After some additional time spent getting to know the book better, I'm happy to recommend
Let's Try! Repair and Maintenance of Cameras to everyone who repairs cameras, or wishes do so.
Much of the first half of the book takes the form of "case studies" of faulty cameras with sticky leaf shutters, foggy viewfinders, or jammed wind levers. It's a bit like looking over the shoulder of an experienced technician as he determines the cause of the problems, how he addresses them, and maybe just as importantly, what he does not touch. Emphasis is on fixed-lens Japanese rangefinder cameras. Many of the specific models can still be had cheaply, often with exactly the same sorts of faults.
Second half of the book is more advanced, and more Nikon-specific, illustrating disassembly and reassembly of Nikkormat FTn, Nikon S, F, F2, and FM including detailed information about fabricating the special tool used to remove A/R rings found on the older models. For me, this section alone is reason enough to want this book.
Photographs appear to have been generated from black and white inkjet printer, and they're small, but clear, and there's lots of them.
What's missing: If you have a camera in need of a new cloth focal plane shutter, you'll need to look elsewhere, such as
here. Don't be surprised if your first few attempts are woefully bad. Back in the old days, these parts would have been supplied in pre-assembled form, with no cutting or gluing required.
