Film Won't advance

When cameras are unused for a while the lubricants dry out and cause things to stick. In regular use the lubricants keep getting redistributed internally so thin films of lube do not get a chance to gum up. Another problem is that almost all cameras over around ten years old will have decaying foam light seals and mirror bumpers which not only gum the works up but the sticky goo is corrosive if left in place.

Ideally your camera needs a CLA service (clean, lubricate, adjust) and providing you haven't broken or bent anything by brute force the camera should be fine afterwards. All cameras (and lenses) need a CLA every so often to maintain peak performance and reliability, regardless. For a one off additional fee a CLA will also include a foam removal and replacement service in which the old foam is carefully removed and where necessary replaced with inert modern materials which last far longer.

If you don't want to invest in a service then you can sometimes get things ungummed by leaving the camera somewhere warm overnight (around 40 degrees C, 104F). If the lube hasn't dried out too much and if the foam hasn't thoroughly gummed things up then this can just soften any seized up parts enough to allow them to free off under gentle pressure and repeated operation. Note that if this works then it's not a replacement for a CLA but will at least confirm that there's nothing seriously wrong. You'll still need to invest in a CLA and foam replacement if you intend to continue using the camera.

In the UK you can typically expect to pay anywhere from £60 - £100 for a CLA and foam replacement and as demand far exceeds supply you can expect a six week turnaround time. In North America I find that repairs are typically a bit cheaper but the turnaround times are similar and in the Far East I can get these repairs done both cheaper and far quicker (especially in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia).

Once the CLA is done you can expect many years of flawless operation if you're an amateur photographer and if you're a pro you'll get a CLA done annually as it's essential maintenance and in most countries it's offset against business tax.