Re: [Leica] Re: Walt, you are dead wrong

[Walter S Delesandri <walt@jove.acs.unt.edu>]

Well, Dan, I'll say what I've said before:

I have worked on probably a coupla hundred M cameras...
most of them between 1978 and 81 (I worked in a shop in 
Houston, Tx.)...since then, my own, wife's, and a few "friends 
in need"....I've done as invasive repairs as they get (shutter 
curtains, sync, etc).....

I've said before, camera repair is something that one needs 
to do EVERY DAY.....as I haven't done so in 20 years, I 
even get nervous as hell working on my own...it's a skill, 
not that much "knowledge"....this is NOT due to a lack of 
familiarity (contrary to some beliefs, I'm pretty goddamn 
confident I still understand how an M works)---it's a matter 
of steadiness of hand, eyesight (I need new glasses, they're 
fine at normal distances, but since passing 40 my arms are 
a little short), and >CONFIDENCE<.....

I would encourage anyone with a "sense of rightness" (Norman 
Goldberg's term) and a delicate touch to LEARN camera repair...
we need them....but I don't reccomend that ANY non-repair 
LUGGERS work on their own Leicas....I spent years working 
on electronic gear and several years working on "lesser" 
cameras (it was a hobby until I went to work) before working 
on Nikon, Leica, Hassy, etc....and I wouldn't take on a 
500C shutter job today, even thought I used to think nothing 
of two or three a day....used to slip diaphragm blades in 
a summarit (a real bitch) and think nothing of it....today, 
it makes my head hurt to consider it....

I don't know what kind of burr got under Jim's saddle, but 
I have NEVER encouraged shooters to work on their Leicas...
However, I will comment on their operation and what I consider 
to be their cost cutting measures...I feel damn qualified to 
do so....and I won't get pissed and sign off if folks disagree
with me...I may be an ass, but I can take at least as well 
as I can dish out...

I don't know how else to say it....don't work on your Leica 
without lots of experience and apprenticeship....either read 
my posts or filter the damn things, I don't give a shit...but 
don't let it bother all of you, I sure don't...I have friends 
on here and I believe they want to read my posts....It's a
free list and my damn homebuilt computer...and my Leicas work 
just fine, and always will...RF alignment and all...so it clearly 
ain't my problem.

Thanks for the post, DAn, and sorry for the minor outburst... :) :)
Walt

On Sat,
4
Nov 2000, Dan Cardish
wrote:

> Walt, now that we have definitively and forever determined that it is not
> necessary to remove the top plate ever, ever, ever, is removing the top
> plate and adjusting the vertical alignment a job that can be done by the
> non-technically minded among us, as an alternative to getting this special
> tool that Jim has?   
> 
> Dan C.
> 
> 
> 
>   At 08:04 AM 04-11-00 -0600, Walter S Delesandri wrote:
> >Mark, Jim, etc....
> >I'll concede on this one....I don't see that removing the top 
> >of an M6 is a big deal, and I will never understand why they 
> >would change the design after 25 years, but hey, I don't have 
> >any info to refute it....
> >
> >[snip]
> 
>