Helen Hill finally says Ciao ... it's been Fun

[fireblade]

OK, this prompts another story (you are a glutton for punishment). In 1992 two of my cousins from Germany arrived at LAX to visit the USA. They intended to swing by and see us at some point, but ended up early. They got off the plane, drove around a little and got lost. They noticed a lot of people roaming around and fires, etc. They stopped and took a picture of the fires. It was exactly as the German news propaganda presented the USA at that time (It was exaggerated)! What they did not know is that they landed the night of the LA riots of 1992 (recall Rodney King). They got a little scared and came straight to our house rather than their planned stay near LAX.

1994 i fly into LA with a few lads, about 15 of us, from Oz, going to the opening season of the drags at Pomona.
At the airport we go to pick up the rentals we had booked from back here. The very nice lady behind the counter has a good look at us and says, who are the 4 drivers. I was one. Gives us the run down and says listen carefully...pulls out 4 laminated maps of LA and says, if you enter this coloured area the insurance for the cars is void..do not enter. Ok, no problems.
Coloured area was downtown LA....riot area. Apparently still a hot bed for carjackings and all sorts.
Anyways that was the least of our issues way back then in LA 🙂

 

[David Hughes]

Good and Bad News

Good and Bad News

The good news is that Helen is posting again.

The bad news is the sale of all those parts; so are they just abandoning parts and repairs in Canada or everywhere?

Will other repairers be able to get parts now?

What will Leica owners who don't read RFF do in the future?

Anyway, welcome back Helen.

Regards, David

 

[Graybeard]

Welcome back; we've missed you.

Regards, David

PS It's best not to judge English pubs by London versions. London is a tourist magnet and they pay for it but I worked in the centre and managed to eat and drink...

Easier to find Fuller's in the London pubs though-

 

[Dogman]

Helen, great to see a new post by you.

Keep it up. Please.

 

[Montag006]

And another welcome back Helen...

From another David.

David

 

[Ko.Fe.]

Welcome back; we've missed you.

Regards, David

PS It's best not to judge English pubs by London versions. London is a tourist magnet and they pay for it but I worked in the centre and managed to eat and drink...

Thank you.
It was in Surrey. I didn't made back to London in 2007. Was exploring Surrey surroundings with lot of walking, taking pictures and eating dinners in local pubs.
I was comparing it to my work and stay in Basingstock in nineties. Where every pub has its own ales and bitters. Including winter ones.

I think it happen after known Belgium corporation took over beer markets in several countries.

 

[Ko.Fe.]

The good news is that Helen is posting again.

The bad news is the sale of all those parts; so are they just abandoning parts and repairs in Canada or everywhere?

Will other repairers be able to get parts now?

What will Leica owners who don't read RFF do in the future?

Anyway, welcome back Helen.

Regards, David

Last known Leica repair persons in GTA has left this World for sometime now.
One which was remaining was working on my crapy M4-2 in 2018 and told me about quitting. Here is no any Leica M repair persons in Canada I'm aware of.
Bodo from Georgetown Camera Exchange was ex ELC technician. After his departure, his son Alex told me what he is looking for buyer of Leica parts stock.

 

[Ko.Fe.]

Helen and Ko.Fe!

I am mightily encouraged to see you both!

A hearty Welcome Back!

- Murray

PS. Now we need to find a way to persuade Huss to return.

Thank you.
I'm always happy to read from Helen.

With Huss, it is more complicated. To get him back, both parties has to be involved.

 

[David Hughes]

Last known Leica repair persons in GTA has left this World for sometime now.
One which was remaining was working on my crapy M4-2 in 2018 and told me about quitting. Here is no any Leica M repair persons in Canada I'm aware of.
Bodo from Georgetown Camera Exchange was ex ELC technician. After his departure, his son Alex told me what he is looking for buyer of Leica parts stock.

I wondered why they didn't send them to the NY Leica people who could use them or even back to Wetzlar.

Then I wondered about it being Leica's company policy to unload repairs and parts. Their reputation is/was based on the long life of their products and aftersales service, after all's said and done.

Regards, David

 

[Deleted member 65559]

Last known Leica repair persons in GTA has left this World for sometime now.
One which was remaining was working on my crapy M4-2 in 2018 and told me about quitting. Here is no any Leica M repair persons in Canada I'm aware of.
.

Horst Wenzel in Vancouver....

 

[robert blu]

Thank you.
I'm always happy to read from Helen.

With Huss, it is more complicated. To get him back, both parties has to be involved.

I hope it will work ok somehow...

 

[raid]

Well thought all of YOU Canada Leica Midland Junkies
might like a tease, some GOOD news
amongst the Crazy Mad World we are now living in ...🙄

Also the reason why I so LOVE Don /Dag
he always brings a Smile and makes me laugh !!
Don't put us on the phone, we can never hang up~

but here's his funny Email:

"Helen,

What are you doing looking at my website? Thank you for your $19.00 PayPal for the eyepiece Guard.
Something interesting just happened- I bought the Entire Leica, Canada Repair & Parts departments and it all arrived last Tuesday. Tons of parts.
I hope you're doing well

Regards,
Don
DAG"

so the secret is out,
You now know who to find for your 'Canada Repair & Parts'
Best to ALL~ Helen

It is good to see you here, Helen.
I am glad to see Don Goldberg getting Leica parts. This implies that he is not retiring soon.

 

[raid]

I hope it will work ok somehow...

Huss always kept me alert not to post anything that is not a fact since he would then jump on and challenge me 🙂

 

[Greg Maslak]

Horst Wenzel in Vancouver....

Nice to see you back Kostya and Helen.

VanCam now lists Leica on their website as a make they service. Horst Wenzel owned VanCam before he retired and Bir Arneja took over. The guys at Kindermann in Toronto told me to ask Horst first, then VanCam when I was inquiring about a Leica CLA last year. I never bought the camera, so I never followed through, but I would definitely ask them both if I needed Leica service in Canada.

 

[Takkun]

I know I've been off RFF (and other social media) for some months now, but apparently I missed a lot. Oh boy. I only got a few pages into this thread before growing depressed.

Looks like Helen and Kostya are back, and that makes me supremely happy. I spend more time on Reddit and occasionally Flickr boards when I'm in need of technical question answered, and post my work on Instagram, but something I've always loved about BBS's like this is the sense of community and feeling like you really get to know the regular people that keep it active; there isn't that sense of complete anonymity of other sites.

I've been here nearly 15 years—the tail end of high school, through photojournalism and architecture school, and a couple of stints as a hired shooter in between—and I've followed the wisdom of many of on here that have been around even longer.

So I'm glad whatever drama I've missed has passed.

That said, dare I ask the fate of our old friend, Ted Striker?

 

[raid]

Welcome back, Kostya.

Now we wait for Huss to show up.

 

[Bill Blackwell]

Well thought all of YOU Canada Leica Midland Junkies
might like a tease, some GOOD news
amongst the Crazy Mad World we are now living in ...🙄

Also the reason why I so LOVE Don /Dag
he always brings a Smile and makes me laugh !!
Don't put us on the phone, we can never hang up~

but here's his funny Email:

"Helen,

What are you doing looking at my website? Thank you for your $19.00 PayPal for the eyepiece Guard.
Something interesting just happened- I bought the Entire Leica, Canada Repair & Parts departments and it all arrived last Tuesday. Tons of parts.
I hope you're doing well

Regards,
Don
DAG"

so the secret is out,
You now know who to find for your 'Canada Repair & Parts'
Best to ALL~ Helen

He told me that information wasn't for public consumption.

But now that it's out, he cut that deal back in December; it took the Canadian operation (apparently all by one guy) that long to box up everything and truck it out to him. What a coup that was!

 

[RObert Budding]

Quite a long goodbye!

 

[Bill Blackwell]

It is good to see you here, Helen. ...

+1

... I am glad to see Don Goldberg getting Leica parts. This implies that he is not retiring soon.

I think he's got another 10-years in him.

 

[helen.HH]

He told me that information wasn't for public consumption.

Hello Bill,

It’s ok .., Don said it’s ok ~ All good 😉

Not sure if I would consider it a coup, but do get your point... giggles
Just a wise move on someone that has worked and Loved Leica for years