Cameras/missed opportunity - Kodak F.P. 3-A replacement bellows?
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Question
I missed out on some new old stock replacement bellows for some Kodak Folding Pocket Autographic 3-A's I have. They both have B&L Rapid Rectilinear lenses and I am aware of the fim availability issues (as well as alternative uses like rigging them to use 120 film for 6x14 format). I have other large inexpensive surplus film that offers opportunities to roll-my-own.
I know there are repair people who can provide smaller ones for 6x9 cm cameras, but I'm now stumped on where to get replacement bellows for these.
Any ideas?
Thanks
Murray
Hi Murray,
There are several services (the best is Western Bellows in California) who would gladly make a bellows of any size for any camera. Seriously, ANY darn size you have, send them the old bellows and they'll make a new one. The problem is cost. The true market value of most No. 3A Folding Kodak cameras is $40 to $60, but a new bellows for one of these "post card" models would probably cost around $100+. Simply not cost effective. So what I do (and most collectors who like to repair their own cameras) is look for junker examples of these cameras that still have good bellows. You have to cannibalize and scavenge, that's the only way. In the long run, it's waaaaaaaay cheaper (just last week I bought a group of five nasty old Kodak folders on eBay, rotten buggers, for $26 plus postage, but four of them had spotless perfect bellows!), and you're actually getting the real thing rather than a modern interpretation made from modern materials.
Best wishes,
David Silver
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David Silver
Expertise
I'm an expert on all types of antique, classic, and contemporary cameras, as well as the general history of photography. Everything from ancient box cameras to modern single-lens-reflex; from simple Kodaks to sophisticated Leica and Nikon; from glass plates and roll film to movie and 35mm. I can identify and appraise them, explain how they work, and offer insights on their restoration and care. I can also provide historical background on vintage cameras and equipment, and guidelines on their purchase and sale.
Experience
I've been a professional photographer and a student of the history of photography for nearly 30 years. During that time my collection of vintage cameras and photographic paraphernalia has grown beyond 2000 significant pieces. I've published nearly 70 articles in the field, including 16 in the popular "Buying Classic Cameras" series for PHOTO SHOPPER MAGAZINE from 1995 to 1997, I'm currently a contributing editor for CAMERA SHOPPER MAGAZINE and McKEOWN'S PRICE GUIDE TO ANTIQUE AND CLASSIC CAMERAS, and I've written numerous entries for WORLD BOOK ENCYCLOPEDIA. Portions of my collection have been displayed in museums and special exhibits in the past two decades, and many of the items were photographed as illustrations for books. In 1985 I founded the International Photographic Historical Organization (InPHO), which eventually evolved into its intended purpose as the best first resource for information on the history of photography. I'm also a founding member of several e-mail forums dedicated to specialized areas of photography, and I'm the moderator of the Internet Directory of Camera Collectors (IDCC), which remains the largest and most successful such group in the world. For more information about the International Photographic Historical Organization and its many services, please visit its web pages at:
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