Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 1999/08/01
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]In a message dated 8/1/99 8:27:01 AM Central Daylight Time, dcardish@microtec.net writes: << t seems ludicrous that any company, even in the 'good old days' would produce *every* component of things that they sold, including washers, gears and screws. Why stop there? Why not use "Leitzianer" to mine the copper and zinc to produce the brass used in the bodies? Please not that I am not doubting you! Dan C. >> It is likely the Leitz family produced everything that went into the Leica so the purchaser could be certain he or she was receiving products that would work rather than farming out parts production and then hoping the parts would be finished to Leitz quality. Current problems that are regularly noted on the LUG board indicate just how difficult it is to successfully farm out production of close tolerance parts. Those who manufacture the parts sold to Solms want every part accepted by Solms since that increases the subs' profits and it then becomes the costly job of Solms to carefully check each part it has farmed out rather than making the part correctly in-house. Thus, Mr. Puts advises us that Solms has become an assembler rather than a manufacturer and is dependent upon outside sources for the parts that it assembles into cameras that it sells. The problems associated with this "farm out" policy has manifested itself in the "pressure plate problems" and the others that are reported with regularity. It is reassuring that Mr. Puts has now reported that Solms is NOT Wetzlar nor Leitz but a new concern doing things differently. Thus, the old names of Leitz and Wetzlar are not depreciated by what now carries the name Leica stamped rather than engraved on the M cameras. Until Mr. Puts so reported, it is likely many did not believe Leica customers and users were dealing with a completely different organization with a completely different manufacturing policy from that of E. Leitz Wetzlar. Now Mr. Puts has etched it in stone for everyone and it is no longer subject to debate. Now when you are handling a Solms camera that have Leica stamped on it, you will know you are NOT handling a E. Leitz Wetzlar made camera. We are indebted for Mr. Puts confirmation of this fact. Thank you Mr. Puts!