Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 1996/04/07
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Leitz was almost forced into bankruptcy a quarter-century ago by several developments, one of these being the intensive development required for the Leicaflex and another being the marketplace failure of the M5. They were bailed out by the Swiss topographical and industrial photography firm, Wild, who gradually bought out the Leitz family holdings until, by the mid-1980's, the firm was entirely in Wild's hands. Wild was then taken over by Cambridge PLC, a British firm, who allowed the Leica management to purchase the Leica camera and binocular part of the business in the early 1990's. There are thus two Leica concerns today, one handling cameras, binoculars, slide projectors, and enlargers, and the other microscopes and industrial optics. Both firms, however, market under the same corporate umbrella and co-ordinate developments and research to reduce duplication and inefficiencies in production. Marc msmall@roanoke.infi.net FAX: +540/343-7315 Cha robh bas fir gun ghras fir!