Randy,
I know this may be outdated but......
You are giving him much more consideration than he is giving you. He should be all over you for them or at least explaining himself.
I have a freind who repaired old cameras and the same thing happened to him. After exhausting all options, he took the camera to a pawn shop and pawned it for only what he was owed which was a fraction of the value. He then sent the pawn ticket by registered letter to the owner and left it up to him to retrieve it.
You can't be a bank or a finance company if you are not getting paid for it.
Steve
PS. I will help out almost anyone, but I won't be made a fool of.