Photo of my K on Eric's bench

ctrout · 03-07-2017, 05:04 PM

I'm not sure. Maybe someone else here can comment on that. I just sent him my other K about a half hour ago. I also packed a couple of SVs in the box. One to repair, and one for him to keep for parts. I kind of want both of the Ks back though because even as a parts camera, a K might fetch a few dollars at auction.

**monochrome** · 03-07-2017, 06:08 PM

Originally posted by ctrout

I'm not sure. Maybe someone else here can comment on that. I just sent him my other K about a half hour ago. I also packed a couple of SVs in the box. One to repair, and one for him to keep for parts. I kind of want both of the Ks back though because even as a parts camera, a K might fetch a few dollars at auction.

G. van Oosten says there were 21,454 K's made and 481,496 SV's.

A 'K' parts camera is a measurable percentage of the total produced. 60 years after the fact there are probably only a couple thousand K's remaining.

ctrout · 03-07-2017, 06:13 PM

Well, no matter how you slice it, I had two of them. One worked and one didn't. When Eric is done, one should work like new and the other won't. No net loss.

**monochrome** · 03-07-2017, 07:26 PM

Originally posted by ctrout

Well, no matter how you slice it, I had two of them. One worked and one didn't. When Eric is done, one should work like new and the other won't. No net loss.

I was affirming your asssessment of the potential value of a K parts camera. I might even want it.

Poor K.

But that the dread of something after death,
The undiscovered country from whose bourn
No traveler returns, puzzles the will
And makes us rather bear those ills we have
Than fly to others that we know not of?

Last edited by monochrome; 03-07-2017 at 07:36 PM.

**cobbu2** · 03-07-2017, 07:58 PM

It's really mind-boggling (to me anyway) what goes into these devices and that they work as well as they do. It makes sense that they were relatively expensive when new, knowing how complicated they are, and also kind of amazing that they can be acquired so cheaply now.

Eric does great work, he restored my trusty ME-Super I had bought new many years ago; I wonder, does Eric have an apprentice to take over when he decides to call it quits someday? I don't see the repair demand slowing down any time soon.

**monochrome** · 03-07-2017, 08:27 PM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by cobbu2

It's really mind-boggling (to me anyway) what goes into these devices and that they work as well as they do. It makes sense that they were relatively expensive when new, knowing how complicated they are, and also kind of amazing that they can be acquired so cheaply now.

Eric does great work, he restored my trusty ME-Super I had bought new many years ago; I wonder, does Erik have an apprentice to take over when he decides to call it quits someday? I don't see the repair demand slowing down any time soon.

Eric recently started training an apprentice - young lady I believe - who is working on K1000's to start.

.

**cobbu2** · 03-07-2017, 08:34 PM

Originally posted by monochrome

Eric recently started training an apprentice - young lady I believe - who is working on K1000's to start.

.

That's good to know, thank goodness!

**Baard-Einar** · 03-09-2017, 01:26 AM

I have a K that is for parts only. Maybe a candidate for eBay.

ctrout · 03-09-2017, 06:33 AM - **1 Like**

You may want to do that. For months, the only K for parts on ebay had a starting price of $148. The one I ended up buying for parts was a fully working body for $85 +$15 shipping. I don't know if the other one ever sold at that price but if it did, that means that people are crazy and you have a valuable piece of junk to get rid of.

ctrout · 03-09-2017, 10:08 PM

Well, I got the invoice from Eric today so he has my 2 SVs and 2 Ks. The bill was pretty steep but considering what I have asked for, I think it was very reasonable. The CLA and shutter curtain replacement on the K was the originally requested work and that was $170. Add a CLA and mirror replacement for the SV (parts provided by me in the form of an SV parts body) at $65. Then add disassembly of the second K to pull the film wind spool and install into the K that is being repaired at a cost of $50. Total with shipping was $293 but both the K and the SV were near mint cosmetically so when I get them back they should both be just like new. I can't wait!!!

**ChrisPlatt** · 03-10-2017, 08:44 AM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by ctrout

Well, I got the invoice from Eric today... The bill was pretty steep... Total with shipping was $293.

All that work, on all those cameras, all for the cost of CLA for one Leica...

Chris

jtkratzer · 03-12-2017, 03:39 PM

Originally posted by cobbu2

It's really mind-boggling (to me anyway) what goes into these devices and that they work as well as they do. It makes sense that they were relatively expensive when new, knowing how complicated they are, and also kind of amazing that they can be acquired so cheaply now.

Eric does great work, he restored my trusty ME-Super I had bought new many years ago; I wonder, does Eric have an apprentice to take over when he decides to call it quits someday? I don't see the repair demand slowing down any time soon.

Glad to see someone is going to take over eventually. If that person is passionate about it, could reasonably expect to be gainfully self-employed for a lifetime, or until full or mostly manual film bodies go back into production. No idea how long the parts supply will hold up for the bodies we continue to send out for repair, but there doesn't seem to be a huge market for aftermarket parts.

I doubt there's much talk, but I wonder if anyone is seriously considering bringing a reasonably priced, mostly manual film body back besides Nikon. There are more options than I expected out there, but not a lot at a price point most would pay when the market has crazy capable digitals at those price points or below.

kb244 · 03-12-2017, 03:43 PM

Originally posted by ctrout

...
Working on your camera now. Trying to figure how to put it back together 😉
...

Here am I laughing, and I imagine other people who haven't stripped down their camera completely before are like :

**Kerrowdown** · 03-12-2017, 03:48 PM

Originally posted by ctrout

Photo of my K on Eric's bench

What a scary image...

kb244 · 03-12-2017, 03:49 PM

Originally posted by ChrisPlatt

All that work, on all those cameras, all for the cost of CLA for one Leica...

Chris

It's about $150 ... if it's a Leica without a self timer

(170 with, and about 190 if it's a IIIg), 210 to 250 if you need the CLA Done with new curtains.

Pricing from YYeCAMERA, who only specializes in LTM/M mount rangefinders... unfortunately he won't touch my Canon 7, but will service a Canon P and below.

So course I had to address the Canon 7 myself where the major issue was (frameline sliding around because the prism was no longer glued in place).

So it's always nice to see that there's some specialist out there that can tackle a specific range or brand of cameras... because otherwise it's going to have to be a slew of DIY'er burying their noses in old ebay-purchased service manuals.

Eric's cost to CLA my MX (performed for the previous owner in November) was $87.

03-07-2017, 06:08 PM	#17
monochrome Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Working From Home Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 26,276	Originally posted by ctrout I'm not sure. Maybe someone else here can comment on that. I just sent him my other K about a half hour ago. I also packed a couple of SVs in the box. One to repair, and one for him to keep for parts. I kind of want both of the Ks back though because even as a parts camera, a K might fetch a few dollars at auction. G. van Oosten says there were 21,454 K's made and 481,496 SV's. A 'K' parts camera is a measurable percentage of the total produced. 60 years after the fact there are probably only a couple thousand K's remaining. Last edited by monochrome; 03-07-2017 at 06:15 PM.

03-07-2017, 07:58 PM	#20
cobbu2 Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: May 2013 Location: North Potomac, MD Photos: Albums Posts: 1,427	It's really mind-boggling (to me anyway) what goes into these devices and that they work as well as they do. It makes sense that they were relatively expensive when new, knowing how complicated they are, and also kind of amazing that they can be acquired so cheaply now. Eric does great work, he restored my trusty ME-Super I had bought new many years ago; I wonder, does Eric have an apprentice to take over when he decides to call it quits someday? I don't see the repair demand slowing down any time soon. Last edited by cobbu2; 03-07-2017 at 08:31 PM.

03-09-2017, 10:08 PM	#25
ctrout Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2016 Photos: Gallery Posts: 444 Original Poster	Well, I got the invoice from Eric today so he has my 2 SVs and 2 Ks. The bill was pretty steep but considering what I have asked for, I think it was very reasonable. The CLA and shutter curtain replacement on the K was the originally requested work and that was $170. Add a CLA and mirror replacement for the SV (parts provided by me in the form of an SV parts body) at $65. Then add disassembly of the second K to pull the film wind spool and install into the K that is being repaired at a cost of $50. Total with shipping was $293 but both the K and the SV were near mint cosmetically so when I get them back they should both be just like new. I can't wait!!! Last edited by ctrout; 03-09-2017 at 10:09 PM. Reason: corrected typo

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03-07-2017, 05:04 PM	#16
ctrout Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2016 Photos: Gallery Posts: 444 Original Poster	I'm not sure. Maybe someone else here can comment on that. I just sent him my other K about a half hour ago. I also packed a couple of SVs in the box. One to repair, and one for him to keep for parts. I kind of want both of the Ks back though because even as a parts camera, a K might fetch a few dollars at auction.

03-07-2017, 06:13 PM	#18
ctrout Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2016 Photos: Gallery Posts: 444 Original Poster	Well, no matter how you slice it, I had two of them. One worked and one didn't. When Eric is done, one should work like new and the other won't. No net loss.

03-07-2017, 07:26 PM	#19
monochrome Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Working From Home Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 26,276	Originally posted by ctrout Well, no matter how you slice it, I had two of them. One worked and one didn't. When Eric is done, one should work like new and the other won't. No net loss. I was affirming your asssessment of the potential value of a K parts camera. I might even want it. Poor K. But that the dread of something after death, The undiscovered country from whose bourn No traveler returns, puzzles the will And makes us rather bear those ills we have Than fly to others that we know not of? Last edited by monochrome; 03-07-2017 at 07:36 PM.

03-07-2017, 08:27 PM - 1 Like	#21
monochrome Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Working From Home Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 26,276	Originally posted by cobbu2 It's really mind-boggling (to me anyway) what goes into these devices and that they work as well as they do. It makes sense that they were relatively expensive when new, knowing how complicated they are, and also kind of amazing that they can be acquired so cheaply now. Eric does great work, he restored my trusty ME-Super I had bought new many years ago; I wonder, does Erik have an apprentice to take over when he decides to call it quits someday? I don't see the repair demand slowing down any time soon. Eric recently started training an apprentice - young lady I believe - who is working on K1000's to start. .

03-07-2017, 08:34 PM	#22
cobbu2 Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: May 2013 Location: North Potomac, MD Photos: Albums Posts: 1,427	Originally posted by monochrome Eric recently started training an apprentice - young lady I believe - who is working on K1000's to start. . That's good to know, thank goodness!

03-09-2017, 01:26 AM	#23
Baard-Einar Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Oslo Photos: Gallery Posts: 964	I have a K that is for parts only. Maybe a candidate for eBay.

03-09-2017, 06:33 AM - 1 Like	#24
ctrout Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2016 Photos: Gallery Posts: 444 Original Poster	You may want to do that. For months, the only K for parts on ebay had a starting price of $148. The one I ended up buying for parts was a fully working body for $85 +$15 shipping. I don't know if the other one ever sold at that price but if it did, that means that people are crazy and you have a valuable piece of junk to get rid of.

03-10-2017, 08:44 AM - 1 Like	#26
ChrisPlatt Site Supporter Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Rockaway Beach NYC Posts: 7,694	Originally posted by ctrout Well, I got the invoice from Eric today... The bill was pretty steep... Total with shipping was $293. All that work, on all those cameras, all for the cost of CLA for one Leica... Chris

03-12-2017, 03:39 PM	#27
jtkratzer Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Lancaster County, Pa Posts: 963	Originally posted by cobbu2 It's really mind-boggling (to me anyway) what goes into these devices and that they work as well as they do. It makes sense that they were relatively expensive when new, knowing how complicated they are, and also kind of amazing that they can be acquired so cheaply now. Eric does great work, he restored my trusty ME-Super I had bought new many years ago; I wonder, does Eric have an apprentice to take over when he decides to call it quits someday? I don't see the repair demand slowing down any time soon. Glad to see someone is going to take over eventually. If that person is passionate about it, could reasonably expect to be gainfully self-employed for a lifetime, or until full or mostly manual film bodies go back into production. No idea how long the parts supply will hold up for the bodies we continue to send out for repair, but there doesn't seem to be a huge market for aftermarket parts. I doubt there's much talk, but I wonder if anyone is seriously considering bringing a reasonably priced, mostly manual film body back besides Nikon. There are more options than I expected out there, but not a lot at a price point most would pay when the market has crazy capable digitals at those price points or below.

03-12-2017, 03:43 PM	#28
kb244 Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 372	Originally posted by ctrout ... Working on your camera now. Trying to figure how to put it back together 😉 ... Here am I laughing, and I imagine other people who haven't stripped down their camera completely before are like :

03-12-2017, 03:48 PM	#29
Kerrowdown PEG Moderator Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Highlands of Scotland... "Hold Infinity in the palm of your hand" - William Blake Photos: Gallery Posts: 57,819	Originally posted by ctrout Photo of my K on Eric's bench What a scary image...

03-12-2017, 03:49 PM	#30
kb244 Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 372	Originally posted by ChrisPlatt All that work, on all those cameras, all for the cost of CLA for one Leica... Chris It's about $150 ... if it's a Leica without a self timer (170 with, and about 190 if it's a IIIg), 210 to 250 if you need the CLA Done with new curtains. Pricing from YYeCAMERA, who only specializes in LTM/M mount rangefinders... unfortunately he won't touch my Canon 7, but will service a Canon P and below. So course I had to address the Canon 7 myself where the major issue was (frameline sliding around because the prism was no longer glued in place). So it's always nice to see that there's some specialist out there that can tackle a specific range or brand of cameras... because otherwise it's going to have to be a slew of DIY'er burying their noses in old ebay-purchased service manuals. Eric's cost to CLA my MX (performed for the previous owner in November) was $87.