New: "Camera Rescue School" - Repair Technician Training

Henning Serger · Mar 11, 2021

Hello,

the team of "Camera Rescue" in Finland is making further progress:
1.They have moved into a much bigger location which allows the planned significant increase in business.
2. They start soon a "Camera Rescue School" to educate new, young camera repair technicians. People who are interested to join this education programme can apply.
For more information and all the details please see here:
https://camerarescue.org/school2021/

Best regards,
Henning

BrianShaw · Mar 11, 2021

Great news!

foc · Mar 11, 2021

Thanks for sharing, Henning.
Good news is always welcome.

radiant · Mar 11, 2021

Currently it is possible for people with Finnish residency and are unemloyed or in big risk to get unemployed. And currently there are few, for some reasons..

Ernst-Jan · Mar 12, 2021

vedostuu said:
and are unemloyed or in big risk to get unemployed

Hmm I don't know if that is a good thing. I mean, a good technician isn't employed. At least here in western Europe, it is hard to find good technical people.
I think it is good to have some experience in other fine mechanics before joining such a programme.

But still, a great thing they are education new camera technicians. Hope that there is little drop out and the students like it!

radiant · Mar 12, 2021

Ernst-Jan said:
Hmm I don't know if that is a good thing. I mean, a good technician isn't employed. At least here in western Europe, it is hard to find good technical people.
I think it is good to have some experience in other fine mechanics before joining such a programme.

But still, a great thing they are education new camera technicians. Hope that there is little drop out and the students like it!

Or maybe it is a good time because there might be more unempolyed people who have enough interest and skills to do this.

I think they are not looking for good technician (because those have jobs) but people who could become good technician.

Ernst-Jan · Mar 12, 2021

vedostuu said:
Or maybe it is a good time because there might be more unempolyed people who have enough interest and skills to do this.

I think they are not looking for good technician (because those have jobs) but people who could become good technician.

You maybe also. But I think it's also good to have some more background from the technical background. Now how to grind/turn parts, different materials etc. It think more and more often this people need to make own spare parts. I read about 3D printen, but you can't 3D print everything and also it's not as precise as somthing machined.

But 'unenmployed people' is something that triggers governments when you ask them for money or other ways of support And this is hopefully just the beginning, they might try to get someone that's into fine mechanics in a later stage.

Henning Serger · Mar 13, 2021

vedostuu said:
I think they are not looking for good technician (because those have jobs) but people who could become good technician.

Exactly that. It is an education programme.
And please let's don't forget: All experts have at some time started at "point zero", without any knowledge at all.

And that are Camera Rescue's first steps in that direction. It is very likely that more efforts in that direction will be made in the coming years by them.
I also know of other repair companies who have become active in this regard.
The film camera repair business is strongly increasing for years, the repair guys are "filled up" with orders. Some have so much to do that you have to wait months until you get your repaired camera back.
And because of that, they started education of new staff.

Best regards,
Henning

radiant · Mar 13, 2021

Henning Serger said:
The film camera repair business is strongly increasing for years, the repair guys are "filled up" with orders. Some have so much to do that you have to wait months until you get your repaired camera back.
And because of that, they started education of new staff.

Of course they are trying to grow their business. And currently they could grow it if they could get camera serviced faster, especially more expensive cameras.

Luckily there are still other camera service companies available, kamerastore doesn't make service to outside customer. They are only repairing the cameras that kamerastore is selling.

The method they are using is no other than normal apprentice style - learning/hiring. With interviews and finally recruiting stages they can really pick the cherries - if those even appear..

Helge · Mar 13, 2021

Henning Serger · Mar 13, 2021

vedostuu said:
The method they are using is no other than normal apprentice style - learning/hiring. With interviews and finally recruiting stages they can really pick the cherries - if those even appear..

What differentiate them positively from other companies in the business is mainly
- the scale of this activity: I don't know any other repair company which is currently looking for so many trainees
- their effort to expand their activity into the production of spare parts (they have already started production of certain parts)
- their efforts to promote film photography in general (e.g. they have recently published their new film photography survey)
- their efforts to reach a broader community, as they are active not only in their home country Finland, but Europe wide and even (a bit) globally.

Best regards,
Henning

radiant · Mar 13, 2021

Henning Serger said:
What differentiate them positively from other companies in the business is mainly

You are absolutely correct on all. This is continuum of (back then year 2010) crazy idea to start selling used film cameras. That was probably that time the most worst business ideas if you would have asked anyone else than who knew the scene. Jussi and Juho had an insight back then. And they continue with this insight and aren't probably wrong..

Helge · Mar 13, 2021

The worry is of course that it will be sub-par repairs or “CLAs” made assembly line style by bums from the street who mainly want the money.

And with the throughput they have, they could in time flood the market with turkeys.
And the buyers of those cameras, have high hopes in that they “have made an investment” and that they will easily be able to make that money back when they sell it on. Creating a bubble economy with decrepit, unstable cameras.

They will have to think real hard about the economy of the whole operation long term, hold and maintain a high standard, and be very, very careful with whom they hire.

Sirius Glass · Mar 13, 2021

Helge said:

Sirius Glass · Mar 13, 2021

Helge said:
The worry is of course that it will be sub-par repairs or “CLAs” made assembly line style by bums from the street who mainly want the money.

And with the throughput they have, they could in time flood the market with turkeys.
And the buyers of those cameras, have high hopes in that they “have made an investment” and that they will easily be able to make that money back when they sell it on. Creating a bubble economy with decrepit, unstable cameras.

They will have to think real hard about the economy of the whole operation long term, hold and maintain a high standard, and be very, very careful with whom they hire.

I get pars repairs myself.

Wayne · Mar 13, 2021

We need more competent repair persons, that's for sure. Many of the old ones have died or can't keep up, and those who remain are often backed up for unacceptably long periods of time.

foc · Mar 13, 2021

I think this concept is a good one and I wish them the best of luck with it.
I also think they have done their research, they know their market and they have the skills, in what is a very niche market.
It is great to see young enthusiastic people in what sometimes can be an old guys game.

warden · Mar 13, 2021

This is an outstanding idea.

cmacd123 · Mar 13, 2021

presuably they are taking advantage of programs that help pay for training, in order to find more folks who they can competently employ to refurbish broken or just well worn Camaeras. fixing old cameras is the only source of higher grade film cameras, so lets give them a hand and encourage them.

the other opening for someone who does want to to learn how to fix cameras is the https://learncamerarepair.com/ site run by Eugene Pate in Florida. to follow the course, you will have to source a number of specific Cameras - starting with an instamatic 100. Eugene will also mark you work, for a fee to see how you are doing.

cmacd123 · Mar 13, 2021

OH and if you know qualified Camera technicians wanting work, their are several openings posted on the SPT mail list, for SPT members over the course of a year. https://www.spt.info/

Last one I saw was in Feb. from a company in GA who sells used cameras needing two technicians.

radiant · Mar 14, 2021

cmacd123 said:
OH and if you know qualified Camera technicians wanting work, their are several openings posted on the SPT mail list,

I'm pretty sure qualified camera technicians aren't that much unemployed. I guess they don't even have to raise their hand to be hired

perkeleellinen · Mar 14, 2021

If I was a younger man in my 20s with no commitments I'd be all over this! I'm a time-served tool maker by trade and I love Finland and old cameras.

radiant · Mar 14, 2021

perkeleellinen said:
If I was a younger man in my 20s with no commitments I'd be all over this! I'm a time-served tool maker by trade and I love Finland and old cameras.

Your nickname is quite Finnish at least

Henning Serger · Mar 15, 2021

Helge said:
They will have to think real hard about the economy of the whole operation long term, hold and maintain a high standard, and be very, very careful with whom they hire.

They are long enough in the business (some of the repair technicians even for decades) to know how to satisfy their customers and how to run such a business successfully.
As I have met some of them personally and had very detailed talks, I am confident that they know what is to do. This project and their start of spare parts production for example are clear indicators for that.

Best regards,
Henning

Henning Serger · Mar 15, 2021

vedostuu said:
You are absolutely correct on all. This is continuum of (back then year 2010) crazy idea to start selling used film cameras. That was probably that time the most worst business ideas if you would have asked anyone else than who knew the scene. Jussi and Juho had an insight back then. And they continue with this insight and aren't probably wrong..

As some of you may know, I am running one business (beside two other businesses) which is focused on economic and technological research, including the photo industry. And one research field is the analysis of paradicmatic technological changes, like the change from film as the dominant photographic medium to digital imaging as the dominant medium.
Around 2006/2007 I started developing research-tools to forecast the future development of both mediums. And soon after that my new models and calculation systems showed a clear result: Film will not only stay, it will make even a significant resurgence. I forecasted the 'levelling-out' (forming of a 'bottom' for demand) in the period of 2013 - 2017 (depending on the regional market, and on the product type: some regional markets stabilized earlier, and some product types, too (e.g. BW film in 120 was one of the first product categories which stabilized).
And then I contacted lots of different companies in the industry, and presented my results: Some listened, some thought I am totally crazy (they have changed their mind meanwhile , as history has proven me right).
But you can certainly imagine, that at that time,
- when film was still decreasing in demand with double-digit rates p.a.
- and digital was increasing with double-digit rates p.a.
- and all the "film is dead" marketing was at full swing
a research analyst who forcasted a film revival and recommended the film-related companies to stand the current trend and keep up in the mid- and long term, despite all the huge difficulties,
had one of the most challenging and difficult jobs at all. Were hard times, really. But it was definitely worth it!

Best regards,
Henning

New: "Camera Rescue School" - Repair Technician Training

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