PCCGB
Many collectors have cameras that could benefit from either a bit of restoration, or possibly a full repair job – but getting the right information can be both time consuming and potentially damaging – just because it’s on the internet doesn’t mean the information is safe to use!
Club members Steven Sargent and and Sam Wright have compiled a list of links to restorers and repairers, and also Youtube videos which have proven useful. The information below will be updated periodically – if you have the details of businesses who can do repair and restoration work, or if you find a worthwhile Youtube link email it to Steven and we will add it to the list.
Please note that some of the urls listed below are older ‘http’ types – so your browser may show an ‘insecure address’ warning.
Various Repair and Restoration articles have also featured in the pages of Photographica World and Tailboard – use the buttons below to view
View the R&R List
View the PW R&R List
Tailboard Tips
Type | Subject | URL | Comments |
---|---|---|---|
Restore | Custom & new bellows | https://www.custombellows.co.uk | Custom-made new and replacement bellows |
Restore | Custom Coverings | https://www.aki-asahi.com/store/ | Custome camera coverings |
Restore | Custom Fabrication | https://skgrimes.com | Your one-stop design, fabrication and finishing |
Restore | Leather restoration | https://www.furnitureclinic.co.uk | Helping to restore leather cases |
Restore | Vintage restoring | http://tinyurl.com/4pc9kprv | Cleaning and restoring vintage cameras |
Repair&Refurbish | Fixing Old Cameras | https://pheugo.com/cameras/index.php | Notes on Fixing Old Cameras |
Repair | Camera modifications | https://www.youtube.com/@patricknicholsdesign/videos | Documenting creative endeavors. |
Repair | Camera Museum | https://www.cameramuseum.uk/camera-repair-and-service | Hasselblad and others |
Repair | Camera Repair | https://www.flickr.com/photos/7699588@N07/albums/page6 | Posts about fixing cameras. |
Repair | Camera Repair | https://www.rolandandcaroline.co.uk/repair.html | Repair notes on selected cameras |
Repair | Camera Repair | https://feuerbacher.net/photo/frame.html | Repair notes on selected cameras |
Repair | Camera Repair | https://www.pentax-manuals.com/repairs.htm | Repair notes on Pentax cameras |
Repair | Camera Repair | https://mattsclassiccameras.com/how-to/general-repair-tips/ | General Repair Tips |
Repair | Camera Rescue | https://www.youtube.com/@CameraRescue | |
Repair | Camera Rescue | https://instagram.com/camerarescue?igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA== | |
Repair | Camera Revival | https://camerarevival.com | Repairing, servicing, revisioning and rebuilding of analogue cameras and (ciné) lenses. |
Repair | Camera Shop | https://instagram.com/wycameras?igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA== | Analogue camera shop in Leeds |
Repair | Camera Workshop | https://camerarepairworkshop.co.uk | Repairing film cameras and lenses |
Repair | Chromatic Parts SX-70 | http://tinyurl.com/yjkvtssa | SX-70 + SLR680/690 repairs and refurbs |
Repair | FED-1 & Zorkij-1 survival site | https://jay.fedka.com/ | Jay Javier's FED/Zorki Notes |
Repair | Film Furbish for Rollei | https://www.filmfurbish.com | Repairs ok, but not top class service |
Repair | Fix Old Cameras | https://www.youtube.com/@FixOldCameras/featured | |
Repair | GraflexParts | https://www.graflexparts.com | Repairs and mods for Graflex and other large format cameras |
Repair | Jack The Hat | https://www.ebay.co.uk/str/jackthehatphotographic | Sells foams light seals, grease, and tools for camera repair |
Repair | Learn Camera Repair | http://tinyurl.com/4c2n628b | Lessons, Resources, and More |
Repair | Leica IIIF repair | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gTb94H0AGng&t=1465s | YouTube video of Leica IIIF CLA and repair |
Repair | Leica Servicing | https://www.cameraworks-uk.com/detailed-price-list | |
Repair | Lens & Camera Repairs | https://www.youtube.com/@mikeno62/videos | Repair of almost everything that can be disassembled |
Repair | Milly Cameras | http://tinyurl.com/28zke5zp | An eBay shop for light seal material |
Repair | Nikon Maintenance | https://richardhaw.com | |
Repair | Photography and More | https://www.youtube.com/@photographyandmore/about | Tutorials and information about cameras and everything related to photography. |
Repair | Polar Bear Cameras | https://www.ebay.co.uk/str/polarbearcamera | Vintage Camera store & maintenance |
Repair | Repair various cameras | https://rick_oleson.tripod.com/index-164.html | Tech Notes collection. $15 for a PDF of 1,000+ pages of 253 folders based on camera type, |
Repair | Repair various cameras | https://rick_oleson.tripod.com/cdtree.jpg | Tech Notes - list of cameras covered |
Repair | Repair various cameras | https://rick_oleson.tripod.com/index-27.html | Tech Notes page. Lots of repair & restoration topics |
Repair | Repair various cameras | https://rickoleson-brightscreen.com/122-2/ | Repair notes - Several free examples |
Repair | Retina Repairs | https://retinarescue.com/ | Kodak Retina series of 35mm cameras |
Repair | Retina Repairs | https://www.youtube.com/@ChrisSherlock/featured | Mostly stuff related to the Kodak Retina series of 35mm cameras |
Repair | Ricoh Auto Half | https://tinyurl.com/2mksxczr | 35MMC - Rescue and Modification of a Ricoh Auto Half |
Repair | Shutter Testing | https://tinyurl.com/2psh9hnf | Although not camera repair again this a shutter tester used for repair. |
Repair | The Classic Camera | https://theclassiccamera.com/repairs-servicing/ | Wide range of repair and service options both through partnered manufacturers and carefully selected agents |
Repair | The Vintage Camera Repair Group | https://www.facebook.com/groups/vintagecamerarepair/ | This is a facebook group where you can ask people questions etc about repairing your camera |
Repair | USA Camera Shop | https://www.procamera.us | From digital camera sensor cleanings to vintage Leica shutter repairs. Useful self estimate gudie. |
Repair | Vintage repairs | https://www.youtube.com/@SimonWhiteheadPhoto/featured | Vintage camera and lens repairs. Home of the QUICKFIX. |
Repair | Vintage repairs | https://instagram.com/camerarepairs?igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA== | Vintage camera and lens repairs. Home of the QUICKFIX. |
Repair | Wet Plate | https://www.youtube.com/@mhaustria | Collodion wet plate photography and other photography related projects. |
Repair | Wet Plate | https://instagram.com/mhaustria?igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA== | Instagram page |
Repair | Zeiss Contax | https://tinyurl.com/25xjma4j | Peter Tooke’s book on Zeiss Contax II and III f. Oxfam link. |
Repair | Zeiss Contax | https://tinyurl.com/4s4mnywt | Peter Tooke’s book on Zeiss Contax II and III f. Abe books link. |
Refurbish | 1901 Fotografi | https://www.1901fotografi.co.uk/shop | This chap makes some nice camera straps. |
Refurbish | Burley Maker UK | https://www.burleycameras.com | Maker and supplier of traditional film and plate camera parts |
Refurbish | Camera Shop | https://wycameras.com | |
Refurbish | Mirror refurbishment | https://tinyurl.com/2p8r96b8 | Mirror refurb |
Refurbish | Refurbish Vintage cameras | https://www.refracted.net/restoration.html | John Marriage's selected old and interesting cameras |
Refurbish | The Worcestershire Cabinet Maker | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8-js2s5z7NI | A series of videos made by a carpenter on a large format camera |
Refurbish | Tool suggestion | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=egNC-4s1WQ4 | Five Best Tools to Repair Vintage Film Cameras |
Refurbish | Vintage Camera Restoration | https://throughavintagelens.com/category/restoration/ | Vintage Camera Restoration notes |
Refurbish | Young Kamera Fuchs | https://www.ebay.co.uk/str/youngkamerafuchs | Restoration, Leathers & parts |
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Repair and restoration articles from the pages of Photograp[hica World magazine
Title | PW issue | Page |
---|---|---|
Alpa Reflex repair | 149 | 6 |
Camera repairs, simple | 92 | 31 |
Camera restoration systematic approach | 137 | 34 |
Camera restoration working with brass | 138 | 39 |
Compur shutter diaphragm repair | 146 | 58 |
Exposure meter repair Zeiss Contaflex Super B | 86 | 38 |
Goerz reflex Shutter description and repair | 107 | 37 |
Minox B disassembly & repair | 85 | 24 |
Renovating camera viewing hoods | 139 | 20 |
Repairing cameras, general advice | 92 | 31 |
Repairing Compur shutter on Bessamatic | 99 | 23 |
Repairing roller blind shutters | 102 | 25 |
Retina IIIS rangefinder repairs | 86 | 10 |
Roller blind shutter repair | 102 | 25 |
Shutter diaphragm repair | 146 | 58 |
Zeiss Ikon Contaflex Super B repair | 86 | 38 |
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From the pages of Tailboard
Reflections on a mirror problem by Richard Oates
I bought a very nice Voigtlander Vag at a recent Boston Spa camera fair. This is the cheapest of Voigtlander’s trio of late 1920’s, early 1930’s plate cameras with rise and shift. Mine was the 6.5cm x 9cm version.
I was looking for the more sophisticated Avus or even a Bergheil if the budget would stretch that far. Still looking!
Made in 1931, this Vag was immaculate except for the mirror in the reflecting finder as can be seen in the photograph, here.
This is a glass mirror and is quite obviously completely useless. As the rest of the camera was so good I just had to find a way to restore it.
I was looking for something else on the Amazon web site when I spotted a spray called ‘Rust-oleum‘, and decided to give it a try. Here’s the way I tackled it.
First, carefully clean and polish the very fragile piece of glass and finish with Isopropyl Alcohol. Then decide which is the back and give it three light passes with the spray, allowing 30 minutes drying time between each pass. Turn it over and lo and behold, and much to my surprise, you have a working mirror.
Not perfect, but certainly usable and very smart.
Footnote: I don’t know whether it works on metal. Please note that someone on the web recommended putting a protective coat over the top of the mirror silver. Tried that – it spoilt the mirror and sent me back for a second try after more glass cleaning. Longevity? No idea but it still looks the same two months on.
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