Re: Monday answer.
Gary Smyth
Another quick day. Bill gets a gold star for his forehead.
From their site:
When you buy a RIES tripod, you are buying the tradition of lightweight (compared to what?) and durable wooden legs, easy-to-use hardware, and built-in quality that started in 1936. ( I might add that you pay a premium for the tripod, although generally, they are less expensive than the German Nedo.)
Paul, Park, Ray and Irving Ries were in Hollywood when the motion picture industry was born. They saw the need for a sturdy, durable tripod mounted with a still camera on it for every motion picture set. This dedicated large format camera recorded movie scenes with the succinct clarity and immediate availability only a still camera could offer. The people in wardrobe relied on those photographs to ensure that the cast was properly attired and made-up from one shot to the next. And some of Hollywood's classic publicity photos were shot on movie sets from atop the Ries brothers' tripods.
While the movie industry was booming, the fine art of still photography was reaching new heights as well. Much of the time-honored work of such photographic greats as Ansel Adams and Edward Weston were shot from a RIES tripod. And top large-format photographers around the world today still regard RIES as "simply the best there is!" (Their words.)
Though the RIES tripod has changed little in appearance over the years, the quality of each component is being constantly improved, using the most advanced computer technology available. The result is a blend of the classic charm and durability of the old wooden RIES with the superior quality of design, manufacture, and finish afforded by today's technology. And all Ries products are still made in USA, in our own plant on Bainbridge Island in Washington State.
I pinched my fingers more than a couple of times hauling a 15 lb Reis for a 4x5 view camera. Until this question I never understood the reputation of the brand. We learn something each day.