Repair shops for classic Nikon F?

Over the years I've acquired several near-mint painted Nikon F cameras, and they are all in need of a good CLA and foam replacement. I've considered replacing the foam myself, but I'm afraid I'd probably do more harm than good.

Most repair shops want to work on newer equipment, and compete for the lowest price and quickest turn. The techs who really knew the classic equipment are now gone. And I fear most shops don't take the care with these classic painted cameras to avoid little scratches and dings.

I'm looking for a shop who will take the time, and really care for the equipment. So I'll present this question to those owners of the classic painted cameras--where do you send your equipment for a good CLA?

Vermont Camera Works (they have a website) or there's a guy locally (here in St. Louis) who does this sort of thing (but no website).

I've had a bunch of F2's CLA'd by Essex Camera in Carlstadt, NJ and they are reliable and efficient. But it's been a while since I've used them and their web site doesn't seem to be working (http://www.essexcamera.com/). Here's their contact address & phone info:

Essex Camera Service, 100 Amor Ave., Carlstadt, NJ 07072. Phone: (201)-933-7272

Though I've never used him, Ken Ruth of Photography on Bald Mountain has a very good reputation on working on old-school cameras. His web site is:

http://www.baldmtn.com/

-Kevin

Isn't essex the one that had a $125-150 for a clean & check mentioned in another thread?
I think I might look around a bit.
Is it Carol Flutot that's been mentioned in a couple of threads for being reasonably priced & had several APUG folk give high recommendations of her work?

In California, I can recommend...

Pro Camera Service in Thousand Oaks. They have (or, had?) a technician there who specialized in the old Nikon and Leica bodies. Caveat: I haven't taken anything to these guys since I left So. Cal. Many years ago.

and,

Apex Camera Repair
(925) 933-6016
1295 Boulevard Way
Walnut Creek, CA 94595

and,

Apollo Camera
(510) 891-9486
1411 Webster St
Oakland, CA 94612

This last however, I give only a guarded recommendation...I take stuff here when I need/want something done fast and it doesn't have a lot of sentimental value - or, Wally (at APEX) won't do it. They are fast, have great prices and have a few technicians that are spooky good. The only problem is that it is sometimes difficult to get the person at the counter to understand what you want done. For example, I once took a LF lens in shutter. I left both the lens cells in the shutter because, I walked in off the street on impulse and hadn't given it any thought - and didn't want to carry the cells around loose in my pack. Anyway, I wanted the shutter to be CLA'd. They instead cleaned the glass....to their credit however, they remedied the situation by doing the CLA that night at no charge and I had what I wanted. Total time: 3days.

GaussianNoise said:

In California, I can recommend...

Pro Camera Service in Thousand Oaks. They have (or, had?) a technician there who specialized in the old Nikon and Leica bodies. Caveat: I haven't taken anything to these guys since I left So. Cal. Many years ago...

Click to expand...

Pro Camera Service is still very good. Karl and Klaus have both retired, but the other guys are still there doing good work.

Tom Hoskinson said:

Pro Camera Service is still very good. Karl and Klaus have both retired, but the other guys are still there doing good work.

Click to expand...

I have fond memories of Karl and Klaus when they were in the old building on T.O. Blvd. (?). They were good people. There's a technician at APEX who could pass for their brother.

Yep, they moved from the T.O. Blvd location to the Hillcrest location at least 15 years ago. Karl is now living in Washington State - we still keep in touch. He has the magic touch with Rollei TLRs, SLRs, etc.