Way back in December 2016 I suggested to Alan that he look into dyeing curtain material in order to restore original red-curtain cameras, and he had some success. He completed my IIIc red curtain in Feb. 2017. They were pretty nasty!
Mr_Flibble
In Tabulas Argenteas Refero
I have a 1941 IIIc where the curtains have turned black and sticky from the rubber deteriorating. Have been thinking about shipping it to Alan as well.
Highway 61
Revisited
Alan doesn't manufacture the red fabric himself. Sourcing the red material from where he buys it shouldn't be that difficult.
Erik van Straten
Veteran
I have a manual from Nobu about how to install new curtains in a IIIc. Not too difficult I guess.
Erik.
Erik.
Actually, they do, in a manner of speaking. They are not just buying red material.
p.giannakis
Pan Giannakis
Highway 61
Revisited
Do you mean that they re-dye some regular black shutter material in red after having made it more or less white (with some color remover or bleach for instance) and properly rinsed it ? This shouldn't be quite difficult to have this made by a professional dyer then, or even at home with some Dylon red dying solution, using black shutter blinds sold by Aki Asahi.
Erik van Straten
Veteran
Thank you very much, Pan! I am most grateful to you.
I will try to reach him by phone tomorrow (today I'm too busy with work).
Erik.
When my camera was in progress I asked Alan what his thoughts were regarding refitting red curtains. Specifically, would that service be limited to cameras that originally came with them?
He replied:
"As for red blinds, I will be pretty strict on that. Either the camera has red blinds or it was made at a time when red blinds would have been fitted. I’ve been offered money for red blind material. While I’m in business to pay the bills, some requests have made me feel slightly uncomfortable. Not only that, I spent a fair bit of time and money getting this right!
Alan."
As for what method he uses to create rubberized red curtains, he did understandably did not share that.
He replied:
"As for red blinds, I will be pretty strict on that. Either the camera has red blinds or it was made at a time when red blinds would have been fitted. I’ve been offered money for red blind material. While I’m in business to pay the bills, some requests have made me feel slightly uncomfortable. Not only that, I spent a fair bit of time and money getting this right!
Alan."
As for what method he uses to create rubberized red curtains, he did understandably did not share that.