My favorite folding Kodak type is the long-lived Model 3 series because of its usually solid construction and generally good lenses. I picked up a nice-looking Kodak Model 3 on eBay thinking it would be an easy cleanup before using it. The seller did not disclose two moth holes in the bellows, apparently made while the bellows were retracted but the door still open, as the holes are right next to each other in that situation. The holes were irregular in shape, with clean cuts right through the sheepskin, cardboard, and support cloth--windows to the world, pinholes extraordinaire, gratis ventilation. Problem is, that wasn't what I wanted.

Folks here know that I favor the use of reversible repair techniques, the most important ingredient of which is a good white glue that is water soluble (so that you, or a future owner, can back out the repair and try something different). I aimed to rebuild the inside support and then apply tiny sheepskin patches trimmed to fit inside the neat hole boundaries. The first photo shows my raw materials trimmed down to near-working size. The black cloth is from a scrap I found at JoAnn Fabrics, and is quite lightproof. I sized the slick side of the backing patch with white glue mixed with black scuff-coat for shoes to make it stiff and to resist separation of the weave. I then glued this side against the inside of each hole. Each patch is small enough to fit in the "valley" behind the hole, so they are not too apparent from the back when the bellows are folded. Then I trimmed a pre-stained scrap of sheepskin to each hole. This does not need to be exactly precise, as once you apply the patch (using white glue, of course), you can use a toothpick to form the patch against the sides of the holes, to some extent.

I had already tested the technique on one hole before I thought to start taking photos. Here are the materials for the second hole (Tandy sheepskin with oxblood stain; heavy black cloth):


The bellows, before (with one hole already test-patched):


The camera, after (second hole patched same way, patches buffed and "aged" with a bit of black shoe dye):


Part of my joy with old cameras is seeing how good a photograph they are actually capable of. This one has a bright looking Rapid Rectilinear lens and a shutter with simple "T B I" settings. The next day after the repair, I attached a Model 3 cut film back to the camera, mounted it on a tripod, focused on a willing garden statue, and made this first photo (Foma 100 cut film, exposed at Universal f/32 (f/22 to us) at ~1/4 sec on the "B" setting, developed 10 min in D-76 1:1).

Full negative:


Detail:


Yeehaw! I love those old lenses on good old cameras. They can be remarkably sweet tools if you are inclined to appreciate the medium and the slow approach to making a photograph. ;-)