Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 1999/07/31
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]I'm enjoying the discussion on the origin of lens designs. I share Marc's sentiments about the Japanese exploitation of German designs. However, I'd quibble with his statement that 'a copy, by definition, can never be superior to the original. "As good as", arguably, but never "better".' From other fields of engineering, I can readily think of examples where the copy is better than the original. The classic is the Rolls-Royce Merlin aero-engine of World War II fame - it powered later models of the US P-51 Mustang, and was widely fitted to many British warplanes, including the Spitfire, Hurricane, and Lancaster. Packard built the Merlin under licence in the USA, and the historical record shows that the Packard Merlin delivered more power than the RR original. The US engine profited from being made on more modern machinery, so achieved tighter tolerances than were possible in wartime Britain. Regards, Doug Richardson