johnwood
Member
Hello all -
I know Jurgen, and I tried my neighbor Ken Ruth...but looking for any other recommendations for major CLA, and possible bellows replacement and light fabrication for a Kershaw Curlew III. I already have about 10 folders out to Charles Fallis too, and don't want to burden him with another. So...any skilled craftsmen (or women) come to mind? Known problems are bent strut, leaky bellows, jammed winder, peeled leatherette and dirty (but 'clean') glass...
thanks for any tips...
- john
I know Jurgen, and I tried my neighbor Ken Ruth...but looking for any other recommendations for major CLA, and possible bellows replacement and light fabrication for a Kershaw Curlew III. I already have about 10 folders out to Charles Fallis too, and don't want to burden him with another. So...any skilled craftsmen (or women) come to mind? Known problems are bent strut, leaky bellows, jammed winder, peeled leatherette and dirty (but 'clean') glass...
thanks for any tips...
- john
scottyb70
Well-known
How was Ken Ruth?
johnwood
Member
Hi Scott -
Busy... I wait until I have a 'here are the pieces, can you put it back together again' project, as things take some time. All worth it...the Medalists I've sent to him have come back as if fresh from the factory, but for a CLA and bending some metal, I wanted to look around first and see about a quicker turn-around.
Busy... I wait until I have a 'here are the pieces, can you put it back together again' project, as things take some time. All worth it...the Medalists I've sent to him have come back as if fresh from the factory, but for a CLA and bending some metal, I wanted to look around first and see about a quicker turn-around.
graywolf
Well-known
The few repair people who can actually fabricate parts tend to be very busy. Even decades back they tended to have long turn around times.
A couple of outfits that seem to have a good reputation on this forum are Mark Hama and Essex Camera. I just got a quote from both of them on a minor repair and extensive CLA. Hama said in his quote that turn around time would be two weeks. Essex is a bit cheaper.
A couple of outfits that seem to have a good reputation on this forum are Mark Hama and Essex Camera. I just got a quote from both of them on a minor repair and extensive CLA. Hama said in his quote that turn around time would be two weeks. Essex is a bit cheaper.
johnwood
Member
Tom -
Thanks, I really appreciate the suggestions. Mark I've used, but not Essex...and I keep hearing good things about them. This might be a good opportunity to try them out and have this fixed at the same time.
You're so right about supply and demand. I recently got "near the top" of Harry Scherer's list... Odd to feel lucky to wait 6 months, but better than 9! On the other hand, I completely lucked out with Focal Point and *may* (don't want to jinx it) have a 2-week turnaround, contact to completion.
Anyway, thanks again, and I think the Kershaw is on its way to Essex...which, in these royal wedding times, seems appropriate
Thanks, I really appreciate the suggestions. Mark I've used, but not Essex...and I keep hearing good things about them. This might be a good opportunity to try them out and have this fixed at the same time.
You're so right about supply and demand. I recently got "near the top" of Harry Scherer's list... Odd to feel lucky to wait 6 months, but better than 9! On the other hand, I completely lucked out with Focal Point and *may* (don't want to jinx it) have a 2-week turnaround, contact to completion.
Anyway, thanks again, and I think the Kershaw is on its way to Essex...which, in these royal wedding times, seems appropriate
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G
Guest
Guest
Ken Ruth just finished a service on my Super Ikonta, he takes his time but at seventy years of age he takes his own time. I just think that I would rather wait and know the job is being done correctly and I am glad that I did that. Speed job's are all well and good for some items but mechanical jewels need a loving hand, after all it should be the last time in your lifetime it will need doing.
Just my penny of thought.
Just my penny of thought.
barnwulf
Well-known
Essex did a nice job on my Zeiss Super Ikonta III and turn around time was pretty quick. I have gotten things back from them in as little as 10 days a another camera took a few weeks. Jim
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Ken Smith
Why yes Ma'am - it folds
.
Maybe that's bloody well why it took him 14 months and me calling the PD to get my Bessa II sent back to me. Supposedly it's "in the mail."
Ken
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johnwood
Member
Thanks everyone; much more than a penny's worth of thought...much appreciated. I think I'll go either Ken or Essex...I know I can't go wrong with one, and folks I trust certainly extol the virtues of the other. Off it will go...
Thanks again RFF'ers
-john
Thanks again RFF'ers
-john
graywolf
Well-known
If that is Ken Ruth of Photography On Bald Mountain, while I have never had any work done by him, he probably has the best reputation of any repair shop in the world. He specializes in modifying cameras, from converting your 620 camera to 120, to one-off's that do what no other camera in the world can do. He is reputed to have full machine shop and optical shop capabilities.
If he is only 70 it is amazing. I am 67 and it seems like I have been hearing about his shop all my life. I would have thought he was at least 20 years older than me.
Steve M.
Veteran
I have NO idea what chippy is going on about here. The idea of the forum is to ask questions, and hopefully get some answers. Well, that's one of the uses of the forums anyway. It's not valid to go back to old posts (the search function is very poor on RFF) because things change, people have new information, etc.
My 2 cents is that Mark Hama is not someone I would send gear to, based on an odd, curt, nearly rude email I received from him once on a repair query. On the other hand, John at Focal Point is the best. Excellent and friendly communication, and of course, top notch work. Hear a lot of good things from Essex too, and my queries about repairs have always been promptly and courteously replied to.
My 2 cents is that Mark Hama is not someone I would send gear to, based on an odd, curt, nearly rude email I received from him once on a repair query. On the other hand, John at Focal Point is the best. Excellent and friendly communication, and of course, top notch work. Hear a lot of good things from Essex too, and my queries about repairs have always been promptly and courteously replied to.
johnwood
Member
chippy -
well, I have been rather patient: he has had all of them for coming up on 12 months. When I do reach him, some of the rationale seems reasonable (he is fixing some Kodak Regent/Regent II's, which have a tricky linkage)...but overall, a year is too long...thus seeking other options for any current needs. Even with Henry Scherer, it may be a wait of 6 months to a year...but that's to be seen, not time holding onto your precious cameras.
For that purpose, seems I should just stick with Ken, who lives not far from me. As for the 10 Bessa's/Telka's/Regent's that have been on an extended vacation...I always want to first assume good intent and give benefit of the doubt. But that line of patience is about up.
well, I have been rather patient: he has had all of them for coming up on 12 months. When I do reach him, some of the rationale seems reasonable (he is fixing some Kodak Regent/Regent II's, which have a tricky linkage)...but overall, a year is too long...thus seeking other options for any current needs. Even with Henry Scherer, it may be a wait of 6 months to a year...but that's to be seen, not time holding onto your precious cameras.
For that purpose, seems I should just stick with Ken, who lives not far from me. As for the 10 Bessa's/Telka's/Regent's that have been on an extended vacation...I always want to first assume good intent and give benefit of the doubt. But that line of patience is about up.
Ken Smith
Why yes Ma'am - it folds
I think the main thing I've learned through all this is to go with someone or a repair company that is reputable AND verifiable. A well earned reputation of excellence will creat it's own backlog and some length of wait is to be expected. But a year to remove a couple of screws, or to see why a rangefinder mechanism won't adjust isn't an exceptable wait.
More importantly - I think best is to develop the skills to do the job yourself which is probably the route I will go with less technical cameras. After all - it ain't rocket science.
Chippy - it's all because I didn't want to go through the hassle of figuring out how to remove a Bessa II top plate to clean the rangefinder surfaces myself
More importantly - I think best is to develop the skills to do the job yourself which is probably the route I will go with less technical cameras. After all - it ain't rocket science.
Chippy - it's all because I didn't want to go through the hassle of figuring out how to remove a Bessa II top plate to clean the rangefinder surfaces myself
Ken Smith
Why yes Ma'am - it folds
Well - I received my Bessa II back today. Out of the items requested: clean/adjust rangefinder, CLA of shutter, and tighten the front struts. The shutter and struts were the only things serviced. Rangefinder still seriously dirty and very hard to see through, and the rangefinder & focus do not jive.
The rangefinder mechanism gave him a serious troubles with a goo like substance preventing the rangefinder from being adjusted. I would have figured with all the attention the rangefinder received, the prism and lens would have been cleaned. And it came back with a new problem. During the removal and re-attachement of the shutter housing, the fabric liner of the bellows was seriously abraided/torn next to the shutter retaining ring. I will have to test for light leaks. After 14 months of waiting I would hate to have to opt for a bellows replacement too.
I will crack this thing open myself and address the issues.
The rangefinder mechanism gave him a serious troubles with a goo like substance preventing the rangefinder from being adjusted. I would have figured with all the attention the rangefinder received, the prism and lens would have been cleaned. And it came back with a new problem. During the removal and re-attachement of the shutter housing, the fabric liner of the bellows was seriously abraided/torn next to the shutter retaining ring. I will have to test for light leaks. After 14 months of waiting I would hate to have to opt for a bellows replacement too.
I will crack this thing open myself and address the issues.
scottyb70
Well-known
I too went that route myself, easy to figure out and sometimes the people help on the forums. I found out to figure it out yourself and you will be better off.
One time I took my old welmy to a camera repair man with 30 years of experience. He fixed the shutter , etc but the first thing the clown did was wipe the lens with a paper kleenex tissue.
One time I took my old welmy to a camera repair man with 30 years of experience. He fixed the shutter , etc but the first thing the clown did was wipe the lens with a paper kleenex tissue.
Towermax
Member
Ken Ruth just did a CLA on my Ansco Super Speedex (aka Agfa Super Isolette). It took just under two months--I was fine with that and the results are excellent.
I called and talked to him twice to discuss the camera and repairs--he's funny, smart, and good at explaining what's up with the camera and the service it needs and doesn't need.
I called and talked to him twice to discuss the camera and repairs--he's funny, smart, and good at explaining what's up with the camera and the service it needs and doesn't need.
johnwood
Member
Been asked several times how my experience ended, so as to pass on information to other RFFers. Dirty laundry should stay inside, and in the end I have no idea what factors were in play, but in the interest of sharing an opinion others may weigh as they think of camera CLA's, I can objectively say: I, personally, will not send another camera out to Virginia. Also, thank you Ken, your post nudged me into learning and tinkering and reading...and a handful of 6x9's have now been fixed right here at home.