Guglielmo
Newbie
Hello to all,
I need, please, your help!
I proudly own a mint Leica M4-Mot since several years and 2 years ago I found the relevant mate namely the Leitz New York motor. Actually, it was "used" conditions and the paint was quite damaged. Dealing with electric functions it seemed that worked approximately well.
I am perfectionist so I desired to restore it so I forwarded the whole motor-drive to Leica specialist (?) in UK.
They started on the good track and their willing was to restore not only the paint but the leatherette and the electrical circuits.
After more than one year no news! Following my several mails and phone calls they told me that they cannot repair the motor, the work is odd and in practice they send me back the motor with wires not connected, pieces alone in an envelope, covers detached!
Now I have a stuff without value, without sense and impossible to sell unless just for parts!
Now I kindly ask you the following: what do you suggest to do?
First of all: do you know a skilled Leitz technician which may take care of my NY Motor checking and re-assembling the item?
Actually I would keep this rare Leica stuff but in excellent order and assembled! In Italy no people may do this.
Looking forward your kind answer, thank you so much for help.
Guglielmo
I need, please, your help!
I proudly own a mint Leica M4-Mot since several years and 2 years ago I found the relevant mate namely the Leitz New York motor. Actually, it was "used" conditions and the paint was quite damaged. Dealing with electric functions it seemed that worked approximately well.
I am perfectionist so I desired to restore it so I forwarded the whole motor-drive to Leica specialist (?) in UK.
They started on the good track and their willing was to restore not only the paint but the leatherette and the electrical circuits.
After more than one year no news! Following my several mails and phone calls they told me that they cannot repair the motor, the work is odd and in practice they send me back the motor with wires not connected, pieces alone in an envelope, covers detached!
Now I have a stuff without value, without sense and impossible to sell unless just for parts!
Now I kindly ask you the following: what do you suggest to do?
First of all: do you know a skilled Leitz technician which may take care of my NY Motor checking and re-assembling the item?
Actually I would keep this rare Leica stuff but in excellent order and assembled! In Italy no people may do this.
Looking forward your kind answer, thank you so much for help.
Guglielmo
zeitz
Established
I had my motor (CLA) and M2-Mot (3/4 overhaul) repaired by Don Goldberg. His father Norm Goldberg designed and patented the motor which Leitz NY eventually bought. There is no one else in the world with better credentials to repair the motor and camera. I know he is not in the UK, but it is worth the effort to have it repaired at his shop.
zeitz
Established
One other observation. The motor originally had a vulcanite cover. So there was no seam. Your motor has a seam on the back and has been recovered in leatherette.
Deardorff38
Mentor
Ciao Guglielmo, As Zeitz suggested, Don Goldberg would be my choice. He has done very fine work for me and others. Contact for him:
https://www.dagcamera.com › store › Featured_Products
...Repairs under the name DAG Camera Repair. Phone: 608-835-3342. Fax: 608-835-3342. Customer Service: [email protected]. Version: Mobile | Web. DAG CAMERA PARTS.
DAG Camera Parts
dag camera partshttps://www.dagcamera.com › store › Featured_Products
...Repairs under the name DAG Camera Repair. Phone: 608-835-3342. Fax: 608-835-3342. Customer Service: [email protected]. Version: Mobile | Web. DAG CAMERA PARTS.
Guglielmo
Newbie
Dear Zeitz, dear Deardorff38,
thank you so much for your kind reply to my post and mainly for your precious useful address which I've already contacted so I look forward their answer to arrange the shipment.
Having my NY mot repaired and restored by the son of the Leica M4 motor designer is more than a must!
Thank you again to all, greatly appreciated your kind support.
Of course I will gladly update the motor overhaul progress!
Guglielmo
thank you so much for your kind reply to my post and mainly for your precious useful address which I've already contacted so I look forward their answer to arrange the shipment.
Having my NY mot repaired and restored by the son of the Leica M4 motor designer is more than a must!
Thank you again to all, greatly appreciated your kind support.
Of course I will gladly update the motor overhaul progress!
Guglielmo
Guglielmo
Newbie
I contacted Don Goldberg but he seems not particularly interested in fixing and overhauling my New York motor...
"...after repairing Leica cameras for 49 years I'm SUPER sick of repairing items that were tampered with and your New York Motor, that my dad designed in 1965, was SUPER tampered with, I got at least 250 Leicas in for repair at the moment, I have over 400 right when COVID hit the U.S. and I just don't have the time to open your messed up motor & perhaps find out that its beyond repair due to that terrible tampering done to it. Sorry that I just don't want to work on this."
Regards,
Don
DAG Camera Repair
Now I need again your help because I don't have any idea where and who contact to take care of my destroyed Leitz motor...! Otherwise I own just some metal rubbish rather than a rare item of Leica history.
Thanks again, I trust in your useful support and suggestions.
Guglielmo
"...after repairing Leica cameras for 49 years I'm SUPER sick of repairing items that were tampered with and your New York Motor, that my dad designed in 1965, was SUPER tampered with, I got at least 250 Leicas in for repair at the moment, I have over 400 right when COVID hit the U.S. and I just don't have the time to open your messed up motor & perhaps find out that its beyond repair due to that terrible tampering done to it. Sorry that I just don't want to work on this."
Regards,
Don
DAG Camera Repair
Now I need again your help because I don't have any idea where and who contact to take care of my destroyed Leitz motor...! Otherwise I own just some metal rubbish rather than a rare item of Leica history.
Thanks again, I trust in your useful support and suggestions.
Guglielmo
I would suggest Alan Starkie at cameraworks-uk.com. He is no less booked than DAG, but he's in the UK and just might be up for such a challenge.
zeitz
Established
Wow.
Guglielmo
Newbie
Thanks "splitimageview" for suggestion but unfortunately Alan Starkie has been really the author of my Leica NY Motor destruction!
I waited several days to mention him in Forums because I tried to get a gentleman explanation why he shipped back the stuff completely dismantled while he received a scarce soght-after Leica motor in decent status just needing a tune-up and a repainting.
After a dozen of emails and phone calls without reply I cannot more hide the actual situation: now I own some pieces of metal and wires just good for trash... Beware!
Today I got a new possible people who may take care: Sherry Krauter in NY. Do you know him? I wrote him, I am looking forward his answer!
Thanks to all for support, I will keep you updated!
Guglielmo
I waited several days to mention him in Forums because I tried to get a gentleman explanation why he shipped back the stuff completely dismantled while he received a scarce soght-after Leica motor in decent status just needing a tune-up and a repainting.
After a dozen of emails and phone calls without reply I cannot more hide the actual situation: now I own some pieces of metal and wires just good for trash... Beware!
Today I got a new possible people who may take care: Sherry Krauter in NY. Do you know him? I wrote him, I am looking forward his answer!
Thanks to all for support, I will keep you updated!
Guglielmo
Well, yes, well all know her. 😊
Very surprised to hear this story about Alan.
Very surprised to hear this story about Alan.
raydm6
Yay! Cameras! 🙈🙉🙊┌( ಠ_ಠ)┘ [◉"]
Sorry about your repair experience and that Don cannot address the repair.
He sounds very busy and a little frustrated with tampered items.
A backlog of 250 Leicas. Wow! I did not know he had such a large backlog. Lots of people entrusting their cameras and lenses to him; a testament to his skills and talents.
He sounds very busy and a little frustrated with tampered items.
A backlog of 250 Leicas. Wow! I did not know he had such a large backlog. Lots of people entrusting their cameras and lenses to him; a testament to his skills and talents.
pixelated
Established
It is disappointing and frustrating, but it's not unusual for repair depots to return unrepairable items in their disassembled state. Mainly because of the time/money it takes to put it back together that a customer may balk at paying for.
Guglielmo
Newbie
Yes, but during more than a year we exchanged several mails in which he wrote the difficulties but I replied considering to leave all the functions as they was but he continued till the conclusion to send back the motor without any excuse nor clarification...