Pro Camera: Repair Apprentice Pre-screening

[Andreas Thaler]

The greatest challenge with finding and training repair talent is the time required to put into that individual before one can get that investment back. My long-term goal is to disseminate the knowledge I have accumulated to the broader film community with the mission of keeping these incredible cameras alive. The reality of this present moment is that in order to do that, I need to continue to successfully run Pro Camera and RJ Repairs, pay my staff and all of my overhead, and meet the day-to-day demands of running a small business.

Repair Apprentice | Pro Camera - Charlottesville, VA

www.procamera.us

An interesting advertisement for a training course to become a camera technician with a curriculum.

I would apply immediately, but I am too far away geographically.

 

[Donald Qualls]

I am too far away geographically.

And many of us son this forum are too old to make sense to enter an apprenticeship. I expect to retire in a couple years and then have, at most, about fifteen years when my hands and eyesight would permit me to continue doing repairs involving very small parts (and I'm honestly not very interested in giving up my retirement hobby to have a retirement job).

 

[Nicholas Lindan]

Hiring someone for a technician level job at burger-flipper's wages and requiring a non-compete agreement? I've never seen anything like it. In any case, it won't hold.

The ad is about 'I want' - that's not the way to attract people.

 

[Andreas Thaler]

And many of us son this forum are too old to make sense to enter an apprenticeship.

I am 58 years old and perhaps one of the younger ones here?

 

[Andreas Thaler]

Hiring someone for a technician level job at burger-flipper's wages and requiring a non-compete agreement? I've never seen anything like it. In any case, it won't hold.

The ad is about 'I want' - that's not the way to attract people.

But it gives me an education that is rare to find these days.

 

[Andreas Thaler]

Electronics can be learned, I did two distance learning courses for that.

But everything else that is necessary for repairing an older camera?

The apprenticeship of camera technician no longer exists.

Maybe I can train as a precision mechanic, but who offers that specifically for cameras?

The same applies to optics or plastic processing.

If someone like this passes on their accumulated knowledge and invests time in training, I wouldn't expect a great fee.

I would work there for free, but on the other hand I could afford it.

 

[Nicholas Lindan]

But it gives me an education that is rare to find these days.

But you are not allowed to use it. I've never heard of a non-compete for an apprentice position. You are expected to "join the team" when apprenticeship ends - but it sounds like the team is one man, and that's no team.

The next step after an apprenticeship is to become a "journeyman." You go out and get a wide range of experience. After that you settle down as a "master," hang out your own shingle or join a practice and hire your own apprentice.

I feel you are duty bound to train your future competition. And to remain on good terms with them. Everyone needs a "loyal opposition."

Teachers teach future teachers. Professors teach future professors. Carpenters teach future carpenters. The student eventually competes with, and bests, the teacher. The student has to come to learn more than his teachers know.

The apprentice/journeyman/master scheme works in academe: you get your apprenticeship as an undergraduate; you go out as a "journeyman" to get a masters, a PhD/ScD and do a post-doc or two - all at different institutions; then finally become a "master" as an assistant, associate and full professor.

 

[Andreas Thaler]

But you are not allowed to use it. I've never heard of a non-compete for an apprentice position. You are expected to "join the team" when apprenticeship ends - but it sounds like the team is one man, and that's no team.

In my private life I can do whatever I want. And that is exactly what I would use the knowledge I have acquired for.

 

[kl122002]

I am not sure how today's repair service and training works.

Those days I know the National Camera had offered training courses. People can join and learn just like joining Radio class.
And locally (Hong Kong) I could say, most technicians are actually recruited and trained by former official support team. Many of them who specialized in particular brands or models . They are now old and have retired by now. As far as I could tell I have never heard them recruited any apprentices in this way.

This hiring post...sounds like someone's expectation to get a talented and hoping to that newly hired could trained up to a master level to any types of cameras without much support? I'd rather say if one hasn't been in this field (camera services, or even basic DIY) they won't know how hard it is .

*Edit note: just saw my message being incompletely sent*

 

[eli griggs]

Perhaps, a few analog camera and darkroom products companies, can join together and offer basic camera repair lessons, or in succession, free videos online, in the general interest of keeping analog photography alive and promoting film and the refurbishment of the roll film cameras.

Would Ilford or Kodak, etc, even be interested in helping promote analog photography, by way of a central organization for learning?

 

[forest bagger]

Hello Andreas!

In my private life I can do whatever I want. And that is exactly what I would use the knowledge I have acquired for.

As long as you are concentrating on old film cameras and lenses you will probably not find any repair center that would give you this apprentice job.
And if you'd like to go further in to new digital camera an lens repair and should find repair center that would let you look into their work you would be heavily disappointed - the overall costs of repairing forbid any deeper learning...

 

[Andreas Thaler]

Hello Andreas!

As long as you are concentrating on old film cameras and lenses you will probably not find any repair center that would give you this apprentice job.
And if you'd like to go further in to new digital camera an lens repair and should find repair center that would let you look into their work you would be heavily disappointed - the overall costs of repairing forbid any deeper learning...

This is really a problem if there are no new recruits to do the repairs.

 

[Andreas Thaler]

Perhaps, a few analog camera and darkroom products companies, can join together and offer basic camera repair lessons, or in succession, free videos online, in the general interest of keeping analog photography alive and promoting film and the refurbishment of the roll film cameras.

Would Ilford or Kodak, etc, even be interested in helping promote analog photography, by way of a central organization for learning?

I'm afraid that popular cameras like the Canon EOS models, Nikon F90 or the F5 can no longer be fully repaired. There is a lack of spare parts, know-how and equipment.

 

[forest bagger]

I'm afraid that popular cameras like the Canon EOS models, Nikon F90 or the F5 can no longer be fully repaired.

The same goes with old digital cameras like the first versions of Canon EOS D (EF and EF-S) models, and the first versions of Nikon D models.

 

[btaylor]

As a former employer, I was interested when I heard non-compete clauses are no longer legally enforceable in the US.
I used to hire and train apprentices who later became masters at their trade. It’s a gamble any employer takes when hiring. The trick is to terminate quickly if the trainee lacks talent, curiosity or drive. For those that do have those qualities they need to be nurtured at the employers expense. What they choose to do once they’ve achieved journeyman or master status is up to them, hopefully you’ve created an environment where they want to stay. I would never stand in the way of an employee going on to a better future.
Also, running a small business is just not something most people want to do.
I agree completely with Nicholas Linden- it’s a wish list from the employers perspective. I could be an opportunity for a young person who still lives at home and could afford to take a job like that.

 

[BrianShaw]

... could be an opportunity for a young person who still lives at home and could afford to take a job like that.

That's about it. Probably couldn't afford to live, even in Charlottesville, on the pay that's being offered. But for a young person with motivation and interest...

It is very instructive to take a look at the rest of the site. Apparently this is an established full-service camera shop that has been taken over and is being kept running. Not an easy feat! There is also a very intriquing aspect in documentation - long, precise, orderly, and with a lot of process. Just take a look at what it takes to get something in for service! Apparently there is a repair team, with 2 at Apprentice level and, presumably, someone at a Master level.

I wish him success!

 

[Kino]

$15 an hour (assuming 40 hours a week) is about enough to cover only average monthly rental in Charlottesville, VA.

If you lived with roomies, dumpster dove your food and walked to work... maybe.

 

[BrianShaw]

$15 an hour (assuming 40 hours a week) is about enough to cover only average monthly rental in Charlottesville, VA.

If you lived with roomies, dumpster dove your food and walked to work... maybe.

Or, mayube not. I believe the posting stated "part-time" that may, in time, lead to full-time.

 

[awty]

I only got $2/hr when I was a first year apprentice boy. 15/hr I would of been rich.

 

[MattKing]

Historically, articling students who wished to become practicing lawyers were required to pay for their apprenticeship training.
Even when I signed my Articles of Indenture and commenced my practical training in the 1980s, many of my friends had to spend the year working for very little or for free. I don't know anyone though who had to pay for the privilege.
As late as the 1970s, there was at least one Canadian jurisdiction (Manitoba) where it was still technically possible to become licensed to practice law via apprenticeship - no law degree was technically required.

 

[awty]

Historically, articling students who wished to become practicing lawyers were required to pay for their apprenticeship training.
Even when I signed my Articles of Indenture and commenced my practical training in the 1980s, many of my friends had to spend the year working for very little or for free. I don't know anyone though who had to pay for the privilege.
As late as the 1970s, there was at least one Canadian jurisdiction (Manitoba) where it was still technically possible to become licensed to practice law via apprenticeship - no law degree was technically required.

If you did your law degree in university in Australia, not only would it been free but the government would subsidised your living expenses. Then you would of gone to work for a law firm getting quite a good income.
Of course all that has changed here now as we switch to the good old USA model of user pays.

 

[MTGseattle]

Precision Camera Works (Bob Watkins) is also seeking an apprentice.

 

[MattKing]

If you did your law degree in university in Australia, not only would it been free but the government of subsidised your living expenses. Then you would of gone to work for a law firm getting quite a good income.
Of course all that has changed here now as we switch to the good old USA model of user pays.

The degree programs here in Canada do include a fair bit of practical knowledge, but it still remains in essence an academic degree.
When I entered my LLB degree program, like most of my classmates I had an earlier degree - in my case a Bachelor of Science with a focus on Math and Physics. Back in the 1980s, the tuition fees were quite reasonable in cost.
Now those fees are far higher.
As the entrance requirements for almost everyone include having an earlier degree, law degrees are now referred to as JD agrees, rather than the Bachelor of Law designation. I was even offered the opportunity to switch mine!
Having a law degree does not entitle you to practice law.
The qualification requirements for being allowed to practice law still include a 1+ year apprenticeship ("articles") program, which is accompanied by several weeks of classroom practice oriented training.
As I've not been practicing for several years, I would have to redo all or part of that apprenticeship before being allowed to start up again.
All of which is to highlight the fact that a true apprenticeship is something that is very demanding - both for the apprentice, and the trainers.

 

[Andreas Thaler]

An apprenticeship with demonstration, instruction and theory is certainly the best way to get into a trade.

On the other hand, there is the possibility of acquiring skills as an autodidact through self-study, correspondence courses included.

I am taking this route myself and consider it the most demanding. But it also trains your endurance and ability to overcome difficulties. And no boss gets on your nerves

 

[btaylor]

Getting back to BrianShaw and Kino’s remarks, there has there has been quite a bit of noise over the new minimum wage here in California for fast food workers, $20/hr. At first it seemed like a lot of money, but if you worked full time- which you won’t- I figured you would have to live with a roommate and not have enough to own and operate a car here in my city.
At $15/hr part time (!) there’s not a lot of meat on the bone. And it’s not like there’s a lot at the end of the rainbow either, you can make a living, but that’s about it. So you gotta love the work (as I did when I worked for years as a technician).