Rectaflex repair

Misha14 · Joined: 14 Sep 2022 Posts: 2 Location: UK

Back in 2012 E.L. posted a message about the anniversary of the beautiful Rectaflex camera. He mentioned Mr. Giaripaolo Ferro of Buttrio as an excellent repair specialist, which serviced his Rectaflex.
Does anyone know if Mr. Ferro is still working and how to contact him?
Or does anyone know a specialist who knows Rectaflexes?
I have bought a Rectaflex 1300, which was listed as "shutter works" "everything appears to move and not be stuck". When I received it the camera had torn shutter curtains and the film advance mechanism was completely jammed. (The seller refused to acknowledge the misleading description and agree to a return and refund!)

Elmar Lang · Joined: 11 Apr 2012 Posts: 103

Hi Misha,

I apologize for having seen your message this late.

I confirm that Mr. Giampaolo Ferro of Buttrio (near Udine), although not young anymore, is still working, with the help of his son.

My Rectaflex cameras, a "normal" 1300 and an "experimental" one, after his overhaul are perfectly usable and reliable.

The curtains of the Rectaflex, if still original, very rarely are in good condition: they were supplied by Pirelli Rubber Co. and they proved to be of non-uniform quality; the cloth, extremely thin, is prone to tear itself and only in the last production batches, a real improvement was noticeable.

My. "Experimental Laboratory" 1300 body (of the so-called "30.000" series), incorporates some upgrades to the shutter efficiency, an advance lever (of a type similar -not identical- to that later introduced in the "Liechtenstein" Rectaflex) and -yes- a different curtain of a better quality. Mr. Ferro limited its intervention to an accurate overhaul, preserving all parts, beacause the body was still in untouched condition, since when the former Rectaflex technician took it home with him at the shutdown of the roman firm.

Here: https://www.gffotocineottica.it/ the webpage of the laboratory, where you could find all the data to contact them.

Another excellent repairman is Mr. Castelli of Verona, but with today, he will close his activity, after decades of success in his workshop.

With the best wishes for the New Year,

Enzo (E.L.)

Misha14 · Joined: 14 Sep 2022 Posts: 2 Location: UK

The curtains of the Rectaflex, if still original, very rarely are in good condition: they were supplied by Pirelli Rubber Co. and they proved to be of non-uniform quality; the cloth, extremely thin, is prone to tear itself and only in the last production batches, a real improvement was noticeable.

Enzo (E.L.)[/quote]

Good Morning!
On my Rectaflex 1300 No. 26132 the shutter curtains are actually in thin rubber rather than rubberised cloth. Has anyone seen or read about rubber curtains being used on Rectaflexes? The camera has obviously not been disassembled in the past (all the screws are prestine).

Misha