Frank Marshman a.k.a. Camera Wiz - still in business!

[Trask]

I'd earlier posted a query as to the fate of Frank Marshman's camera repair business "Camera Wiz" in Harrisonburg, Virginia. Frank has been around for decades, is known for his work on Bronicas and many other camera makes, but had recently fallen off the radar -- the listed phone numbers for his shop either went unanswered or now linked to an entirely different company.

With the help of some address sleuthing on APUGers, I used snail mail to contact Frank at home, where he now does his repair work. He's still in business, still talking cameras and photography, and still providing excellent service at reasonable cost. I sent him by Bronica S2 for a repair last week and it's done already -- can't ask for better than that.

I asked Frank if he agreed that I announce his contact information, and he readily agreed. So if you want to have Frank repair your gear for you, feel free to contact as follows:

Phone: 540-867-9671

Email: camerawiz@msn.com

Address for shipping: Mr. Frank Marshman
1495 Needmore Lane
Harrisonburg, Virginia 22802

I'm sure that we will collectively keep him repairing cameras for years to come.

 

[Nick Merritt]

Thanks very much for this information. He's one of the few who are willing to take on Retinas, so he's a valuable resource.

 

[Ian Grant]

Yes Frank's very much in business I'm in communication with him at the moment regarding some materials he needs.

Ian

 

[David A. Goldfarb]

Thanks for the update. I haven't sent him anything recently, but it's good to know where he is these days, just in case.

 

[BrianL]

Good to know he does Bronica. Gotta add him to my database for future reference.

 

[Mr. Standfast]

Has anybody had this guy work on a really unusual rare camaras like a Bell and Howell Foton? I have one, but I'm scared to have anybody work on it, it's so rare and special.

 

[David A. Goldfarb]

In addition to work on my Bronicas, he worked on a Voigtlander Vitessa-L and a Voigtlander Superb for me and did fine work. He's willing to take on things he doesn't know (and that no one really knows), and figure them out without breaking anything, and in my experience he hasn't charged me for something he can't fix, even if he's put some time into it.

 

[kristian_thacker]

I watched Mr. Marshman strip a Wollensak Betax No 5 lens and shutter down to its bare aperture blades clean it and reassemble it with no issues whatsoever. Its functioning a hundred percent better than before. The best part was that wasn't even what I asked him to fix! I had brought my Century 8x10 to him because I was having issues with the film back keeping tension and holding modern sheetfilm holders correctly.

 

[BenjiH]

I found this thread about a year ago and sent two Fujis to Frank. I got one back and he said he had to wait for parts on the other. That he's had it for 8 months and I've been emailing him since the beginning of November and he hasn't responded. I just tried to call and the phone was busy. Does anybody have any newer information on any of this?

 

[Richard S. (rich815)]

I found this thread about a year ago and sent two Fujis to Frank. I got one back and he said he had to wait for parts on the other. That he's had it for 8 months and I've been emailing him since the beginning of November and he hasn't responded. I just tried to call and the phone was busy. Does anybody have any newer information on any of this?

Sorry to hear this. Can I ask which Fuji models you're talking about here, which one in particular he needed parts for and still has?

 

[Matthew Thompson]

I've got a GA645 that's on its way back from Fuji unrepaired due to lack of parts on a film advance. Is Frank still in business? Any updates?

 

[Steve Goldstein]

Matthew, have you tried contacting him using the information in this thread? I did so in October and he CLA'd several large-format shutters for me. At that time he told me he's limiting what he'll work on now that the shop storefront is closed, so it's best to speak with him directly.

 

[brian steinberger]

He still has a bronica RF of mine so I hope he's still in business!!

 

[BenjiH]

Richard, I apologize for the late reply. The camera that he still has is a Fujica GS645 that was in for new bellows.

 

[kristian_thacker]

I found this thread about a year ago and sent two Fujis to Frank. I got one back and he said he had to wait for parts on the other. That he's had it for 8 months and I've been emailing him since the beginning of November and he hasn't responded. I just tried to call and the phone was busy. Does anybody have any newer information on any of this?

I haven't spoke with Frank in awhile but I've been meaning to call him about some shutter and ground glass questions. If I get ahold of him I'll let you know.

 

[brian steinberger]

I just talked with Frank yesterday. He is still in business. He does not respond to emails. Just call him! He's had a camera of mine for over a year now. You just gotta "rattle his cage" every once in a while as he says.

 

[Steve Goldstein]

I mailed an Ilex shutter to Frank on 7 Feb, and received an email from him today that it's ready.

 

[nishwish]

Hi People,
Does anyone know if Mr. Marshman carries top plastic cover for Fuji GA645? I have emailed him, But I am not sure when he would reply
I am trying to attach smoe images. PLease check and advise me how bad this is.

Thanks and regards,

Nishwish

 

[Captmatt]

Hi People,
Does anyone know if Mr. Marshman carries top plastic cover for Fuji GA645? I have emailed him, But I am not sure when he would reply
I am trying to attach smoe images. PLease check and advise me how bad this is.

Thanks and regards,

Nishwish

I don't think he "does"email. Use the phone number at the beginning of thread and call him. Just sent my Fuji GS 645 to him today for repair.

 

[brian steinberger]

Anyone heard from Frank lately? I've been calling him for the last few weeks. He doesn't answer and won't return my messages.

 

[Theo Sulphate]

He did excellent work for me earlier this year. Email worked.

... At that time he told me he's limiting what he'll work on ...

That is true.

 

[brian steinberger]

Well I did hear from Frank. He actually emailed me. Said he's been busy. So he is still around!

 

[thuggins]

While we are fortunate to have any and all resources devoted to keeping old cameras running, my experience with Frank has been very hit and miss. I have sent him a number of cameras for repair and was initially impressed by both his turn-around time and price. Then his turn around time went from very fast to the 12th of never. He said this was because he had had someone else working with him who had left. But the real reason I stopped using him was due to problems with his repairs. I had a Pen F that he had CLA'd where the stutter locked up after very little use. I had a Chrome Six back to him three times with shutter problems he never could fix. SK Grimes fixed it on the first try.

For general CLA's now I use KEH. Their prices are very good and they turn the camera around in a couple of weeks. Note that the fixed price they list on their website is a "not to exceed" authorization. The actual charge is based one the work that was required, and the last camera they fixed up for me came back at less than half of their listed fixed price.

 

[gddrew]

Frank is a nice man, but honestly I cannot recommend him. I sent him a Maniya C220 that had film advance issues. He kept it a long time, was incomunicado, and at the end of the day the camera worked no better than when I sent it to him, so I wasted my money.

 

[adelorenzo]

I sent two dead Fuji medium format cameras down to Frank last month. Turnaround was very quick and my cameras came back in perfect working order.

YMMV, of course, but I would definitely send cameras to him again.