+ History

A heritage of Quality, Speed & Service
When you entrust your camera for repair, what do you expect? Quality, Speed and Service.

While we have steadfastly embraced these ideals since we bought the business in 1969, our roots go deeper. In 1962 Mr Mario Van Woerden opened a camera repair business in Waterkant Street, trading under the name Photographic Repairs. Four years later, a workshop was opened in the Medipark building on the Foreshore, where they repaired Leica cameras for princely sum of R9.50.

In 1967 I joined the team, fresh from Switzerland. Two years later I bought the business in partnership with colleagues Horst Kromker and Dieter Munchow. Looking back, it is amazing for us to see the business we bought as three young entrepreneurs still flourishing after more than thirty years.

Our business grew steadily as we expanded our customer base and our dedication to our clients has been rewarded. In 1976 partner Horst Kromker left us to travel the world, and Richard Uzzell joined us to replace him, bringing his considerable skills as a Kodak- trained technician. The following year, my other founding partner, Dieter, left for Germany, only to re-join us six years later with new experience and insight. More than 30 years later Dieter is with us, now retired and working in a part-time capacity.

In 1990 Axel Vennemann joined the company, enabling us to expand our services by repairing video cameras. This has added an important facet to our business and allows us to offer you a comprehensive repair service. Axel is now working independently as “Audio Visual Repairs” but still has his workshop on our premises and his administrative and business needs are looked after by Photographic Repairs.

We have been privileged to serve some distinguished clients over the years, like Sir Ranulph Fiennes, the British adventurer. The late Bruno “Penguin” Zender en route to the Antartica, a world renowned photographer of penguins, first a valued customer and then a treasured friend.

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