Restoring Classic & Collectible Cameras (Paperback)

by Thomas Tomosy (Author) "People often stick adhesive tape or labels onto the body of the camera as a price tag, an ID tag, or an attempted repair..." (more)
Key Phrases: tapering bellows, parallel bellows, rear lens group, Ruby Reflex (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

Expert advice for turning old cameras into valuable collectibles, these step-by-step instructions show how to restore a vintage camera. Learn to work on antique leather, brass, and wooden components to achieve a complete camera restoration.

About the Author

Thomas Tomosy is a European trained master camera technician.

Product Details

• Paperback: 128 pages
• Publisher: Amherst Media, Inc. (December 1, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0936262591
• ISBN-13: 978-0936262598
• Product Dimensions: 10.8 x 8.4 x 0.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #562,082 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

20 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Good Introduction, December 23, 2000

By A Customer

Not complete, but a good start for mostly pre-1945 cameras and lenses. The sections on bellows restoration and construction alone probably make this book a worthwhile purchase. Tomosy illustrates restoration techniques using specific cameras and lenses that are mostly common and relatively inexpensive. A couple of different Kodak Brownie cameras are two of the cameras examined in the chapter on folding cameras, for example. The Exacta VX, Nikkorex 35, Zeiss Contaflex, and Leica II are some of the models examined in the 35mm chapter. Other chapters cover Lenses and Lens Shutters, Wooden View Cameras, Large-Format Focal-Plane Shutters, Medium Format, and the Minox C. What keeps this from being 5 stars is Tomosy's too casual treatment of wood-, metal-, and leatherworking on a couple of his projects. However, he does include an appendix about tools, lubricants, parts suppliers, and other suggested readings.

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Knowledge Is Transferable, April 28, 2004

By A Customer

This is an excellent repair book. Some who have reviewed this book are missing the point -- this repair knowledge transfers to many cameras other than the ones featured. So I wholeheartedly disagree that this book is for repairing only the specific cameras listed -- it provides scores of solutions for other cameras also. Ever tried to pull a viewfinder window? Ever wondered how to make spraypaint hard and tough? How to fill incised lettering with white paint? The difference between slow and fast epoxy? How to make bellows? How to refurb a resistor? How to clean aluminum? How to remove a round window without scratching it and without buying a special tool? How to mate helicals? How to prevent and repair battery acid damage? Where to obtain chemicals at low prices and when to use them? And on and on and on. Tomosy is like having an expert looking over your shoulder as you repair. I'm going to purchase the other Tomosy books after reading this one.

16 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Its great if its talking about a camera you're working on..., November 19, 2002

By A Customer

Its a great book if its talking specifically about the model of camera or shutter that you are trying to repair, and its got a surprisingly thorough section on bellows repair. Other than that the book is just OK. I would recommend buying this book if you have one of the cameras that are discussed inside it, which are covered from disassembly to reassembly. Those cameras and shutters are: Voigtlander Heliar No. 6 shutter, Bausch & Lomb Iris Diaphragm shutter, Wollensak Iris Diaphragm shutter, Packard Ideal shutter, Vest Pocket Autographic Kodak Camera (1915-1926), Kodak Folding Pocket No. 3-A, Kodak No. 3 Folding Brownie, Kodak Model A Folding Brownie, Kodak Six-20 Model C, Eastman 5x7 View Camera No. 33A, Lancaster & Son Merveilleux, Rembrandt No. 2 Portrait Camera (Burke & James Inc.), Thornton-Pickard Duplex Ruby Reflex, Graflex Speed Graphic Pacemaker, Ensign-Cupid, Kodak Premoette Jr. No. 1 (1913), Rolleicord Vb, Contax II, Exacta VX, Leica II, Nikkorex Zoom 35, Nikkorex 35, Universal (Univex) Mercury II, Zeiss Contaflex, Contaflex I, Contaflex Super and the Minox C.