TLR repair sources

jan normandale

jan normandale

Film is the other way
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I've a couple of Yashica mats a 124 & 124G, they both need some CLA work and the 124's Cds meter is not functioning.

I've used Mark Hama, he's great but his reputation means he has so much work that the cycle for the repairs can be long. Last camera I sent was in his shop for a long time. The work is fine though.

I'm looking for a couple of alternate shops or individuals who do repairs to these cameras.. ie TLR's. Names and or URL's are appreciated
 
I have used KEH's repair service, they are fast and competitively priced. Oh, of course being in Toronto you may get bitten by their poor shipping policy (UPS) for internationals.
 
In Toronto, there's International Camera (near Queensway and Royal York) and Commercial Camera (on Yonge Street in North York). They're both OK but not exceptional.
 
Rover, Steve and Victor.. thanks for your suggestions. I'll contact them and discuss the problem. The KEH thing... well I'm used to it. Don't like it but I'm used to it.

I love the USPS.. I'd do an ad for those people, same for Canada Post. They are my "couriers of choice" because they do so many small things so well.
 
Peter's Camera Repair in Grand Rapids, MI

Peter is reportedly a former-Rollei employee in Germany and ReCon Optical in Illinois ( aerial cameras). He is the sole repairman there.

No credit cards (like Flutot's).
 
hmmm the things that come out of a little request for help! So you have a Rollei... 2.8! That would be a Rolleicord then. Very nice! Not that I'd have envy or anything like that ;- )
 
Dean Williams is a great classic camera repair guy and Yashica TLRs are a specialty of his. He has pirces for some of his services on his website - it seems that a basic CLA for a Yashica Mat starts at about $85.
 
Seagull? I'm getting quite confident with working on them myself, now that I know the trick.
The trick is: (for the usual non-working shutter)
Take the shutter out of the camera- forget dealing with half-azz q-tip adventures.
Take the shutter back off of the shutter front (involves removal of the slow speed mechanism). Soak everything to get all oil, grease etc. off.
Clean and dry everything. NO OIL.
Re-assemble shutter, verify everything with no oil on it, then grease, not oil some select parts, like the sliding plate to select the speeds and a couple of other points.
Put one teeny drop from the end of a needle on the slow gears.. and one teeny drop of the watch oil on the self timer.
Clean elements, test, the end!
Oh some bending and alignment here and there of the pawl or two, just to be sure the cocking sequence is all timed right.
So I can do seagull if anyone wants..
 
Wayno + SF.. thanks. I've seen Dean's site and he seems reasonable but I'm hoping this will be useful to every RFF / TLR owner who needs a close by repair shop and dealer
 
jan normandale said:
hmmm the things that come out of a little request for help! So you have a Rollei... 2.8! That would be a Rolleicord then. Very nice! Not that I'd have envy or anything like that ;- )
Click to expand...

no, it's actually a Rolleiflex.. and a fairly rare 2.8A from the mid 40s, I believe

it was sent to Harry Fleenor a year ago, but I had severe stickershock when he quoted me over $400 for a CLA.. I have no doubt he does a first-rate job, but I couldn't quite justify investing that much into a camera that would probably still only be worth $500 when he was done.. so I had him send it back in its original condition
 
Brett... I always thought the 2.8 was a Planar and only found on the Rolleicord. I never knew that there was a Rolleiflex w a 2.8 lens. Yeah $400 for a CLA is kind of tough to get my head around. I just 'sort of' cleaned my Yashica.. took off the top and blew canned air into it , cleared out the dust and then cleaned the screen and mirror with lens cleaner from the optometrist. Seems much better. Everything else was fine.
 
I used Mark at ClasssCamera in Portland Oregon.

He did a complete CLA, shutter rebuild and focus alignment, on my Rolleiflex 3.5E. Quick turnaround as well.

He can be reached at ClassCamera at AOL dot COM
 
szekiat said:
sorry to revive an old thread, but anyone from the uk or EU know where i can send a 124g for a bit of pampering?
Click to expand...

I have too a 124(not G) in need of servicing (shooter stuck)... have you got any good repair service in EU??
 
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