How does one train/learn to work on Leicas from a professional?

[Leica All Day]

Hello everybody...

I have been using Sherry and Youxin for the last 8 years and I am grateful that they, and others (you know the ones) still repair/modify/clean Leicas....I like the fact that whenever I have communicated with either of the two, I have always come away feeling like I learned something new about my cameras....

I wonder, if someone wanted to be an apprentice, how would one go about it?.....I imagine that Leica trains people and all, but does anyone have information on this.......

cheers, michael

 

[kshapero]

Find a really good Leica repair person offer to sweep their floors, live in the cellar. Peek behind their wood stove as they do the finest repairs. Eventually ask if you can help (like after a couple of years). Keep at it and in 10 years or so I'll send you my M6 for a CLA. Other than that I am clueless.

 

[Steve M.]

If it were me, I'd buy some el cheapo cameras at a thrift store perhaps, and try my hand at taking them apart and putting them back together again. Camera repair is not for everyone. You have to have tons of patience, good eyes. steady hands, and know when to back off on something before it's too late. I like working on my folders and the occasional simple shutter and lens, but I know before I get started that going into a camera deeply, or rebuilding a focal plane shutter for example, is not for me.

 

[johannielscom]

My repairs are boolean. From those that I undertake, about half succeeds and the other half fails miserably.

Since I had the same question, I asked it here. Maybe that thread contains stuff you can use!?

 

[Landshark]

Leica used to have an apprenticeship program I doubt that still exists here., maybe in the old country.
The best(only?) way now would be to go to work for an experienced technician like Sherry or Don(Dan?).

 

[Leica All Day]

Thanks buzzardkid for that link to the other thread.......I had not seen that thread before....lots of good info there....

cheers, michael

 

[Roger Hicks]

The late Marty Forscher was probably the greatest camera repairer of all time, and he learned by taking a Rollei and a Leica completely to bits; leaving them for a while; then reassembling them....

Steve is spot on. You don't need much formal training, but you do need a certain kind of mind. Probably a week-end course with a repairer would be enough -- tricks like when to expect left-hand threads, etc.

This revives an idea I had a few years ago. A friend of mine in Exeter in the UK is/was an ace repairer and I suggested he give such courses. He was interested but neither of us pursued it. Perhaps I should call him.

Cheers,

R.

 

[wolves3012]

The late Marty Forscher was probably the greatest camera repairer of all time, and he learned by taking a Rollei and a Leica completely to bits; leaving them for a while; then reassembling them....

Steve is spot on. You don't need much formal training, but you do need a certain kind of mind. Probably a week-end course with a repairer would be enough -- tricks like when to expect left-hand threads, etc.

This revives an idea I had a few years ago. A friend of mine in Exeter in the UK is/was an ace repairer and I suggested he give such courses. He was interested but neither of us pursued it. Perhaps I should call him.

Cheers,
R.

I'll second the idea of a "certain kind of mind" - mechanical aptitude. If I take something mechanical apart, I can put it back together, even months later. Be that an engine or a camera! You either have or haven't got that sort of ability, you can either visualise how these things work or you can't - it's not claiming any kind of superiority but I can. On the other hand, give me a pencil and paper and ask me to draw something and most 5 year-olds can do better than I can.

I've CLAd most of my cameras to a greater or lesser extent and nothing's stumped me (yet). Aging vision is the irritating factor with cameras, however! I started on FSUs because mistakes wouldn't be costly or destroy a rare example but I've yet to break one.