Paper Camera Bellows

[sgoti]

Originally Posted by Thumb Dog

Hi All,

And hi, sgoti. Interesting project and nicely executed, too. If you know, what materials were your camera's original bellows made out of? In my button accordions and concertinas, the good bellows are made from jute, with kid leather used on the corners. It seems that for a camera's bellows, with no reinforced corners, heavy paper or cardboard wouldn't be durable enough.

Again, well done.

Score and fold,

Thumb Dog

Thank you, Thumb Dog!

To be honest, there was very little of the original bellows left, and what was present had badly deteriorated.

However, what fragments that did remain seemed to indicate a three-layer construction: Some kind of fabric inside, cardboard or some kind of heavy paper ribs, and a very thin leather exterior.

With this, the ribs would provide the necessary stiffness, while the fabric and leather layers would provide the flexibility and reinforcement necessary at the folds and corners.

I agree completely on the lack of durability using just plain paper or cardboard. Since this will just sit "open on display", durability is thankfully much less of a concern than a full-use application would require.

Glenn