Re: [Leica] Leitz and Leica Glass

[Lucien <lucien@ubi.edu>]

Marc wrote

>But, yes, the issue IS important.  
>It is a myth that Leica ever produced its own optical glass.  
>I cannot understand why seemingly intelligent folks
>cannot understand the simple language that Leica uses, 
>that they have never produced their own glass.  Period.

>Where is the mystery in all this?

Marc,

I'm not so sure that Leitz was so clear about that:

In his book, after the following, J. Eastland wrote:

This information* (*see at bottom this mail)
was supplied after persistent requests
by the author over a period of two years for the company
to clarify certain aspects of claims made in advertising
literature produced by the company.
In particular, of the document entitled:
'Leica Lenses for Optical Excellence'
List Nr. 110-190 published and printed IV/85.
On page 14 of this above document the text states,
'Optical glass of the highest quality, .... in
the priniple raw material, and some ten tonnes per year
are produced in our own factory, from formulations 
originated by the Leitz Glass Research Laboratory'.
etc..snip

Marc,

That document (110-190) was widely distributed,
I have five of them myself (in French) received at
various occasions.

Lucien

*
>In Leica M Compendium, Jonathan Eastland, Hove Books 1994
>Page 173 Appendix 1

>The Leica Glass Research Laboratory

>There are been much confusion as to whether Leitz made their
>own optical glass for their production lenses.
>In a letter from Leica GMBH to the author, dated 27 April 1993,
>a company executive stated that neither Leica or Leitz 
>ever smelt its own glass from raw materials for production purposes.
>The letter acknoledges the existence of the 'scientific laboratory'
>for the exploration of new optical glasses, and details the fact
>that'some of the very special glasses were smelt there'.
>snip