Rolleiflex repair - not CLA/overhaul

[Jon King]

I've seen recommendations on APUG for Harry Fleenor and Camera Wiz for Rolleiflex CLA and shutter repairs... but I've gotten my favorite camera, a 3.5E, a bit beyond a mere CLA.

I was hiking in Ireland, along Killary Harbour, when a combination of a slope, water, rocks, mud and sheep ..well. sheep stuff, caused me to slip and land in that combination. The camera around my neck.. a Fuji 645 was fine.. lens hood kept the mud off of the lens. The Rollei in my backpack.. well.. the 'after' pic of the lens hood is below. The scene of the 'accident' is there too (Kodak 400UC with the Fuji)

The camera will focus smoothly.. apparently to infinity, but the lens platform moves side to side a good amount, and the film advance - it binds for about a quarter of the rotation.

What I'm hoping to see if others have had serious repairs to Rolleiflexes done, by whom and how successful they were. I plan to give both companies a call, but I'd be very interested in hearing any experiences first.

 

[Richard Wasserman]

That's too bad about the camera! I would definitely contact Harry Fleenor about a repair. I believe that if he can't fix it, no one can. Good luck

Richard Wasserman

 

[BrianShaw]

Another option... which I've used for Rollei TLR repair... is Pro Camera Service in Thousand Oaks, California. Google them and give them a call!

 

[wilsonneal]

Would also suggest highly regarded Krikor Maralian. He's done great things with my Rolleis and his prices are reasonable:

Krimar Photo Shop
(201) 796-0554
105 Broadway # B
Elmwood Park, NJ 07407

Neal

 

[Mike Kovacs]

This is a pretty serious problem - you want somebody with the proper factory training for sure. I fix Rolleis, but I wouldn't touch a job like this.

Harry Fleenor (LONG backlogs), Krikor as mentioned, you might also consider Juergen Kuschnik who also used to work for Rollei. He is FAST but expensive like Fleenor. He did a bang-up job on my SL66, which is what he is best known for, but this guy knows every Rollei.

 

[Jon King]

Thanks all for the recommendations.. I'll contact Harry Fleenor, Krikor Maralian and Juergen Kuschnik. I get down to New Jersey on a pretty regular basis, so I might try Krikor first.

 

[naturephoto1]

Would also suggest highly regarded Krikor Maralian. He's done great things with my Rolleis and his prices are reasonable:

Krimar Photo Shop
(201) 796-0554
105 Broadway # B
Elmwood Park, NJ 07407

Neal

I agree with Neal regarding Krikor. He has removed fungus in my Rolleiflex lens, maintained my LF lenses, replaced the Rolleiflex meter, and maintained my Rolleiflex F f.5 75mm Planar for years. He is also the official repair for older Rolleis here in the US.

Rich

 

[Maine-iac]

I

What I'm hoping to see if others have had serious repairs to Rolleiflexes done, by whom and how successful they were. I plan to give both companies a call, but I'd be very interested in hearing any experiences first.

I've used Jimmy Koh (Koh Camera) in NY (Long Island) for Rollei repairs over the years, both to the twin-lens and SL66 cameras. He's very good, reasonable in price, and what he doesn't know about Rolleis would probably fill a very small book.

 

[df cardwell]

Witness the problem with great vintage cameras: the list of craftsmen to keep them going .... gets smaller.

 

[Jon King]

Thanks to all for the suggestions. I was down in New Jersey late last week, so I stopped by Krikor Maralian's shop. We had a nice chat about Rolleiflexes, and mine in particular. Price and turn-around were quite reasonable, so it is in Krikor's hands to bring back to functionality.

 

[wilsonneal]

You won't be sorry.

Thanks to all for the suggestions. I was down in New Jersey late last week, so I stopped by Krikor Maralian's shop. We had a nice chat about Rolleiflexes, and mine in particular. Price and turn-around were quite reasonable, so it is in Krikor's hands to bring back to functionality.