Rollei service / Repair - Newton Ellis & Co, Liverpool, UK

[andrewaaa5]

Does anyone have any experience with Newton Ellis & Co, based in Liverpool, UK, for Rollei TLR service or repair?

http://www.rolleiflexcamerarepairs.co.uk/

Was wondering if they can be recommended etc.

Otherwise Calumet are giving me the option of sending my Rollei to Hi Tech Camera Repairs; Their webpage does not look particularly tailored for Rollei care: http://www.hitechcamerarepairs.co.uk/
But I do not want to judge a book by it's cover. So if anyone has any experience with these, I'd also like to hear.

[[In case you are wondering why a scandinavian is looking in UK for service, it's because I am from UK, and will be on an extended trip there soon 🙂 ]]

Andrew

 

[Jonathan R]

Andrew, I'm watching this thread with interest, but you seem to be getting little response.

Some (12?) years ago, I had a Rollei 35 CLA'd by Mike Pye of HB(AV) Ltd, 18 Council Street, Wollaston, Wellingborough, Northants NN9 7QE. Mike was Rollei-trained and would do all the Rolleiflexes etc. I've checked the yellow pages and he's not listed, but maybe another forum member may know what's become of him?

 

[D.O'K.]

I know them well. They serviced my Rolleiflex T about 8 years ago and did an excellent job: it's still working perfectly. They did the same for my Rolleicord Vb last year. Same result. I've used them for other (non-TLR) work and always been satisfied.

So I'd recommend them. However, they're not cheap. The Rolleicord service cost £88 without any parts or special work being needed. They also have a tendancy to quote prices net of VAT, so beware of that. Their turnaround times seem to vary between about 1-4 weeks.

Hope this helps,

Regards,
D.O'K.

 

[andrewaaa5]

I know them well. They serviced my Rolleiflex T about 8 years ago and did an excellent job: it's still working perfectly. They did the same for my Rolleicord Vb last year. Same result. I've used them for other (non-TLR) work and always been satisfied.

So I'd recommend them. However, they're not cheap. The Rolleicord service cost £88 without any parts or special work being needed. They also have a tendancy to quote prices net of VAT, so beware of that. Their turnaround times seem to vary between about 1-4 weeks.

Hope this helps,

Regards,
D.O'K.

I have since had another recommendation for them, via a PM, and also spoke with the guys at the shop; Ian in particular whom was extremely helpful and reassuring. Since I am back in Liverpool area in the coming weeks, I am likely make use of them, despite the cost.

My Rollei TLR 2.8 has a rather looooonnng slow shutter speed, so it is either, shoot everything at 1/125 or higher, or get it serviced.

I will let you know my experience with them.

 

[tomasis]

are there rollei repairs service in Germany? or other countries in Europe?

 

[Pherdinand]

i use a guy called Hans Klinkhamer, in the Netherlands (since i live here..) who runs the site dekamera.nl
he's a trained rollei technician running now his own repair business with his wife, did work on two of my rollei tlr's and he did a great job.
Example, a 3.5F i bought was in a desperate state - back bent, locking pin tortured, finder falling off, shutter speeds completely off - he fixed it all. I took the camera to south africa for three weeks, ran twenty five rolls through it, not one single problem.
Turnaround time is 1 to 2 months generally. Costs are reasonable - a shutter overhaul and focus calibration is under 100 euro if there is no serious damage.

 

[rolleistef]

Gérard Métrot, of Photo Suffren, is the best known French servicer for Rolleis and Leicas. He was Rollei and Leica trained as well, he was supposed to retire a couple of years ago but still hasn't as he hasn't found anybody for the shop.
A complete overhaul is about 250e but I don't how much he charges for regular service.

 

[BillP]

I know them well. They serviced my Rolleiflex T about 8 years ago and did an excellent job: it's still working perfectly. They did the same for my Rolleicord Vb last year. Same result. I've used them for other (non-TLR) work and always been satisfied.

So I'd recommend them. However, they're not cheap. The Rolleicord service cost £88 without any parts or special work being needed. They also have a tendancy to quote prices net of VAT, so beware of that. Their turnaround times seem to vary between about 1-4 weeks.

Hope this helps,

Regards,
D.O'K.

I know it's all relative, but £88 seems reasonable to me. If you think of it in terms of time, to have a mechanical camera stripped, checked adjusted, lubed is going to take, depending on the camera, more than an hour, yes? These people are businesses - they are not in it for the love. Compare it to the prices charged to get your car serviced at a main dealer and it looks cheap.

Regards,

Bill

 

[Gumby]

I know it's all relative, but £88 seems reasonable to me.

This seems like a bit of an understatement. £88 seems QUITE reasonable to me!

 

[andrewaaa5]

Well, I had the camera serviced by Newton Ellis & Co. and they had it for 5 days only. The camera came back feeling rather smooth and with the 'slow' slow shutter speeds fixed. The cost was higher than I expected (or wanted to pay) @ £107 (including the VAT) as they not only serviced it, but had to fix a VERY sticky 'shutter speed' dial that was almost impossible to roll when I first got it; so this cost was slightly more than the regular service. I would have expected this to have been included in the regular service, but apparently not 🙁

The f3,5 TLR varieties can apparently be serviced slightly cheaper than the f2,8 variety that I delivered to them (or so they tell me). I will have to post some images to the Gallery, but I do not have a scanner, so cannot currently.

All in all, I was happy with the level of service (they even gave me some rolls of 120 film to test!!) even though the price was rather high. They were hard working, extremely knowledgeable, friendly and helpful.

 

[ClaremontPhoto]

I'm talking to Newton Ellis about my rather sad Rolleicord art deco.

They seem nice people and have quoted £65 for a service, although I need rather more that this.

 

[andrewaaa5]

Yes, they are nice people. But you live in Portugal (Alentejo)? Is there no where neared to you for this service?

£65 seems a decent price, but if it does need more work, they will let you know and give you a quote. You may need to pay VAT (tax) on top of that price unless they have stated it is included, so please ask them that. And if you are posting from Portugal, you will have to cover the costs.

They know what they are doing and I was rather happy with the service that I got from them.

 

[ClaremontPhoto]

Andrew:

Thank you.

I think they have a large job on their hands. But as it's the art deco special edition I think it's worth it.

There is no focusing hood, no shutter release and a big dent. It looks dirty inside also. A seventy year old camera needs a bit more than a CLA, it needs an overhaul; but at the end of the day I want a working camera not a museum exhibit and they understand that.

Nobody in Portugal has even seen one of these let alone repaired one. So it will go to Newton Ellis. I estimate the EMS charge at about €50 and have taken it into account. If I'm lucky they'll do it free of VAT for me as I'm VAT registered in Portugal and some people will do that for me.

The only alternative would be to buy an inexpensive TLR such as a Yashicamat or Seagull, but they wouldn't have this art deco style.