View Full Version : Superlative service from CRR of Luton
There's a strange pleasure in being totally wrong. A couple of weeks ago, in another thread, I mentioned my troubles contacting the Leica repair and servicing specialists CRR of Luton. I cited this as an example of all that was wrong with the British photographic trade etc. etc.
Kim Coxon suggested I was simply unlucky and that the company had suffered from problems with e-mails. In a very helpful exchange of PMs Kim encouraged me to try again.
So I did. I phoned and immediately found I was talking to someone who really understood Leicas. I sent my camera on the following day - Tuesday the 31st. On Thursday I received an estimate for the very extensive work that needed to be done. It was extremely reasonable. Today - Tuesday 7th - I received my camera.
I have never understood what people saw in Leicas until now. From lens to shutter to the brilliant clarity of the rangefinder, all is smooth, soft and unbelievably exquisite. There is a combination of delicacy and precision which is simply glorious. Even a tiny patch of lost vulcanite had been perfectly restored.
50 years of dried grease and botched servicing had reduced the camera to a mechanically miserable condition: it was far below my ever-troublesome FEDs. Now it is new and breathtaking.
CRR have an international reputation and certainly do not need my recommendation. But I will say this: Their work is of the highest imaginable quality, their prices are exceptionally reasonable and the service second to none.
But, echoing Kim, I'd advise you to phone!
If you want your Leica brought to perfect working condition (and what's the point otherwise?), this is their webite: http://www.angelfire.com/biz/Leica/
Just do it! Your camera will thank you!
Cheers, Ian
markinlondon
11-07-2006, 00:55
Good to see it all worked out, Ian. Which Leica was it btw?
telenous
11-07-2006, 00:58
Ian,
Great to hear your M is back in tip-top form. And well deserved praise for CRR Luton and Peter Grisafi. I have sent two cameras to him (one of them twice) and they both came back in stunning order. It was only when he worked his magic on them that I knew what people mean about 'buttery-smooth' operation. The prices are very reasonable (the third time I sent a camera for a repair I was asked, what can only be, a 'friendly' price) and turn-around times are usually shorter than what the website implies. Warmly recommended indeed.
Best,
Hallo Mark!
A Leica IIIF, which although in rather good cosmetic order had proved a disappointment - far rougher than an Oleg'd FED, with a barely visible RF - and I never actually used it. I bought it in Summer from another member (who, I must stress, went to great lengths to point out the shortcomings). This had made me even more sceptical about the whole Leica mythos. But , having bought it, I thought that I might as well try to get it working...
When the camera arrived this morning I thought it had been sent back as unrepairable, but it's just fabuous!
Cheers, Ian
Alkis, I could not agree more! "Buttery smooth" is exactly right!
Cheers, Ian
Mark Wood
11-07-2006, 01:08
I've mentioned CRR several times before but I'd like to echo the comments about Peter's work on Leicas. He's totally transformed three cameras I've sent to him (II, IIIa, IIIc) and the work he did on cleaning a VIOOH viewfinder was remarkable. He sells a video of the dismantling and repair of a IIIf which is really worth watching. It shows what a skilled job it is to repair these things properly. He's always busy for a very good reason.
markinlondon
11-07-2006, 01:09
I can't say the advance on my M2 is currently "buttery smooth", it feels about the same as my M6. Then I consider that the M2 probably needs a service and is almost 40 years older than the M6 and I marvel at how good it is. Enjoy your "new" camera, Ian.
jesse1dog
11-07-2006, 02:27
This is just the sort of recommendation I was looking for in the thread I started asking about CLA in GB.
Thanks for the information.
I think I might try CRR too - can't lose out by asking!
Incidentally I got the Ic out last night but can't get it to miss on the 1/30 setting. Still a bit stiff, and still needs a CLA I am pretty sure.
Hallo Jesse!
I would have posted in your thread but having earlier criticised CRR I wanted to draw as much attention to the facts as possible. Believe me, you will not be disappointed :)
Cheers. Ian
excellent I was thinking of sending them my CL to get a new shutter put in
jesse1dog
11-07-2006, 13:27
Hallo Jesse!
I would have posted in your thread but having earlier criticised CRR I wanted to draw as much attention to the facts as possible. Believe me, you will not be disappointed :)
Cheers. Ian
Thanks Ian
I contacted Peter at CRR this afternoon.
He thought he could 'fit me in' before Christmas and quoted me an attractive price for a CLA. It seems a good idea to have one done as soon as possible because after all I won't be needing another for 50 years or so.
Also seemed interested that it was a Ic I wanted doing and I gathered he hadn't dealt with many of them. Not surprising really when you consider how many were made. Also said the slow shutter speed mech was there (after a fashion). Now how about a Ic with a slow shutter speed dial on the front?
I'll forget that thought for the moment!!
*glances at Leica Standard*... damn now you got me pondering whether I could have the slow speeds on that too!!! :D (I know that's a pipe dream don't worry!)
Looks like my IIIc will have to go to CRR as well then :)
Kim Coxon
11-07-2006, 15:24
Hey, steady on guys. Give Peter a chance to get my black M3 finished. ;)
Kim
Kim
Quite correct as well as your collapsible (not in queue), I have two bodies, and a Leicavit... pending transmission.
So please stop sending Peter work...
Noel
Flyfisher Tom
11-08-2006, 03:16
Hey, steady on guys. Give Peter a chance to get my black M3 finished. ;)
Kim
Alright Kim, I know I'm just voicing what many others probably wanted to ask as well ... please show us a photo of the black M3 when you get it back. It must be a beaut :)
Kim Coxon
11-08-2006, 03:37
As soon as it arrives it will be on "Look what came in the mail", "Show us your M", "Camera and coffee" and ... and... and... :D
Kim
Alright Kim, I know I'm just voicing what many others probably wanted to ask as well ... please show us a photo of the black M3 when you get it back. It must be a beaut :)
pvenables
11-08-2006, 03:37
I've had problems in getting a reply by e-mail too. I'll have to phone them !!.
Paul
a week and a half without reply to an email I sent. I'm thinking of waiting til after Christmas to send the IIIc for RF beautifying.
Film dino
11-08-2006, 06:05
a week and a half without reply to an email I sent. I'm thinking of waiting til after Christmas to send the IIIc for RF beautifying.
I think Peter's got a backlog of emails to clear.. you need to ring him.
I sent (from Glasgow) a Leicameter MC on 25th October for evaluation & it was returned, to Glasgow, the selenium cel having been replaced & the meter re-calibrated, on 2nd November. I think thats PDQ. [Edit- of course, the Royal Mail played its part]
David
Guys
A black M2 while you wait for Kims M3 pics.
Alas it has seen some service - dinks and gouges and needed new innards and a wind lever in '77 or so, and they had trouble with parts at leitz luton even back then... the lever is from an M3 and different in finish...
Not a shelf queen
Noel
I love cameras with character.. that M2 sure has character!!
markinlondon
11-08-2006, 06:40
Nice black M2, Noel, but what's that thing on the front of it ;) ;) ?
Mark
Normally I (only) use a 35mm lux or J12. The J12s only problem is its aperature is not as easy to use - no click stops, needs acuity, shifts F number by 'itself'.
Smaller then f8 or 5.6 it is real difficult to tell the difference without heavy tripod, slow slow film, and witches brew, normally use FP4 or Delta 100. More difficult to use filters with the lux, the only real problem I notice is distorsion - the J12 worse. My enlarger is FSU suitcase so what do (can) you expect leica glow? My technique (is so poor it) frequently means I have to pull a 10x8" from centre of neg.
The lux is in nice (like new) condition and I can only afford to replace the J12, if the front element needs a clean, trash it.
Sorry j12 did not not mean to say that Kaybbbbbeerd fault.
Noel
Kim Coxon
11-08-2006, 07:05
It is a very nice black M2. I was casting envious glances a couple of weekends ago!
KimNice black M2, Noel, ?
markinlondon
11-08-2006, 07:10
Only kidding again, Noel. I'm amazed you can get 10x8 from the centre with a Soviet briefcase enlarger. I'd offer you an Axomat head, but you'd have to get a column for it as I bought it for spares. I'm sure the J12 is fine, it is after all a prewar Biogon at heart, isn't it?
Mark
I was not offended, I'm not a good photog, and use a very austere technique.
The Biogon clone uses low refractive index glass but is a late 'multi coated' style. It was factory blackened rather well so holds up contra jour as well as the lux which has 2 more stops of glass, handicap. My other j12 (contax) are more subject to flare.
The lux is characteristic in extreme lighting but not as bad as results Ive seen posted here, I think mine is post the worst but not necessarily as good as the very late ones it is about '71.
I think the enlarger has a Cooke triplet (rather then a Tessar) and if you centre the area you need with the lens axis then the off axis abberations are less apparent - there are on axis things that dont go away and the Tessar is only a little better. I'm not saying that the 10x8" are like contacts either, just most of my shots are too far away and I need to pull. I should use 5cm perhaps.
Kim
If you had have asked you could have tried a film in the Zorki, IIIC or M2, Although the gadget bag was small I had five lenses, e.g. the above J12 and a 35mm lux (they were all compact symmetrical types,) sorry I thought you were jaded by kit.
The early M2 finders are different from M3 or later Ms no clutter/distraction and easy to use for 28mm if you dont mind the frame lines not being there... they are like late M3 finders.
Noel
jesse1dog
11-08-2006, 09:19
I'm feeling a bit out of sorts.
The Ic went off to CRR this morning and I miss it already!!
Will report back when it is returned.
If you want your Leica brought to perfect working condition (and what's the point otherwise?), this is their webite: http://www.angelfire.com/biz/Leica/
Hmm, the prices in their price guide are extremely attractive. One of the things that's so far stopped me thinking of going for a Leica is the thought of having to pay huge amounts of money for a service. But at those prices, I might have to think again. Thanks for passing on the info.
markinlondon
11-09-2006, 03:25
Hmm, the prices in their price guide are extremely attractive. One of the things that's so far stopped me thinking of going for a Leica is the thought of having to pay huge amounts of money for a service. But at those prices, I might have to think again. Thanks for passing on the info.
I had a slightly strange conversation with someone at th local camera club's exhibition a couple of weeks back. He asked why I used an "expensive" camera like the M2 I was carrying. My reply was that it cost no more than an entry-level DSLR with the advantages that: 1. I wouldn't want to "upgrade" in a year or two; and 2. It could be fixed if it went wrong. £175 every 10 years or so sounds like a very good deal.
Mark
If you use a M or LTM it should last 25 years or so, the lube is ok, it is the ribbon that snaps...
Noel
jesse1dog
11-16-2006, 09:07
I sent my Ic to CRR in Luton on Wednesday 8th November and this morning Thursday 16th its back. Now that is a fast turnaround.
The camera needed 2 new curtains which Peter fitted without any fuss - his brief had been to do what was needed. The front curtain had two tiny holes, and in his opinion the back curtain had 6 months life in it. So he got on and replaced them both.
The camera is now very sweet - the winder is so much easier, and the shutter sounds very different. Is this how it sounded 'out of the box' 55 years ago? I'm pleased. Peter also replaced a spring that had the wrong contour - to him an obvious 'repair' some time back. However he didn't think the camera had really been touched in all its life until now.
Cost? £85 for the CLA and £40 for the curtains. Of course if he had been dealing with a IIIc the basic CLA would have been £135. I accept the costs. I couldn't do the CLA myself and Peter has been doing them for over 30 years so he has 'some experience'. I don't expect to have to have the camera seen to again in my lifetime so this is really an investment.
So praise for CRR. And the bill came with the return of the camera - no payment up front first. I will deal with Peter again.
I received an email from him last night or the night before, after waiting a few weeks. Of course, for CLA and new rangefinder pieces comes to £157 for the IIIc, so I'm not sure I'll afford it in the near future!!
Jesse1dog, you'll have to get some photo's taken and post them in your gallery now! :D
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