henry_ting2 Posted April 8, 2003 Share Posted April 8, 2003 A couple of months ago, while I was in Hong Kong, I needed a tuneup on my M6. I found a Portuguese gentleman in Macao and I thought I share his Leica experience here. I complained to him that my M6's shutter button was sticky and since it had a CLA 2 years ago, I wonder if he can do a quick job in fixing this annoying problem. He took me back to his tiny room (workshop) and the speed in which he totally disassembled my Leica was amazing. Within ahout 30 seconds, he stripped down my M6 completely, with only the shutter housing intact. He removed the top plate, viewfinder, all the little springs and parts. I was not amused at the time because I only wanted a simple fix to the shutter button. He must have sensed my concern and told me not to worry and told me he can perform a complete CLA and tuned the camera back to like-new condition within 30 minutes, if I would care to wait. I told him to go ahead while I waited in his office. By the time he re-appeared (not more than 10 minutes), he handed the camera back to me. I cocked the shutter and fired a few blanks, it was superb. I tested all the intermediate speeds and it was as smooth as new. In fact, it was better than new. He told me, he performed a complete CLA and adjusted the shutter brakes which was bouncing. I asked him how the hell he ended up in Macao (a former Portugese colony) and found out that he worked for Leica in Portugal and later on moved to Macao and established his own business. In fact, his interest now deviated from his former profession. He now is more interested in another form of craft. Namely building model ships. He then showed me some of his hobbyist work and I was an eye-opener. His proud display was a famous Portugese merchant ship replica dating back to the 1600. It was big, but totally enclosed in a glass bottle. I latter found out that particular model ship is still in progress and he has been working on it for 3 years now. The price, a cool 1/2 million Euro, ordered by an industrialist in Germany that he wouldn't disclose the name. There you have it....aother interesting person in the world of Leica. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thomas_t Posted April 8, 2003 Share Posted April 8, 2003 In an age of pervasive rat-race mentality and professional musical chairs, it is refreshing to hear stories of master craftsmen/women who perform an art or craft singularly well. Too bad he lives in Macao or I'd send him my leicas for CLAs :) cheers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
john_r._fulton_jr. Posted April 8, 2003 Share Posted April 8, 2003 Having been to Macao I wouldn't have guessed that such a great Leica craftsperson existed there. In the casinos there they have these great little plastic signs that have an SLR camera with the red circle and slash thru it for "No cameras". I have one of the signs on my office bulletinboard. Seems appropriate for the M user. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joe_liu1 Posted April 8, 2003 Share Posted April 8, 2003 Hi Henry, Could I have the contact/address of the gentleman ? I live in HongKong but I could use a CLA later for my 35mm lens. Thanks in advance, Joe , liujoe8@hotmail.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
henry_ting2 Posted April 8, 2003 Author Share Posted April 8, 2003 I'll try to find his phone number (in a briefcase which I left behind in a Hong Kong hotel). His name is Paola Domenique. Address : 14 Saint Marie Cologne, Suite 81, Tampa, Macao. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sprouty Posted April 8, 2003 Share Posted April 8, 2003 Great story, I only wish you'd taken a picture of the ship! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jay_. Posted April 8, 2003 Share Posted April 8, 2003 <<told me he can perform a complete CLA and tuned the camera back to like-new condition within 30 minutes, if I would care to wait. I told him to go ahead while I waited in his office. By the time he re-appeared (not more than 10 minutes), he handed the camera back to me. >> So then DAG and Leica NJ et all let our Leica's sit on a shelf for 2 months 29 days 23.5 hrs so we'll think $300 is a fair price for a CLA ;>) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
h._p. Posted April 8, 2003 Share Posted April 8, 2003 >>So then DAG and Leica NJ et all let our Leica's sit on a shelf for 2 months << You know the old story about the man who hits a piece of machinery with a hammer and it works... To hitting machine with hammer:- £0.01 To knowing where to hit machine:- £999.99 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
henry_ting2 Posted April 8, 2003 Author Share Posted April 8, 2003 3 months and $300 is not as bad, compared with $6 months and over $1k, CLAing a high-end "Grand complication" Geneva mechnical watch. Just to put things into perspective. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
michael_darnton1 Posted April 8, 2003 Share Posted April 8, 2003 Great story! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bob soltis Posted April 8, 2003 Share Posted April 8, 2003 Great story, Henry, thanks for sharing it. Would be great to see some pix of the gentleman. regards, Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wong_paul Posted April 9, 2003 Share Posted April 9, 2003 Great story! Thanks for sharing! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tony_yeung Posted April 9, 2003 Share Posted April 9, 2003 Henry, I must first apologize for possibly wasting your time as well as those of other readers, but I have been holding back asking this question, and I know of no other way to contact you directly. I used to live in Hongkong up until 35 years ago, and as a kid I knew a Henry Ting living on the same street in Diamond Hill. I am also a Leica fan. Sorry if I have mistaken you for someone else. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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