Seeking a USA based repairperson

[spydrxx]

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Posted Monday at 10:00 PM

Some time ago I acquired a really nice Tower (Nicca) LTM body. The issues I noticed were that although the shutter speeds were fine the sound of the shutter suggested that perhaps the lubricants were dry and it needed to be cleaned and relubed, and rangefinder wasn't working (couldn't horizontally adjust the images)... but I zone focussed for a roll and everything came out fine. I recently contacted YYE who declined the job saying the later models, like this one, were pretty complex and he only worked on early models. I next tried DAG who was CLAing a lens for me, but he said he was too busy with his Leica work to take on a late model Nicca. I'm wondering if any forum members might know of somebody in the USA who either works on Niccas or would be willing to take on this one for a CLA. It shares some features of the Leica M3, such as a back which opens like the M3 and a film advance lever like the M3. I'd really like to get this camera in tip top shape. Thanks in advance. I also posted this on Photo.net but got no responses. Any help is welcome, and thanks in advance.

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[TomB_tx]

Sorry, I can't think of anyone else - I've always used YYE for my ltm clones, but haven't needed any for a few years - maybe he got too busy for more interesting work. I have an example of this same model Tower, and also a Nicca 33 - which is almost identical with a fixed back. The shutters on both feel and sound fine, and they are nice cameras.

Gus Lazari used to do unusual models, but I believe he retired.

You might try to exercise the shutter a while to see if it quiets down. I have a IIIf that DAG serviced some time back that sat unused for a few years, and when I went to use it a year ago the shutter "squawked" like dry ball-bearings. I mentioned it to DAG who said he would check it, but I ran a couple rolls of film through to see what the exposures looked like, and the shutter quieted down and sounds fine now and exposures all were fine - so likely the exercise distributed the lube better,

Edited June 16, 2024 by TomB_tx

[spydrxx]

18 minutes ago, TomB_tx said:

Sorry, I can't think of anyone else - I've always used YYE for my ltm clones, but haven't needed any for a few years - maybe he got too busy for more interesting work. I have an example of this same model Tower, and also a Nicca 33 - which is almost identical with a fixed back. The shutters on both feel and sound fine, and they are nice cameras.

Gus Lazari used to do unusual models, but I believe he retired.

You might try to exercise the shutter a while to see if it quiets down. I have a IIIf that DAG serviced some time back that sat unused for a few years, and when I went to use it a year ago the shutter "squawked" like dry ball-bearings. I mentioned it to DAG who said he would check it, but I ran a couple rolls of film through to see what the exposures looked like, and the shutter quieted down and sounds fine now and exposures all were fine - so likely the exercise distributed the lube better,

Txh Tom. I thought Gus might pipe up on the other forum, as he periodically does. I think his workshop still operates although he did retire...so perhaps a lead there.

[oldwino]

Contact Jim Holman with International Camera Technicians (ICT). He's in California. He's done some work for me and did a good job. Worth an inquiry.

[Chris_A.]

Gus Lazzari is still doing repairs, but is now semi-retired. Check out his services at TLC Camera Repairs on the web. As for unusual brands, he doesn't do Kiev cameras, but he just sent back my cleaned up 1934 3x4 Voightlander so he may be interested in something unusual.