Servicing a Rolleiflex

Richard S. (rich815) · Aug 9, 2015

Maybe my experiences need to be made more clear: I sent to people other than Harry, camera comes back seemingly now working fine, shutter working. focus good. Then 6-9 months or so later the transport jams, or the shutter blades do, or the focus goes off again pretty quickly. I figured this was just my luck, and they are old cameras, after all, and maybe I was not handling them gingerly enough. I then decided to try Harry, every camera since, years later, all work fine, and maybe its just me, but they are more "buttery" in their actions and use.

No, he's not the only one. But the one I've found most reliable. Tired of hearing people extol the virtues of others in the name of Harry taking too long (most he's ever taken for me was 8 weeks) and how "expensive" he supposedly is. You get what you pay for.

Pioneer · Aug 9, 2015

Thanks Richard. I do agree that Harry Fleenor is very good and very reliable. Likewise my experience with Mark Hansen has shown him to be very good and very reliable. I am sure there are others out there that I don't know about that that work on Rolleiflex cameras who are equally as good.

I have also had repairs that did not last. In one case, a Leica Barnack camera with a damaged (sun burns in curtain) focal plane shutter curtain was sent away for repair. The person had an excellent internet reputation and still does. There was no confusion regarding the necessary repair. The camera was returned with new shutter curtains and worked well for a little over 6 months. Then, one of the shutter curtains came loose. At that point I contacted the original repairer and returned it. It was repaired a 2nd time at no cost and, so far (2 years), seems to be just fine. I have since used that same person several more times for other cameras and lenses and have been quite happy.

My main point is, after reading a number of posts in this thread, that it seems a single error is satisfactory reason to immediately run to the next tech, and then to trash the one who made the mistake.

BrianShaw · Aug 9, 2015

Pioneer said:
I realize that I will stir some feathers with this opinion, but a lot of this is just plain internet BS.

If I take my car to someone for repair, and it returns with the same problem, I either return it so the job can be done right, or go get my money back.

I do the same with my cameras. I have a number of cameras of various brands that I have sent to various repair persons. All but just a few have been returned properly repaired. I have had two or three that were not done satisfactorily and I returned them with a clear explanation of the problem as well as my expectation. In each case the repair person in question completed the work satisfactorily at no further cost to me.

Nobody is perfect, including myself. I expect the work to be done correctly but I do not expect to have to send it to someone else to get it done. In only one situation have I given someone a 2nd chance only to give up and send it to someone else to do it correctly. In this case my money was refunded.

I like Harry and would strongly recommend him. But I seriously doubt he is the only person who can do a good job with a Rolleiflex repair.

Correct in all ways. Folks should read this twice and commit it to memory!

Dali · Aug 9, 2015

Pioneer said:
I like Harry and would strongly recommend him. But I seriously doubt he is the only person who can do a good job with a Rolleiflex repair.

Who said that? Once you find a repairman you can trust, stick with him, whoever he is.

Dali · Aug 9, 2015

Pioneer said:
My main point is, after reading a number of posts in this thread, that it seems a single error is satisfactory reason to immediately run to the next tech, and then to trash the one who made the mistake.

Sorry but servicing a Compur shutter should not be a secret for those who accept the job (they are free to refuse if it out of their competency area). We are prompt to praise those who deliver as they should but I make the difference with those who can't, why would I consider them as equal?

Pioneer · Aug 10, 2015

Your choice since the mistake wasn't your own.

I am not here to argue whether or not you actually gave the repair tech the benefit of the doubt, but it seems that you did not.

Most of us would allow the tech the opportunity to correct the problem. Some don't.

ohnewton35 · Aug 11, 2015

Anyone for Mark Hanson?

Pioneer · Aug 11, 2015

ohnewton35 said:
Anyone for Mark Hanson?

He has always done a wonderful job for me.

Jeff L · Aug 11, 2015

ohnewton35 said:
Anyone for Mark Hanson?

Mark Hansen did a good job on my Super Ikonta.

JPD · Aug 23, 2015

dpn said:
I cannot say I've been impressed by Mark Hansen's work on two of my cameras.

Why not?

Argenticien · Aug 27, 2015

dpn said:
I cannot say I've been impressed by Mark Hansen's work on two of my cameras.

JPD said:
Why not?

And I would ask too: What did you give him to work with, and what were the expectations? I was impressed with his work a few years back on my 1937 Bessa Rangefinder. No setting worked right (in fact, most did not work at all) on that shutter when I sent it to him. Mark sent it back with all timed speeds very accurate, but B & T settings still not working. He communicated that latter situation to me by email before sending the camera back, and I accepted it as a good outcome for the price given the starting point. I would not have expected a damaged 70-year-old shutter to work as new. Basically, if you give someone lemons to start from, you might have the right to expect them to make lemonade (or as I like to say, limoncello ). But if you give them, er, dung as the input, lemonade is not a likely outcome.
--Dave

Zathras · Aug 28, 2015

dpn said:
I cannot say I've been impressed by Mark Hansen's work on two of my cameras.

JPD said:
Why not?

I'm guessing that the two cameras dpn mentions here are the subjects of this thread (there was a url link here which no longer exists)

Arklatexian · Aug 28, 2015

Richard Sintchak (rich815) said:
I've used them all. Will never use anyone again except Harry Fleenor.

I haven't used them all but I have used Harry Fleenor and I certainly recommend him. As with anyone else, let him take his time and DO IT RIGHT......Regards!

BrianShaw · Sep 2, 2015

Who? Why not clue us in?

Or did I miss a post in which you already did so? Mark Hansen??

Dali · Sep 2, 2015

Pioneer said:
Your choice since the mistake wasn't your own.

I am not here to argue whether or not you actually gave the repair tech the benefit of the doubt, but it seems that you did not.

Most of us would allow the tech the opportunity to correct the problem. Some don't.

I don't when it is a routine job for a repairman (dragging Compur Rapid shutter) and it is not correctly done.

Richard S. (rich815) · Sep 2, 2015

Dali said:
I don't when it is a routine job for a repairman (dragging Compur Rapid shutter) and it is not correctly done.

I don't when I get the camera back and try it and immediately it's obvious there's still something wrong. Did the tech even run it through its paces before sending back to me? There's times when it's obvious they didn't and I would not let them touch another of my cameras again ever, even at a chance to fix it, again.

ToddB · Sep 4, 2015

Go with Harry. I submitted my my 3.5 not only did do a complete overal, he re-dyed the black covering too. Look brand new. You don't to look back and think you should of went with him in the first place.
Todd

Servicing a Rolleiflex

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