Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2013/01/20

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Subject: [Leica] Some artifacts at the Computer History Museum #2
From: cedric.agie at gmail.com (Cedric Agie)
Date: Sun, 20 Jan 2013 19:07:45 +0100
References: <597B8605-60CA-4F0A-9A72-1326CD498F0C@acm.org> <C5E47100-31A5-4394-A557-ED958AC6B39C@frozenlight.eu> <86FC837F-42F9-432E-9482-CBE66E5636D7@acm.org> <0adb01cdf732$92cb39b0$b861ad10$@verizon.net>

One of the first civilian computers using semiconductors instead of
tubes and destined to calculate optical formulas was used by Leitz
Canada in Midland Ontario. It had the volume and aspect of 2 or 3
bench model freezers
In fact US Laws at that time prohibited to buy anything made in
Germany. This was the main reason for setting up this new Leitz
facility abroad. The US Governement badly needed their optics for
civilian and military use. Including NASA. You can easely recognize
those optics and systhems, Most of the time they bear the name ELCAN
i.e. Ernst Leitz Canada. M-4 military cameras often come with a double
serial number. One from the company and one from the US forces.  ELCAN
labelled items are much in demand by some collectors.

When Leitz Germany had just taken the decision to stop the production
of the M-4 in favor of the M-5 they received a huge order for M-4
cameras and lenses from the US Governement. Again for the military (US
Navy) and NASA.  The whole production facility under the supervision
of Docter Mandler was then moved to Canada where production continued.
Later it appeared that the M-5 would have a shorter history than
expected and that there was an additional demand for the M-4 from the
civilian market, not only in North America but also in the rest of the
world

Leitz Canada is totally separated from the German Leitz and Leica
facilities. In Germany the company suffered years of financial
troubles. Its management changed several times. Not so in Canada where
they kept making profits after a management buy-out. But they continue
to work with the German company.

Have a nice W-E.

Cedric Agie

cedric.agie at gmail.com


2013/1/20 Frank Filippone <red735i at verizon.net>:
> Herb... the Museum is certainly on my list, next time up north....
>
> In exchange for which I need to also go to the Lace Museum (San Jose, I
> think)...!
>
> Can you point us to the WEB Page?
>
> Frank Filippone
> Red735i at verizon.net
>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> Leica Users Group.
> See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information


Replies: Reply from kanner at acm.org (Herbert Kanner) ([Leica] Some artifacts at the Computer History Museum #2)
In reply to: Message from kanner at acm.org (Herbert Kanner) ([Leica] Some artifacts at the Computer History Museum #2)
Message from photo at frozenlight.eu (Nathan Wajsman) ([Leica] Some artifacts at the Computer History Museum #2)
Message from kanner at acm.org (Herbert Kanner) ([Leica] Some artifacts at the Computer History Museum #2)
Message from red735i at verizon.net (Frank Filippone) ([Leica] Some artifacts at the Computer History Museum #2)