Film-Mechanik Simon Wyss
Hofgasse 8
4147 Äsch
Switzerland
phone and short message: +41 (0)77 406 65 65
Business and correspondence hours Monday to Friday 8 ‒ 12 and 13 ‒ 17
So many things that other people don’t want anymore are cheaply available. With pleasure I’ll help you to choose so that for long time good things can be made with simple means, also under adverse circumstances.
I treat film cinematographic equipment, namely cameras, printers, projectors, viewers, joiners, trick and title apparatus, accessories, and optics: examination, repair, overhaul, maintenance. Conservative action, no modifications. All brands. No Super-8, no Single-8, no electronics.
Resharpening of perforator tools is also one of my activities.
Terms of business
Please, I beg everybody, do not send me anything leather. Do keep all leather things with you! Leather straps on cameras you can leave on, I shall remove and reattach them expertly after a revision. Leather can be entirely mildewed. I don’t want to have the fug from everywhere in my home. Glued-on leather and leatherette I can clean after dismantling.
I accept objects only in well protecting containers: camera case, lens box, etc. Material in carton alone will be returned immediately.
You let me know in advance your complete name, address, and phone number or E-Mail address.
You pay down 100 Swiss Francs in any case. The money will be taken into account, if an order is executed. Without work I pay back the rest after deduction of return postage. You pay the return shipping except in case of guarantee work.
For the CHF 100 I examine the object in order to report. Since I don’t know the history of the object I have to presume accidents, chutes, water damage, trapped sand grains, corrosion, and more.
When a drive spring breaks or gets unhooked the gear train suffers damage in 99 percent of all cases. The unleashed energy can bend or break off teeth of cog wheels, there is detriment to bearings and or the spring barrel.
I refuse all liability for damages or losses following the non-functioning of material I have done work to.
I need an explicit order without which I don’t get active. My first step is always a scrutiny of all functions without alteration of the object.
All spring-drive film cameras are at least 50 years old, because none have been made after 1974. The mainsprings of the latest Bolex H were fabricated in the second half of the 1960s. The spring of an early model from 1935 can be four years older still, from 1931. Please be conscious of that you act with ageing products, oftentimes very old ones, that less and less spare parts can be found for.
Lacking or bad care causes damage as well, be it heavy wear in the mechanism, be it scratched lens elements. I am not able to perform magic, therefore my best efforts must remain behind new condition. Ask yourself how much an object is worth to you. While up to 5000 Francs are being asked today for a Paillard-Bolex H-16 Reflex without any warranty I tell you that an overhaul or restoration by me will cost between CHF 650 and 2000. At the time the price was around CHF 5000 together with a normal focal length lens. A Standard-H body without lenses and without accessories has a value of about CHF 350 today. A used Mitchell 16 Professional can be had for two to three thousand.
Paillard-Bolex are products for the amateur. Professional demands must not be made on them, particularly what regards geometry, ruggedness, and maintenance. I give a three years warranty for my work but geometric things are exempt meaning that the exposed image isn’t necessarily centered to a lens. Also there is no guarantee that the film travels exactly vertically through the camera. If you demand that, it is feasible, costs go up considerably depending on the model. Adjustments can go lost upon disassembly. The makers had specially prepared jigs and fixtures for assembly. I also deny liability with material fatigue.
A C- or D-mount lens is NOT centered in the camera thread. B- and A-mount lenses are, on respective cameras.
I do no longer discern between professional and amateur equipment because so-called pro material is also made in series, sometimes of unfortunate construction. The basic technical-cinematographic tasks are always the same, we deal with various solutions. The ARRI PL mount isn’t centering very accurately. The lens mounts of Bell & Howell Eyemo 71, Filmo 127, Filmo 134 with spigot receptacle, the ARRIFLEX bayonet or the lens mount of the Pathé WEBO-A afford very good repeat accuracy.
As a mechanic and film technician I’m committed to that cinematographic strips will be projected. You can put a projector on my bench, I’ll take care of it. Nothing replaces projection of photochemical film. For that group of products spare parts have become scarce, too. Of course can something be copied, if you spare no effort.
Products
Half price, if installed by me
- serrating spring for Bell & Howell Eyemo 71
- metal ocular adjustment ring for Paillard-Bolex H Reflex with 10 times enlarging viewfinder
- new mainspring für Paillard-Bolex H 16 from 1962 on
In preparation: various daylight loading camera spools, D-mount extension tubes, stabilising base for Filmo 70, Eyemo 71, EMEL-C, and more