Well, the Copal shutter that I "just couldn't leave alone" is back! You remember, the one I took apart with wild abandon, screws and springs flying!!

I e-mailed SK Grimes about my little do-it-yourself excursion into the bowels of the shutter, and he replied: "no big deal, send it on"..

Just 10 days or so later, I get package from them. The invoice says: "recieved, one Copal #1 shutter, taken apart, tape holding together. 1 small box of various parts, blades, screws, retainer, etc"

Then, work done: "Re-assembled and repaired shutter received in parts, cleaned, lubed and adjusted all to good working order"

I won't quote the charge, only say that it was SOOO reasonable!! Certainly less than I would have paid for a good working used one.

Here is the best part: they never even called to ask for payment, just sent the whole thing back (with the lens installed on the shutter, elements now spotlessly clean) with an invoice. Completely trusting that I would pay!!!

Oh, and get this....the little box I sent the various parts in came back to me as well, empty of course. (for those fans of "gotta have a part left over"...I did find one tiny screw on the dinner table 2 days after sending the thing to Grimes, so the universal balance of left over parts is preserved!)

Mr. Grimes, you are a gem. May only good customers come your way!

-- Douglas Gould (assistdelrey@earthlink.net), February 26, 2002

Answers

Grimes is GOD!

-- (davedb@hotmail.com), February 26, 2002.

Which reminds me...I need to send Mr. Grimes my Commercial Ektar to be checked and mounted.....

-- Alan Cecil (puck_ac@yahoo.com), February 26, 2002.

I have used the services of Steve on several occasions, (last year a rush) and have referred colleagues to him. I anticipate the use of his services again soon and believe that your experience of satisfaction is not unique. Thank you Steve. Merg Ross

-- (mergross@aol.com), February 26, 2002.

Tells you the simplest most cost effective way to solve a problem. Honest and assumes that you are honest too and won't bill until the works done. All you need to do is tap his experience, the best.

-- Jonathan Brewer (lifestories@earthlink.net), February 26, 2002.

He mounted a lens into shutter for me a little over a year ago and the guy simply cannot be beat. Nice guy, great service, reasonable prices. I have nothing but good things to say about Mr Grimes.

-- David Munson (apollo@luxfragilis.com), February 27, 2002.

In addition to being widely - and justifiably - regarded as the world's preeminent large format repair and cumstomization specialist, Steve is also a decent human being. Everything about Steve and his work is reiminesent of a refined and old world master craftsman whose unsurpassed work products are the ultimate testimonials.

With Steve, the large format community has the mechanical counterpart of Richard Knoppow; the two ultimate authorities on most large format photographic matters.

-- Robert J. Triffin (RJTRIFFIN@RCN.COM), February 27, 2002.

Ditto on all accounts.

-- Chad Jarvis (cjarvis@nas.edu), February 27, 2002.

He has been a guru around these parts for years! To be honest with you, the job he did for you doesn't come close to what he really can do with lens and shutters!!!

-- Scott Walton (walton@ll.mit.edu), February 27, 2002.

Steve recemented an Ektar for me on a Super D Graflex. It's as good as new and the price was fair and reasonable! S.K. Grimes' service is commendable, along with Focal Point Lens Inc.

-- J. P. Mose (j.p.mose@lmco.com), February 27, 2002.

This cat Grimes is a bad motherSHUT YOUR MOUTH But I'm talkin bout Grimes!

-- David O'Connor (daveoconnor@aol.com), February 28, 2002.

...He's a shutter-fixin' guy, and no one is his equal in large format -- Steve Grimes!

With apologies to Isaac Hayes and this wonderful forum. =)

-- John Elstad (john@720.com), March 03, 2002.