[Leica] Re: LHSA Black Paint; Time to stop whining - Long

[Jim Brick <jimbrick@photoaccess.com>]

Bill,

You are a stellar human being. Beyond reproach. I, and my close Leica
friends, didn't have a hint of a thought that something shady had taken
place. This would be beyond rational thought.

I "personally" wish that the LHSA M6 would be a permanent production item
with LHSA getting a commission. I think it would be a great long term hit.
Would help LHSA over the long haul. And put a lot of great looking M6 out
in the field.

Jim


At 02:11 AM 7/11/00 -0400, Bill Rosauer wrote:
>Dear LUGgers,
>
>Having just returned from the South Pacific, Land of beautiful babes and 
>tropical drinks....Great story Mark, but really I'm still sitting in rainy 
>Illinois!
>I have been waiting for Roger Horn to return from a trip to Solms with some 
>answers.
>But first, a little history.  The LHSA Black Paint camera has been over four 
>years in the making.  Constant e-mails between myself and various management 
>types in Solms.  Meetings at every PMA and Photokina for the past four years. 
> Constant phone calls between myself and Roger Horn (good thing we're 
>friends!).  Then at the last minute, Leica Solms stealing my idea and putting 
>out the Millennium camera.  Advised by good friends in LHSA leadership to 
>give up on the project after this.  But I would not let it die and finally 
>the dream became reality and the camera entered production.
>Early this year, I asked John Hayden, LHSA PR officer, to administer the 
>camera sales.  John agreed to do so on a volunteer basis, along with some of 
>his office staff, to do so.  He has done a tremendous job in my opinion.  
>Again, all our work is volunteer, there is no permanent paid LHSA staff to 
>handle these things!  John and I both have full time jobs and families aside 
>from our unpaid volunteer LHSA work.
>My original concept for distribution of the cameras was to be by direct sales 
>only.  Unfortunately, reality reared its ugly head after we had sold less 
>than 100 of the initial batch of 300 cameras more than a month into the 
>ninety day subscription period.  Reality dictated the need to open another 
>distribution channel; dealer sales.  Otherwise, LHSA would be faced with 
>getting stuck with over 200 very expensive cameras!  Not a good situation to 
>be in.  We struck a deal with Roger Horn where no cameras would be sold for 
>less than the LHSA subscription price.  Roger threw in the one year 
>membership offer.  The rest they say is history.  As of the close of the 
>subscription period on June 30, we have sold or have orders for approximately 
>1100 LHSA cameras!  Less than the Millennium issue, less than the number of 
>black M2's produced, etc.  But this camera was also made to be used, not just 
>collected.  So I'm sorry to disappoint those of you who are upset that we 
>sold more than 100 cameras.
>As most of you know, there was an initial batch of 300 .72 cameras made.  
>Leica Solms was then to make the balance of cameras ordered in November of 
>this year.  One must realize that this is a Photokina year, the factory is on 
>vacation in August, and the company does make other cameras besides LHSA 
>Special Editions.  Roger now reports that the factory will now make 400 - 500 
>cameras in September/October with the balance to follow just after the first 
>of the year.  We are the victims of our own success.
>Hindsight being 20/20, would I have done things differently?  Short answer, 
>yes.  Unfortunately, despite all our efforts to see into the future, we did 
>not fully anticipate all the difficulties.  I apologize to all of you who are 
>upset by our handling of this project, but we have honestly made every effort 
>to make everyone happy.  Needless to say, this is not always possible.  The 
>point is that the camera is a reality and everyone who wanted a unique (until 
>the Millennium appeared) camera, which had not been produced in this finish 
>for over thirty years, will own one.
>Three objectives were set for this project.  Offer a unique camera to 
>membership at not too unreasonable a price to everyone who wanted one, 
>increase LHSA membership and raise some funds for the LHSA.  We have 
>succeeded on all three fronts.  I am working on the issue of membership dues 
>compensation for all those who purchased a camera direct from LHSA.  I will 
>keep you all posted.
>I hope this answers everyone's questions, but feel free to contact me via 
>private e-mail if I haven't.
>
>Best regards,
>
>Bill Rosauer
>LHSA President, Viewfinder Editor, Originator of the Black Paint Camera 
>Concept and Glutton for Punishment