Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2002/03/24
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]on 24/3/2002 3:08 pm, Duane Birkey at owner-leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us wrote: > I'm not a lawyer..... but reading in between the quotes I find the phrase > "The Leica Glass Laboratory" twice.... I've dipped into this thread rather late and don't know if anyone had already quoted the Appendix 'The Leitz Glass Research Laboratory" from Jonathan Eastland's book Leica M Compendium but (quoted in full)... 'There has 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 nor Leitz ever smelt its own glass from raw materials for production purposes. the letter acknowledges the existence of the 'scientific laboratory' for the exploration of new optical glasses, and details the fact that 'some of the very special optical glasses were smelt there'. 'This information was supplied after persistent request 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 (April 1985). On page 14 this states "Optical glass of the highest quality...is the principle raw material, and some ten tonnes per year are produced in our own factory, from formulations originated by the Leitz Glass Research Laboratory."' 'Similar statements are made in other documents published by the company and in virtually all literature produced by the company which deals with lens products, the intimation is the same; that glass blanks are derived from raw glass blocks and sheets produced on the premises. Logistically, the production requirements, even for Leica's relatively small output (compared to Japanese manufacturers) would require extensive smelting facilities which Leica GmbH do not have and Leitz before never had.' 'The work of the Leitz Glass Research Laboratory has, however, been very significant. Over 40,000 smelts (a figure consistent with a total of ten tonnes a year mentioned above) have been recorded in this laboratory before it was disposed of, and from this vast array of research, Leitz scientists have been able to establish the exact optical glass compositions required for the company's purposes. But as they had done from the beginning, Leitz procured their glass for production, in black and blank for, from outside suppliers who were able to smelt to Leitz's highly specialised requirements.' My own take on this at the time was that Leitz and lately Leica had been caught out in a 'terminological inexactitude' in allowing the public to think it smelted its own glass. It would be difficult to publicly admit that the Glass Research Laboratory was now liquidated (whether it had done all it work or not). I suspect the company was caught in a little white lie to cover the necessities of commercial life in the late 20th century. David Prakel - -- To unsubscribe, see http://mejac.palo-alto.ca.us/leica-users/unsub.html