Re: Visiting Leica at Solms

["Gary Todoroff" <datamaster@humboldt1.com>]

I arranged ahead of time for a Solms tour three summers ago and really
enjoyed it. Tours were available then in German or English on different
days of the week (mine was in German). Arrive at least an hour early just
to study the Leica camera family tree in the front office, displaying every
model made since (and including) the Ur-Leica. 

The tour went at a pleasantly slow pace through glass-windowed halls that
overlooked manufacturing and assembly.  Many big Leica enlargements lined
the halls, too, usually forcing me to run to catch up with the group after
admiring the prints for too long. An excellent slide show was presented at
the end of the tour, followed by a chance to handle all kinds of current M
and R equipment on display - but no free samples.

Actually there were a couple of freebies. At the beginning of the tour,
someone asked if anyone needed any minor repairs. Just two days before, the
small set screw at the front of my 28mm Elmarit had fallen out, which
normally keeps the rectangular lens shade from rotating. At the end of the
tour, a new screw had been installed at no charge. They also passed out
copies of the Leica family tree poster (bring your own cardboard mailing
tube for safe return home!) and the little red Leica logo lapel buttons.

Afterwards, I asked my tour guide if he could help me to identify my early
90mm Summicron. He couldn't, so proceeded to take me on a private tour thru
the offices until we finally met the M production manager, who said he had
seen a picture of one, but he, too, did not know what model it was.
Obviously, Leica is more attuned to current production. I later found out
from James Lager that I had a very early SOOZI (what a great name!) from a
serial number batch he had heard of but never seen before.

By being one of the first to arrive and last to leave (and being able to
speak German, too), I spent at least four hours at the plant, and it was a
real highlight of my two weeks in Germany.

>. I'd be interested to hear if any luggers have
> done the tour and what they thought.
> Mike Boreham