I just received my AsahiFlex IIa serial number 55930 after its repair by Advance. Looks really good! The shutter sounds correct, everything works smoothly. The camera looks like new, except for some scuffs on base plate from tripod attachment. The work involved complete disassembly, cleaning, lubrication, calibration, and rebuilding the wind and transport systems, plus custom cutting a new mirror. While the work wasn't cheap, at least Adance either had the needed parts, or could fabricate them. Given that the IIa was introduced in February 1955 I'm glad that it could be repaired.
Now to find the 83 mm f 1.9 Takumar and the 35 mm f 2.8 Tower from my Father's kit. He used his IIa along with extension tubes and bellows for much macro and near macro work, calculating exposure compensation with a slide rule. His IIa, as a consequence of much use - not abuse - most in woodlands for flower photography, is in pretty rough, unusable condition, so when I happened on a IIa in excellent cosmetic condition I bought it. Happily I could afford the repair costs.
Now to find the 83 mm f 1.9 Takumar and the 35 mm f 2.8 Tower from my Father's kit. He used his IIa along with extension tubes and bellows for much macro and near macro work, calculating exposure compensation with a slide rule. His IIa, as a consequence of much use - not abuse - most in woodlands for flower photography, is in pretty rough, unusable condition, so when I happened on a IIa in excellent cosmetic condition I bought it. Happily I could afford the repair costs.