How hard is it to replace the bellows of Kodak Master View 810

[ericantonio]

Hi guys,

Was wondering, my bellows is kinda sagging these days. Looks like milk factory from an 90 year old grandma that gave birth to 20 kids. I put whatever I have under it if I have a 12" lens or longer. Sometimes Amazon air packs, folded up tshirt, lettover to go containers...

Before I search for a replacement grandma and bellows, is it difficult to just take it off and flip it? Or will it still sag?

I don't actually see any screws or anything that takes off the focus cloth.

[matthew blais]

I remember when I had mine replaced, getting off wasn't so hard. The new bellows came with a thin strap and brass ring, which hooked to front standard. Maybe make one and glue about 1/3 down from front standard.

[ericantonio]

I remember when I had mine replaced, getting off wasn't so hard. The new bellows came with a thin strap and brass ring, which hooked to front standard. Maybe make one and glue about 1/3 down from front standard.

Ohhh, interesting.

I'm wondering, I see one on Ebay right now, wondering if I can get it and get a local Camera shop here in Socal to put it in for me. I'm sure they have put bellows in a camera before...."That'll be $300 bucks please". Hahahah. right?

[matthew blais]

Make sure it is for a Master view. I paid $270 back in 2007 so $300 isn't bad if it fits

[Thom Bennett]

The great thing about the KMV is that you can service it yourself with a few tools.

For a nominal fee this site has the parts list and the manual: https://www.butkus.org/chinon/kodak/kodak_master_camera/kodak_master_camera.htm.

I ordered a new bellows from Custom Bellows in England http://www.custombellows.co.uk/?LMCL=UFzqqa. They have the proper dimensions and are properly constructed. If I remember correctly, I did send them the old bellows so that they could use the original bellows front and rear plates.

[ericantonio]

Make sure it is for a Master view. I paid $270 back in 2007 so $300 isn't bad if it fits

Thanks! Its under $200 for the bellows on ebay. I was joking that a camera repair place would charge $300 for installing it! Yikes. I can get a CLA for 35mm tiny litle screws for half that.

I'll start calling around local places here in SoCal to see if that is something they can do. And I'll order the bellows afterwards. I can just picture myself wrecking my 8x10! ha

[ericantonio]

The great thing about the KMV is that you can service it yourself with a few tools.

For a nominal fee this site has the parts list and the manual: https://www.butkus.org/chinon/kodak/kodak_master_camera/kodak_master_camera.htm.

I ordered a new bellows from Custom Bellows in England http://www.custombellows.co.uk/?LMCL=UFzqqa. They have the proper dimensions and are properly constructed. If I remember correctly, I did send them the old bellows so that they could use the original bellows front and rear plates.

I'll check out the manual. I had no idea one can even get a manual for this!!!

[Rod Klukas]

Here is a US Company as well: US Company

Nabel

https://nabell.com/products/camera-bellows/

[ic-racer]

It is a little bit of a pain, assuming it is like a Century. In that case, tacks hold it on the back and glue and a board in the front. Plenty of opportunities to create inadvertent light leaks. In fact, once I got my home-made 'test' bellows installed and light tight, I have been reluctant to tear it all down and install a professionally made bellows.

Oops, I misread, I thought the thread was on Kodak 2D which is similar to Century.
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[Tin Can]

Does yours still have the little hooks for stopping sag?

I had the same camera with OE bellows, the 4 hooks intact and no pinholes. The hooks worked very well, but don't forget to unfasten them when not needed

If so, don't fix what is not broken

Perfectionists will have a very hard time with the first bellows replacement

It is a very nice camera with really quick setup, way faster than a Deardorff


Hi guys,

Was wondering, my bellows is kinda sagging these days. Looks like milk factory from an 90 year old grandma that gave birth to 20 kids. I put whatever I have under it if I have a 12" lens or longer. Sometimes Amazon air packs, folded up tshirt, lettover to go containers...

Before I search for a replacement grandma and bellows, is it difficult to just take it off and flip it? Or will it still sag?

I don't actually see any screws or anything that takes off the focus cloth.

[Greg]

Over the years have replaced bellows on a few view cameras, both metal and wood. In my experience:
1. First thing is to acquire a quality replacement bellows. Cheap bellows are usually quite stiff and their dimensions less than exact. If someone offers a bellows unit and lists several cameras that it will fit, walk away... It probably will fit all the cameras listed but it will most probably have to be adapted/altered to make it a really good fit.
2. When removing the original bellows go very, very slowly and do it inside a 20x24" processing tray. Some bellows are attached to the standards with many tiny screws that are so easy to lose.
3. Flex the bellows a bit before working with it.
4. If thin flat strips of metal are used and if they had been held in place by an adhesive, carefully remove all the dried on adhesive before gluing.
5. Carefully research out which adhesive to use. Adhesives out there now are many times better that the adhesives that were used a hundred plus years ago. I've used contact cement once, and never again. The work "repositionable" doesn't apply to using it. When replacing the bellows on an 11x14 camera, I took 8 days to attach each of the sides. Did one side per night letting the glue cure/harden for 24 hours. No light leaks and the bellows lasted for years till I sold the camera.
6. Take a lot of time, go very slowly; and if clamps are involved, use a lot of them. Small hobby clamps are way better to use than larger heavy duty clamps from Home Depot, Lowes, etc.
7. Take your time and go slow... Oh I think I already mentioned that but it is worth mentioning again.

I am quite handy and have twice attempted to fabricate a new bellows from scratch. First time failed and the second time came out not all that great... bellows making is definitely an art in my opinion.