That old repairman in Philadelphia who fixed my granddad's Leica

I was in Philly for a delivery run about 3 years back and stopped into this tiny shop off Market Street. Guy must have been in his 80s, and he pointed at my camera bag and said 'that thing's got a sticky aperture blade, I can tell from how you hold it.' He was right, it was hanging open just a hair. He showed me how to clean it with a single drop of lighter fluid and a toothpick, no special tools. Has anyone else had an old timer teach you a fix that totally bypassed modern methods?

2 comments

2 Comments

barnes.brian4d ago

Hell yeah. Lighter fluid trick is legit. Those old guys just know stuff.

jade_lane194d ago

You ever actually try that with a modern gas grill though, @barnes.brian? Seems like a good way to melt the plastic igniter or get a face full of flames if you miss.