I feel your pain. About three months ago, I sent in a Rolleiflex 2.8 Xenotar with some heavy cleaning marks on the taking lens to John van Stelton in Colorado to be polished and recoated and the camera CLA'd. It's not a camera that I use every day, so I was prepared for John to do his excellent work in his own time. It was 50-50 whether the lens could be done properly, but John had instructions from me to go ahead with the CLA, if the lens could be saved. Well, happy news for me -- the lens could be recoated and polished (John is a great guy and the only craftsman I'm aware of in North America who does this kind of work), but the bill: US$410. Don't get me wrong, I'm completely happy to pay for this kind of service . . .but I had tucked the fact that the camera was with him away in the recesses of my mind. Still: the check is cut, the bank balance is dangerously low, and the camera has been saved. Dave, you'll be happy when the camera is back in your hands again. Its worth it to keep these tools working.
Ben