Leaf shutter CLA in Houston? (updated: or elsewhere)

[Drew Bedo]

I am looking for a competent technician to do a CLA on my leaf shutters here in Houston Texas.

My old shop, "Expert Camera Repair" has stopped servicing the old stuff as the older family members have retired.

Anyone know of a local to me shutter guy who is not with SK Grimes? The folks at SKG are good, but they are out on the East Coast.

[Drew Bedo]

My old camera shop is no longer doing any work on non-digital gear. All the older technicians have retired.

Now looking for a competent shutter technician in the greater Houston area.

The folks at SK Grimes are good, but they are out on the East Coast.

Any suggestions?

[Ulophot]

https://www.precisioncameraworks.com/

[Dugan]

SK Grimes no longer does CLA's on shutters.

[Ulophot]

Precision Camera Repair is in Lakeway, TX. I have had good service in the past.

[Jim Becia]

Precision Camera Repair is in Lakeway, TX. I have had good service in the past.

I just had a CLA completed by Precision. Everything was fine although certainly not the fastest turnaround - 3 months. My only "complaint" was the lack of communication about their time line, but as I said, the work was good.

[Drew Bedo]

Thank you, Philip,

Precision is not a Houston based company. I have delt with Precision in Austin TX for LF lab work. They are a good outfit, but I found that they outsource developing 8x10 film to a company in Denver. I have worked with SK Grimes, and they too do good work.

However: I am looking for a local operation here in Houston for a CLA on a Betax #4 just now.

Anyone know anything about "Riley's Cmrs and Repair here i Houston?
Seems a little quirky. Only open on weekends and only contact via FaceBook or Instgram . . .no phone or e-Mail.

www.rileyscameras.com

[Oren Grad]

Threads merged.

[Steve Goldstein]

Many repair shops have closed in recent years as the owners/technicians retire and can't find anyone to carry on. It's possible that, even in a city as large as Houston, you may no longer have the luxury of supporting a local small business and may have no alternative but to send the shutter to an out-of-town or out-of-state repair person.

[rdenney]

Drew, Riley’s at least makes the claim. I think I would take a shutter I don’t really need to them and see how they do. $100 for a CLA is a good price if they do a decent job. Leaf shutters are like watches. They all work similarly and a tech expert in one should be able to fix most. That includes the leaf shutters in the TLRs they list.

Rick “might take them one on the next visit to Houston” Denney

[Drew Bedo]

Thanks for that. I may be able to get out to Riley's this Friday.

One might think that here in the Nation's forth largest market there might be more thanone shop for this sort of work.

BTW: I watched part of a YouTube video on servicing a Copel shutter and cringed at the delicacy and precision needed. Just removing the front plate involves four tiny srews, each is different and must go bacvk in the right hole . . .

[Drew Bedo]

Our son ws in town and we took a ride all the way in to Houston to try out Riley's. We found it after some driving around. Doesn't look like a store front. More of a shred space warehouse thatr looks sketchy. I didn't want to get out of the truck in that neighborhood. We talked about it sitting at the curb for a few minutes and decided to just drive away.

There has got to be someone else here in the Greater Houston area that works on leaf shutters and L:F ger..
We did eventually go to Houston Camera Exchange out on Westheimer, and I unloaded several loe end vintage SLRs.

[rdenney]

I thought Houston Camera Exchange was on Richmond Avenue, not Westheimer. It’s a shadow of its former self, but so is the market for used stuff. I grew up around the corner from it and still stop in from time to time, though not since Covid.

I’ve been teaching myself basic watchmaking, and really that should translate easily to shutters, which are less finicky than watches and larger, too. This tiny screws on a Copal shutter are positively gargantuan compared to, say, the screws that hold jewel chatons in place on a pocket watch movement. I routinely work under a 20-power microscope on that stuff.

Rick “owns 8 sizes of needlepoint tweezers” Denney

[Drew Bedo]

redenemy: Richmond it is, right you are!

And yes, they have rearranged everything in the past few years. Looks like the stock is thinner too. No one there was able to recommend a shutter guy.

Watches . . .WOW!

Copals are a top level of sophistication, quality design and excitation. My shutter is a Rapax #4, so it is larger, only goes to 1/50th and dates to the 1950s, I think. My 4x5 lenses are all in Copal shutters. My "other" shutter is a Packard Ideal (with hose and bulb.)

[Tin Can]

It seems to me the smaller shutters last longer than big ones

and we always test the shutters at least 3 times to make sure it works

I have tested many Packard, finding a used 5" ID Packard that works every time is also rare

Black Copal 0.0 and 0 are best IMHO

Find an OLD watchmaker

[Tin Can]

BTW

Packard is a Leaf shutter

[Drew Bedo]

Just exchanged e-mails with Blue Moon Camera and Machine.

They will not do any work on antique (brass) lenses.

Theyill not do any work on a Turner Reich convertible in a Betax #4 shutter either.

SKG will deal with the brass lenses, but not the leaf shutter.

Any suggestions on the leaf shutter?

Someone local to Houston would be great, but I'll mail it out.

[BrianShaw]

https://alphaxbetax.com/

[Drew Bedo]

Fine: So is there anyone who does work on leaf shutters anymore?

[gypsydog]

https://alphaxbetax.com/

Agreed, I've had several shutters serviced.

[BrianShaw]

Fine: So is there anyone who does work on leaf shutters anymore?

yes, of course, but maybe not in Houston.

[Tin Can]

no parts

not many good Packard left either

and his parts are....unknown

I was testing in my total safe light studio for this problem 9 years ago

pop your strobes and overpower the SUN



Fine: So is there anyone who does work on leaf shutters anymore?

[Oren Grad]

I've merged the Blue Moon thread. Drew, please don't keep launching new threads on this topic - any updates should be posted to the existing thread.

[Drew Bedo]

Oren: Sorry, I will adjust my medications.

Tin Can: I did business with the guy at Packard Ideal last year. Seemed responsive and professional even though he has a real world day job. I bought a shutter and accessories from him, and he mounted it all to a mahogany board I sent him. Looks great and works fine.

[Drew Bedo]

yes, of course, but maybe not in Houston.

Thanks . . .who, what, where?

[BrianShaw]

Thanks . . .who, what, where?

Well... post 18, for one that specializes in one of the shutters you mentioned.

Others to investigate:

Precision Camera Works
Flutot's Camera Repair
Steve's Camera Repair
Dean's Camera Repair

I have full convidence that you can search their name on Google or your favorite search engine and give them a call.

[Tin Can]

I bought bulb and hose Kit Packard last month. Jon has the best

If you study his offerings, he allows from the website.

Sizes: 1.5″ to 8″.
For shutters larger than 5″, please consult the factory for pricing and delivery."

That's confusing. 5" must mean outside dims

They are common

I MAY need a new OD 8"

after I eat my Wheaties!


Oren: Sorry, I will adjust my medications.

Tin Can: I did business with the guy at Packard Ideal last year. Seemed responsive and professional even though he has a real world day job. I bought a shutter and accessories from him, and he mounted it all to a mahogany board I sent him. Looks great and works fine.

[Drew Bedo]

RE: Packard,

I have what I need right now. John did gret job mounting the shutter to my lens board along with fittings for the hose and a push-pull knob for the pin.

Another project, for another time, will be a larger Packard shutter mounted to an adapter board for the 2D, to allow using different lenses with the shutter interchangeably.

[Drew Bedo]

Well... post 18, for one that specializes in one of the shutters you mentioned.

Others to investigate:

Precision Camera Works
Flutot's Camera Repair
Steve's Camera Repair
Dean's Camera Repair

I have full confidence that you can search their name on Google or your favorite search engine and give them a call.

Thank you for those suggestions and your expression of confidence. I will find someone for this I am sure.

Posted the OP in hopes of finding someone local . . .guess not.

Well at least PCW is here in Texas. I was sending them 4x5 and 8x10 for lab developing untill I found that they were not doing it in-house but outsourcing it to an out it in Denver. So I have been dealing directly with Denver Digital for lab work. Wonder it they send vintage shutters out to one of those places in California.

[paulbarden]

Thank you for those suggestions and your expression of confidence. I will find someone for this I am sure.

Posted the OP in hopes of finding someone local . . .guess not.

Well at least PCW is here in Texas. I was sending them 4x5 and 8x10 for lab developing untill I found that they were not doing it in-house but outsourcing it to an out it in Denver. So I have been dealing directly with Denver Digital for lab work. Wonder it they send vintage shutters out to one of those places in California.

The majority of "general purpose" camera stores (including Blue Moon) send repair jobs out to qualified repair shops - they do not do anything "in house". I know this for a fact because all of Blue Moon's Kodak Retina service jobs are sent to me.
Finding someone local is kinda irrelevant. Odds are its just going to be sent to one of the big players like Flutot or other.

[Drew Bedo]

SAd to hear.

My go-to shop has been Professional Camera Repair here in Houston. Easy to get to address via bus or Uber for me. They are now effectively closed; one younger family member now only doing sensor cleaning on digital cameras.


In the past, they would work on about anything that could be disassembled. Some really creative refurbishing and restorations took place there from time to time. I have had several heirloom Rolex and Leicas brought back to life there.

A group of us would meet there for camera talk supported by coffee and donuts on Saturday mornings. All that stopped during the pandemic shut down. The principal owners and technicians have retired due to age and health issues. The coffee crowd has also dissolved.

Time passes and life happens.

[Tin Can]

Actually we all die

I prefer that

[jnantz]

https://alphaxbetax.com/

+2 !

[Drew Bedo]

Still looking for a local guy.

Does anyone have experience with "Camera Care Center" on Richmond Ave in Houston? I can arrange to get there.

Precision Camera will do the work at an acceptable price point, but they are way out there in The Woodlands (I am in Rosenberg). . . . not accessible via public transportation.

Don't really want to mail out the shutter. There is a shop in California that seems fully competent , but they want over $200 and there is the shipping on top.

If this was a rare or valuable heirloom lens, or Copal shutter on a Schneider APO something or other maybe I'd do that.