Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2004/10/27
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]What you want is a clock with a known error. One that gains 12 hours a day is more desirable then one that wanders a minute a month in a random manner. Those radio controlled clocks are very nice but don,t work in remote areas. Obviously today there is hardly a need for chronometers with all the aids available . Still it remains one of the desired properties of a super watch. > The basic point is correct, Simon - The Swiss pissed on the quartz > watches, gave them away to the Japanese, and the Swiss watch industry > headed for extinction. > > Yes, many of the old brands are still around - mostly as play toys for > the idle rich. As for the accuracy of chronometers... > ...This is something you would know far more about than I, but aren't > the most accurate watches and clocks available those that are directly > linked to the "atomic clock" in Boulder, CO, watches and clocks that can > be had for under $150. Granted, they sure don't look as cool as some > Rolexes etc. But as we've discussed here before, many of us have had > trouble with getting those beauties to keep time. > > -----Original Message----- > From: lug-bounces+bdcolen=earthlink.net@leica-users.org > [mailto:lug-bounces+bdcolen=earthlink.net@leica-users.org] On Behalf Of > animal > Sent: Wednesday, October 27, 2004 11:18 AM > To: Leica Users Group > Subject: Re: [Leica] Re: Interview on Zeiss Ikon > > > That,s not how it went. > They were not happy merely to produce an accurate quartz watch. They > wanted to make one that would qualify as a chronometre. For a watch to > be certified like that means among other things that the > drift is known. > So one can use it for navigation by noting the time and applying the > drift > times the interval after the last setting. > That was very hard and indeed the japanese conquered the market witch > watches that with their random nature of drift were amazingly accurate > over > time but no chronometers. > They eventually succeeded with watches like the first dual time chrono > quartz and the constellation series. > One could argue that their aim for excellence was their downfall > somewhat. Still many of the old brands are still around and they make > the most > desirable watches.Don,t they? > best > simon jessurun > > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "B. D. Colen" <bdcolen@earthlink.net> > To: "'Leica Users Group'" <lug@leica-users.org> > Sent: Wednesday, October 27, 2004 4:30 PM > Subject: RE: [Leica] Re: Interview on Zeiss Ikon > > >> Oh, one last thing - The Swiss watch story is one of the greatest >> examples of all times of an unbelievably stupid marketing decision: >> for those who may be unaware of it - a Swiss company invented the >> quartz watch - and the Swiss, distaining the idea of non-traditional >> watches, sold/gave/licensed? it to the Japanese, resulting in the >> precipitous decline and near extinction of the Swiss watch industry. >> >> And in the story of that disaster are far better parallels to Leica's >> marketing practices and views of itself and the rest of the photo >> world, than are in the Lego story. ;-) >> >> -----Original Message----- >> From: lug-bounces+bdcolen=earthlink.net@leica-users.org >> [mailto:lug-bounces+bdcolen=earthlink.net@leica-users.org] On Behalf >> Of Emanuel Lowi >> Sent: Wednesday, October 27, 2004 10:12 AM >> To: lug@leica-users.org >> Subject: [Leica] Re: Interview on Zeiss Ikon >> >> >> Didier Ludwig wrote: >> >>> >>> Comparing Leica vs. digital (today) to swiss watch manufacturers vs. >>> quartz >>> (70ies) makes quite sense. Only the top swiss brands >>> with the upperclass >>> mechanical watches have survived this battle. >>> >>> Meanwhile, many things have changed. Most of these >>> brands (not IWC) and >>> especially the heart of this industry, the clockwork manufactury ETA, > >>> are today owned by the Swatch group - a swiss company, >>> too, but making it's >>> money with - quartz watches! >>> >>> So the analogy could be Swatch = Cosina?... >>> >> >> Here's another analogy from the local paper's business section the >> other day. >> >> "Danish toymaker Lego Co. said yesterday it has yet to recover from a >> financial crisis and expects to record a loss this year despite an >> elaborate recovery plan that included increased focus on its classic >> products. The company, whose coloured plastic building blocks >> have been a favourite children's toy for decades, >> also said that 18-year chief executive Kjeld Kirk >> Kristiansen resigned and was replaced by Joergen Vig >> Kundstorp, a former senior vice-president for >> corporate affairs. >> CUT >> Lego said it had laid off 1000 workers worldwide this >> year, leaving it with 7400 employees. >> The company said early this year it hoped to break >> even in 2004, and said two months ago it was on track >> to do so. However, sales in North America and Japan >> were poor, and increased competition from companies >> like Montreal-based Mega Bloks and price pressure in >> the toy business has taken its toll, Lego said. >> Overall, sales in Europe have also been disappointing, >> although sales grew in southern and eastern Europe as >> markets opened up. >> As part of its cost-cutting moves, Lego said it would >> spin off its four amusement parks into a separate >> company with an eye towards selling the division >> completely. >> CUT >> The company isn't publicly traded, but has published >> earning reports since 1997. >> Founded in 1932, Lego's name was invented by combining >> the first two letters of the Danish word Leg godt >> (play well) without knowing that the word in latin >> means "I assemble." >> >> Lego = Leica >> Mega Bloks = Cosina >> >> Emanuel Lowi >> Montreal >> >> >> >> ______________________________________________________________________ >> Post your free ad now! http://personals.yahoo.ca >> _______________________________________________ >> Leica Users Group. >> See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information >> >> _______________________________________________ >> Leica Users Group. >> See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information >> > > _______________________________________________ > Leica Users Group. > See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information > > _______________________________________________ > Leica Users Group. > See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information