Who was there before SK Grimes?

[avandesande]

hell I'm from jersey.
a calzone would be tasty

 

[df cardwell]

works fine

 

[Russ Young]

Jim Galvin (California) was a gentleman and a genius. He made flanges for me. He mounted old lenses into shutters. He made aluminum lens hoods. And made all sorts of adapters. He was my salvation for a decade- and very reasonably priced.

 

[Papa Tango]

Back about a thousand years ago, there was SPTS (Southern Photo Technical Services). They would CLA cameras and lenses, and mount and re-engineer a variety of things.

I also remember a number of old farts that sat behind watchmaker looking counters at camera stores (real ones, with darkrooms) that could fix anything from an old tropical plate camera to the newest Canon FT...

 

[epatsellis]

Let's not forget Ken Ruth at Photography at Bald Mountain.


erie

 

[df cardwell]

Let's not forget Ken Ruth at Photography at Bald Mountain.


erie

In a league, or alternate universe, by himself.

 

[David A. Goldfarb]

Another guy who does fine custom work and manual camera repair is Frank Marshman at CameraWiz in Harrisonburg, VA.

He's worked on all my classic Bronica stuff, including making a Canon FD-Bronica S2 adapter (bayonet to bayonet) for my macro lenses. He does great work on Ilex shutters and others and has old stock Ilex parts on hand. I've also sent him a folder or two, and he overhauled my Voigtlander Superb TLR upgrading the focusing screen and replacing the mirror. He can machine new parts and adapter rings if necessary. There are times when he's worked on something, putting in a couple of hours, and decided he couldn't fix it and hasn't charged me.

 

[Dan Fromm]

Back about a thousand years ago, there was SPTS (Southern Photo Technical Services). They would CLA cameras and lenses, and mount and re-engineer a variety of things.

[snip]<

That's as may be, but those characters completely ruined one of my cine camera's metering system when I sent it to them to have it adjusted. They broke it good, denied responsibility, refused even to refund the bill, never mind about replacing the camera. This after Canon's repair shop stopped working on that model. SPTS swore they could do the job. Large bill, too.

Dan

One man's hero, another's lying incompetent expletive.

 

[naturephoto1]

I feel fortunate, as have many on this site to have had Steve Grimes make quite a number of adapters for me prior to his untimely death.

As to manufacturer, I would have to mention Leica Camera the only manufacturer that I am aware of to still repair and keep their products functioning for more than 50 years out of production. Leica has also over time modified their equipment for photographers (perhaps when it was E. Leitz, NY) and they have modified some of my equipment for me.

Additionally, when they were still in operation, Marflex in Pine Brook, NJ was the official repair for old Rollei TLR, and Linhof cameras. Marflex had modified the front standard of my Linhof Technika lV to the same 30 degree tilt capability of the Master Technika prior to its theft (a one of a kind Technika IV). We had found that the camera front standard was basically the same as the Master and was not the same as the 1958 diagram.

Rich

 

[David A. Goldfarb]

Marflex is still official service for Linhof. I gather that Martin has moved the Linhof part of the operation down to North Carolina, and Krikor still works on Rollei in a new location in New Jersey or New York.

 

[naturephoto1]

Marflex is still official service for Linhof. I gather that Martin has moved the Linhof part of the operation down to North Carolina, and Krikor still works on Rollei in a new location in New Jersey or New York.

Hi David,

Yes you are correct about Marflex and Martin as the official Linhof Camera repair in the US. He has closed the location in Pine Brook, NJ and is operating out of his new home in NC.

As to Krikor, he is operating out of his store in Elmwood Park, NJ a location that he has had for 28 years? He used to work part time for Marflex on the Linhof and Rollei Cameras. He is now the official repair for the older Rollei cameras in the US. He cleaned my large format lenses earlier this year and replaced my meter (the last available) for my Rollei 3.5F Planar, tuned up the camera shutter, and made sure the camera was in good working order in February.

If anyone needs older Rollei work the following is Krikor's information:

Krikor Maralian
Krimar Photo Shop
105B Broadway (Rt 4)
Elmwood Park, NJ 07407
(201) 796-0554

Rich

 

[Dan Fromm]

I feel fortunate, as have many on this site to have had Steve Grimes make quite a number of adapters for me prior to his untimely death.

-snip-
Rich

Rich, I bought adapters from Steve, had him remount (major job, cells had to be machined, spacers had to be made, ... ) a lens, and had him overhaul shutters. I've since bought more adapters from his successors and had them make bracketry that lets me combine two short cameras into a long one. Adam and Steve have very different personalities, but I doubt that Adam is less capable or less inventive.

Cheers,

Dan

 

[naturephoto1]

Rich, I bought adapters from Steve, had him remount (major job, cells had to be machined, spacers had to be made, ... ) a lens, and had him overhaul shutters. I've since bought more adapters from his successors and had them make bracketry that lets me combine two short cameras into a long one. Adam and Steve have very different personalities, but I doubt that Adam is less capable or less inventive.

Cheers,

Dan

Hi Dan,

I know that many here onsite had Steve make adapters and mounted lenses and or cells into shutters, overhauled shutters, etc. Basically, I was only pointing out my personal experience having worked with Steve and mentioned how fortunate I was to have found and worked with him (while he was alive).

I have had conversations with Adam regarding the possibility of additional work. I agree that the present staff at SK Grimes is no less capable nor any less inventive than Steve. I believe that Steve did work closely with the present staff and certainly trained them. But, at this point I have no experience because I have not gone forward with additional work since Steve's untimely death.

Rich

 

[David A. Goldfarb]

Adam's doing fine work. Check out my 11.5" Verito on a Technika lensboard--

And here's a Petzval on a Sinar board. Adam made an elegant, lightweight mounting ring and a set of precise CNC machined waterhouse stops--

(there was a url link here which no longer exists)

 

[naturephoto1]

Hi David,

Is that a Technika V?

Rich

 

[David A. Goldfarb]

Hi David,

Is that a Technika V?

Rich

Yes, 4x5" Tech V.