ds.

[jcoldslabs]

I think the idea is that it keeps the front folds from sagging and vignetting the lens. Sometimes it's the first few folds that are the worst offenders, with the rest of the bellows being satisfactorily stiff. My Century Universal has a very saggy bellows at the front and I WISH it had this feature. The CU gets around this by having small straps that cinch the front folds tight via a hook and eyelet arrangement on the front standard. My Agfa/Ansco 8x10 uses the same method.

Jonathan