I believe Henry Scherer has passed away

Sad but no one lives forever. I'm in my mid 70's and my brother just passed away last week at 81. What I've noticed for a few years is that someone you knew well, co-worker, friend, enemy, what ever, you don't find out for months or even years. As you get older your peers pass and no one is left knowing you when you die. Or since we no longer live our entire lives in small towns, and papers have gone the way of the Dido bird, news of someone dying goes unnoticed for months or years.
 
Rest in peace Henry, when it came to contax repairs his name was first on the list of recommendations.

Sendean cameras has come up as recommend on a couple of occasions. When Miles Whitehead retired, he suggested sending cameras to them for repairs. They have good reputation.
 
Radu Lesaru of 3R Cameras, the Alpa expert, repairs Contax rangefinders too. He did a good job of repairing some pre-war stuff of my own when Henry's waiting list proved too long. Radu's in Florida now, though it has been several years since we last communicated.

I enjoyed looking through Henry's website. A bit reminiscent of the Cameraquest vintage articles. Obviously Henry was doing what he enjoyed.

RIP
 
My father told me that Henry did several courses at Zeiss on servicing their cameras. Is this not correct? My father and your brother corresponded over a long period.

I am sorry for your loss and please accept my condolences. Your brother was very important for the community of users of older Zeiss cameras.

My father told me that Henry did several courses at Zeiss on servicing their cameras. Is this not correct? My father and your brother corresponded over a long period.

I am sorry for your loss and please accept my condolences. Your brother was very important for the community of users of older Zeiss cameras.
The photo is of Henry as a teenager. Henry could have instructed classes at Zeiss. It would have been after attending nuclear power school and serving on SSN639, and then studying chemical engineering. At this point we went our separate ways. So if your father met Henry after 1984 it is possible.
 
Radu Lesaru of 3R Cameras, the Alpa expert, repairs Contax rangefinders too. He did a good job of repairing some pre-war stuff of my own when Henry's waiting list proved too long. Radu's in Florida now, though it has been several years since we last communicated.
I emailed Radu about repairing a Contax 1 in Summer 2023 and he never responded (I had Oleg Khaliavin do it, and he did a great job). I emailed Radu again last spring (2024) about repairing a Meopta Mikroma II, and he said:

"I am sorry but I stopped servicing any cameras excepting Alpa and Tessina."

I'm not sure how final that decision is, but anyway, I wouldn't count on him as a Contax repairperson.

I ended up sending my Mikroma to Advance Camera Repair in Portland and it came back good as new. I'd use Oleg K in Slovakia for future Contax repairs.

I'm sorry to hear about Henry's passing. I didn't have any interaction with him, but I know he was considered the best out there for Contax rangefinder repair, as evidenced by his long backlog.
 
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I emailed Radu about repairing a Contax 1 in Summer 2023 and he never responded (I had Oleg Khaliavin do it, and he did a great job). I emailed Radu again last spring (2024) about repairing a Meopta Mikroma II, and he said:

"I am sorry but I stopped servicing any cameras excepting Alpa and Tessina."

I'm not sure how final that decision is, but anyway, I wouldn't count on him as a Contax repairperson.

I ended up sending my Mikroma to Advance Camera Repair in Portland and it came back good as new. I'd use Oleg K in Slovakia for future Contax repairs.

I'm sorry to hear about Henry's passing. I didn't have any interaction with him, but I know he was considered the best out there for Contax rangefinder repair, as evidenced by his long backlog.
2022 is when Radu repaired a Contax II and some pre-war lenses for me. At the time, it sounded he was getting busy, following a relocation to Florida, and I assumed he was in semi-retirement.
 
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So sorry to read this @SSN584. My brother had lung cancer too. He was able to beat it after a surgery that took 2 years of recovery. He's come close to dying 5 times by his count, the latest after a battle with Sepsis after prostate surgery. I only hope I go before he does because I'll be at a total loss without him around. My condolences to you, may your brother rest in peace.
 
RIP Henry. This is a sad day.

The Contax II you overhauled for me in 2008 is still running perfectly as it did when you returned it.

@SSN584 my condolences. Henry repaired several old Zeiss cameras for me over the last several years and we will certainly miss his expertise.
 
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