Olympus Chrome Six makeover

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sweathog

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So I've just bought an Olympus Chrome Six. It looks in fairly good nick from the photos (I'll know more when it arrives), but the bellows have a nice one inch gash in them, so they will need replacing.
I might as well get the thing CLAd while its aways, so I'm wondering if anybody has any reccomendations (preferably UK or Europe) as to who to send it to, just for bellows, or both.
Oh, and any info or tips relating to the camera would be lovely.
Cheers,
Tom
 
camerabellows.com are in the UK near B'ham. You'll need to send them the old bellows. The new bellows will run you about 25 GBP, plus shipping.
 
Tom on the three folders I did this for it was a D.I.Y. removal and install. You will have to remove the shutter assembly using a lens spanner to see if it is a pig of a job.

I'll be replacing the bellows on my Super Isolette next and I believe I'll be sending that particular camera out for that one.
 
Yeah, I really don't fancy having a crack at it (at least not considering I paid for it). Were it a freebie, or a charity shop find that'd be a different kettle of fish, but so far any camera I've tinkered with (or tried to tinker with) has met an untimely demise.
 
Last time I looked>>>

Last time I looked>>>

Olympus chrome sixes were in short supply and increasing in value. I'd find someone who can replace the bellows and CLA the camera. I don't know what to tell you on who to send it to. I've had Certo6 do about 4 old folders form me... two bellows replacements. My experience with him has been quite good, but he seems to get a fair amount of heat on this forum.
 
sweathog said:
Yeah, I really don't fancy having a crack at it (at least not considering I paid for it). Were it a freebie, or a charity shop find that'd be a different kettle of fish, but so far any camera I've tinkered with (or tried to tinker with) has met an untimely demise.
Click to expand...

The problem is that the back of the bellows, in pretty much all folders, is sandwiched between the front and back halves of the frame. While the late model Agfas and late model Kodaks have the two halves of the frame held together with four small bolts, almost everyone else used rivets. I'm tempted to say everyone else used rivets, period, but I have not seen every folder ever made. Anyway, changing bellows is easy with most of the later models of Agfa and Kodak cameras, but it can be a lot more difficult for other makes.

Apparently lots of people cheat on this. They just cut the old bellows out and glue the new bellows in from the front of the camera, without seperating the two frame halves. The new bellows is just glued to the front of the frame. I'd bet that the glue doesn't hold on half of them though, and I bet most of the rest have light leaks. The manufacturers sandwiched the rear of the bellows between those frame halves for a reason and that is because the front and rear of the bellows are pulled apart with some degree of force. Glue alone won't usually do it.

Also, in some makes, like the Zeiss Nettars, you also have to remove the tripod bushing to get the two halves apart. Since Zeiss beveled the edges of the bushing, you can't get a grip on it and it involves a lot of very hard work getting it out of there without modifying or damaging it. I've been calling getting that %#@ Nettar bushing out "the geased pig of camera repair." The phrase gives a pretty accurate idea of what anyone attempting it would be up against.

Now I'm not sure which method Olympus used, since I have no Olympus folders, but I'd bet on rivets, since that's what nearly everyone else used.
 
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sweathog said:
Andrew, is that a DIY job, or will they do it for me. Is it easy to do?
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Open the back of the camera and look to see how the two halves (front and back) of the frame are connected. If they used bolts, it will be a very easy job. If they used rivets, as the vast majority of camera manufacturers did, then getting the two halves of the frame apart (so you can access the rear of the bellows) will involve drilling out the rivets. Putting the two halves back together, after removing the old bellows and replacing them, will involve replacing those rivets. Whether this is easy or hard depends on your ability to do this. Some people think it is easy, while others would rather stick their arm down a garbage disposal.
 
Having now received the camera, I have found that it does need a CLA, so I think it will be going over to Certo6, but it will have to wait at least until I get back from Finland.
 
sweathog said:
Having now received the camera, I have found that it does need a CLA, so I think it will be going over to Certo6, but it will have to wait at least until I get back from Finland.
Click to expand...

Pity that you won't be able to take it with you. Those old folders tend to take nice photos. However, once you get it CLA'd I know we will be seeing so nice photos from you.
 
Not much out there on the Olympus Chrome Six. I have one that I found in an antique store and have just had it CLA'ed. Am in the process of shooting the forst rolls of film with it. It's a joy to use. It's the Olympus Chrome Six IIb, I believe, with the 2.8 lens. I'll be interested in hearing how it goes with yours. Mine has a good bellows and now the only flaw is that some of the brittle leather has chipped off the front.
 
Wooden Case

Wooden Case

One of the cool things about mine is that I found it in the original wooden case, stamped "Olympus Chrome Six" and with the GI's name and ID stamped into the wood.

I found another 3.5 model with better leather that I was going to try and cannibalize for the front leather strip but I don't know if I can get the brittle leather off in usable condition...
 
I finished off a roll of fujichrome finally, but won't be able to get it processed for a week or so at least. On vacation. I did notice that the film didn't rol up properly on the spool- it was a little loose. Could be my fault. Will see how the next roll goes. I should also correct that this camera is sn Olympus Chrome Six II, which has the f2.8 lens. There is some confusion about the different models but at Camerapedia they have it all nailed down realy well.

When I found my camera the shutter wasn't working well at all on most speeds. the guy who repeaired the shutter told me the quality control at Copal early on wasn't all that good and that some parts had to be bent and adjusted to get them to work. I was lucky enough to get this work done in trade for another camera so it didn't cost me anything.

Shooting a roll of Velvia 100F today with it and will post some results when I get some. The excellent informational write up on the Chrome Six is at this address: http://www.camerapedia.org/wiki/Olympus_Chrome_Six
 
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