Suggestions for minor Leica repair?

Paul Verizzo · Aug 27, 2008

I have my father's IIIc which is in beautiful condition except for a slow shutter.

Where would you send it if it was yours? Contact info appreciated.

Interesting story on this camera. My mother's sister was working in Europe for the State Department immediately after WWII. She bought this at an Army base knowing that my father, a professional photog, would appreciate it. I looked up the serial number once somewhere, it's a 1944 item. You would never know by looking at it that is was made in the hard to get materials final days of the Reich. Leatherette, impecable metal finish, etc.

BTW, my father, mother, and and aunt are all alive still. I get photo books from the library and he loves them.

wilsonneal · Aug 27, 2008

DAG Camera Don Goldberg

2128 Vintage Parts Drive
Oregon WI 53575

Tel: 608-835-3342
FAX: 608-835-3342

http://www.dagcamera.com/

Paul Verizzo · Aug 27, 2008

wilsonneal said:
DAG Camera Don Goldberg

2128 Vintage Parts Drive
Oregon WI 53575

Tel: 608-835-3342
FAX: 608-835-3342

http://www.dagcamera.com/

Seems like they only have parts.

wilsonneal · Aug 27, 2008

No, Don Goldberg does very fine repair work, unless he's stopped, which I doubt. Others will recommend Sherry Krauter (sp?) also excellent, but I've only used Don for my IIIf, M3 and lenses.

Jim Edmond · Aug 27, 2008

I can also recommend DAG. He did excellent work on my well used M2.

Paul Verizzo · Aug 27, 2008

wilsonneal said:
No, Don Goldberg does very fine repair work, unless he's stopped, which I doubt. Others will recommend Sherry Krauter (sp?) also excellent, but I've only used Don for my IIIf, M3 and lenses.

OK, thanks. I just took the website at face value. Parts only. Will check with him.

leicarfcam · Aug 27, 2008

I'm probably going to step on some toes but here goes....DO NOT I repeat DO NOT send it to Youxin Ye....unless of course you want an oil dripping camera returned..

I sent him a IIIf RD and it was returned with oil saturated curtains and dripped oil when I removed the base plate..

As others have said Don Goldberg is good but a bit backlogged so it may take a few months..

rpsawin · Aug 27, 2008

Try Sherry Krauter Dead Link Removed

She does excellent work.

Bob

Morry Katz · Aug 28, 2008

Leica repair

You might try Kindermann in Toronto. They repaired my Rollei SL66E last year and did an excellent job.

Morry Katz
Lethbridge Alberta

Chaplain Jeff · Aug 28, 2008

Hello,

Just got a lens back from Sherry. She's worked on a number of them for me. I've never sent her a camera, but when I need to send out one of my M's, it will be to Sherry.

There's a guy in Seatle who's very good with the older RF's - worked on my Minolta 35 Model II. Can't remember his name at the moment and I'm out of the country... If you're interested, I can get it from a friend.

Jeff M

eddym · Aug 28, 2008

Another vote for Sherry Krauter...

jolefler · Aug 28, 2008

Sheesh, Colyn

I'm probably going to step on some toes but here goes....DO NOT I repeat DO NOT send it to Youxin Ye....unless of course you want an oil dripping camera returned..

No, Colyn, those weren't toes you felt crunching underfoot....it was an honest someone's reputation

Youxin has done a II and a III for me. Each was not functional when sent, and when returned they both ran like Swiss watches. They were clean, exposures were proper, and were completed in less than a week for a reasonable amount of money.

No oil drips, no curtain saturation, no fingerprints, plenty of follow-up email support for my inane questions immediately answered. No, I have no connection to Youxin, other than being a completely satisfied customer on two separate occasions.

Did you try to work your displeasure out with him? I found him accomodating to a fault. I can't imagine him turning away from a dissatified customer. Maybe a thought or two before you bash someone's work on a world-wide basis.

Jo

lens_hacker · Aug 29, 2008

I've had Six cameras repaired by Youxin Ye: An M2, Two IIIf's, Two IIIa's, and a III. All came back working perfectly. The M2 was jammed, worked for five rolls of film from a prior visit to a "higher-priced repairshop". Works fine now. Youxin replaced the beamsplitter in three of the LTM Leica's. Two of the cameras were $15 "junque store" finds and were jammed up when I got them.

Every repair shop has an off-day, or an unanticipated problem. We are talking about working on Antique Machinery here. These cameras can be a real can-of-worms when you open them up.

leicarfcam · Aug 29, 2008

jolefler said:
Did you try to work your displeasure out with him? I found him accomodating to a fault. I can't imagine him turning away from a dissatified customer. Maybe a thought or two before you bash someone's work on a world-wide basis.

Jo

I returned the camera to him for curtain replacement and he tried to charge me for the new curtains after he destroyed the originals. 2 months after getting the camera back it quit. No broken parts...it just quit.

I sent the camera to Sherry who then asked me "did Ye do another flush clean"?

I have the camera back after Sherry fixed it right...

The reason he can get a camera back to you so quick is because he flush cleans.

lens_hacker · Aug 30, 2008

Most cameras will work correctly after a simple flush cleaning- I have done this to 20 or so cameras. No real damage to the mechanisms, just dirt, grime, and old lubricants mucking things up. Some require major repair, and flood cleaning will not do the job. I'm confident that Sherry or DAG can fix just about any Leica. The question is how much is the owner of the camera willing to spend. A top-notch CLA and repair can run $200~$300 for a Leica. Youxin is much less, under $100 for a CLA and beamsplitter replacement for the Leica IIIa that I picked up with a Summar lens for $15. It works beautifully now.

If you are willing to spend the money on a top-notch repair shop, you will end up with a fine camera ready to shoot film for the next 30 years. But if cost is a consideration, there are many people that are satisfied with Youxin's work.

leicarfcam · Aug 30, 2008

lens_hacker said:
If you are willing to spend the money on a top-notch repair shop, you will end up with a fine camera ready to shoot film for the next 30 years. But if cost is a consideration, there are many people that are satisfied with Youxin's work.

When I spend money I expect to get my money's worth.

I don't want a half a** job done..

lens_hacker · Aug 30, 2008

So you want a full ass for your money.

leicarfcam · Aug 31, 2008

lens_hacker said:
So you want a full ass for your money.

I use quality gear I expect quality repair. It's as simple as that...

$80 was too much to pay for a repair that only lasted a few months..

fotch · Aug 31, 2008

In working on clocks or watches, which I do, flush cleaning is done because its cheap & quick, not because its good. It is done by some to get the clock or watch working so they can sell it.

You cannot clean out the bearing areas, nor clean the springs, by a dip & dunk (usually in a ultrasonic) and worse, cannot properly dry out the surfaces afterwords. Parts cannot be inspected without a complete disassemble. Its cheaper in cost but more expensive in that you really don't get what you think your getting.

I have several M's that I want serviced so a lower price is attractive but not at the expense of a quality job. I have not done business with any of these folks yet(cannot afford it at this time) however, I am leaning toward Sherry or Dag.

JMHO

leicarfcam · Aug 31, 2008

fotch said:
I have several M's that I want serviced so a lower price is attractive but not at the expense of a quality job. I have not done business with any of these folks yet(cannot afford it at this time) however, I am leaning toward Sherry or Dag.

JMHO

I've used both and can recommend them.

Sherry will probably get it back to you quicker though. Don is backed up.

fotch · Aug 31, 2008

I talked to both of them about 6 months ago and DAG had two prices depending if it needed a complete service or just minor stuff. I felt confident that he would advise me appropriately as to what was needed.

Sherry only did a complete service or maybe told me thats what I needed, I forget. I would think that a complete overhall or whatever is needed. Prices about the same. I did talk to Sherry at length and liked her "no nonsense" attitude.

I will have more than one and they have never been service since I have owned them (20+yrs) and will probably use both of them, when the time comes.

removed account4 · Aug 31, 2008

lens_hacker said:
... there are many people that are satisfied with Youxin's work.

i have had a camera and 3 lenses worked on by youxin.
he did a find job with my "stuff", and i would not hesitate
to bring him others to work on.

Suggestions for minor Leica repair?

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