Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2003/01/23

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Subject: Re: [Leica] Mystery Hektor 1:4/8.5 cm
From: Stephen Gandy <LeicaNikon@earthlink.net>
Date: Thu, 23 Jan 2003 12:47:36 -0800
References: <3.0.6.32.20030123141140.00cc86d0@mail.anst.uu.se>

Leica projector lens.

Stephen

Henrik Williams wrote:

> John Collier and Alastair Firkin offer a guess that "my" mystery Hektor
> 4/8.5 cm is really meant to refer to the Summarex 1.5/8.5 cm. It is of
> course theoretically possible, but I find it hard to believe since only the
> focus is identical. But the real crux (which I should have mentioned in my
> first mail) is the price of th  lens, less than $100. The Summarex was
> between three and four times more expensive!
>
> Any other ideas?
>
> Henrik Williams
>
> >Date: Tue, 21 Jan 2003 18:53:15 -0700
> >From: John Collier <jbcollier@shaw.ca>
> >Subject: Re: [Leica] Mystery Hektor 1:4/8.5 cm
> >Message-ID: <4576C7A5-2DAC-11D7-B8DF-0050E42E6E0B@shaw.ca>
> >References:
> >
> >As there was a 1.5/85 Summarex (some early ones marked 1.5/90) may be
> >the catalogue writers made a mistake.
> >
> >John Collier
> >
> >On Tuesday, January 21, 2003, at 03:28 PM, Henrik Williams wrote:
> >
> >> Mystery Hektor 1:4/8.5 cm
> >>
> >> Have you ever heard of this Leica lens? I had not until I happened to
> >> peruse a 1953 photo store catalogue from Wibergs fotografiska AB in
> >> Stockholm, Sweden. Under the ad for the Leica IIIf there is a select
> >> list
> >> of lenses to go with it, and as # 7 on this list: "Hektor 1:4/8,5 cm
> >> ............................ 464:-"! The last part refers to the price
> >> in Swedish currency, "kronor" (crowns), the exchange rate at the time of
> >> which I do not know, but a guess would be 5 kronor to the dollar.
> >> What on earth is this? I see only two alternatives:
> >>
> >> 1. The editor was confused and compiled a ghost lense from various
> >> misunderstood information. The list does include the "Leitx Summarit
> >> 1:1,5/5 cm" and the "Summikrom 1:2/5 cm", but on the other hand no
> >> really glaring mistakes, nor any incredible information in the rest of the
> >> catalogue. And, where does the price of the lens come from?
> >>
> >> 2. There is some basis in real life for this information. At the very
> >> end of the list, as item # 10, appears the already mentioned "Summikrom
> >> 1:2/5 cm ............................. 586:-". This is the classic
> Summicron, introduced this very year. Could the "Hektor 1:4/8,5 cm" be
> another
> >> lense, about to be introduced? The data of the lense are highly
> suspicious:
> >> What would be the need for a lense so close in specification to the Elmar
> >> 1:4/9 cm? This latter lens is sold for 290 kronor. However, when the
> >> collapsible(!) Elmar 1:4/9 cm was sold later its price was 465 kronor
> >> (according to another, 1956 catalogue), or remarkably close to the
> >> price of this 1953 mystery lens. Leitz did indeed sometime advertize
> lenses that were never actually produced for sale, for example the pre-war
> >> "snap-shot" Elmar 1:4.5/3.5 cm. The collapsible Elmar 1:4/9 cm was
> introduced in 1954, but only in a bayonet mount. Could there have been
> plans to sell this lens with a different specification and (also?) in a
> screw (lens thread) mount?
> >> I certainly do not know. Leitz did experiment with this lens even
> >> before the war, but appearantly always under the designation Elmar 9 cm
> (e.g. James L. Lager. Leica: An Illustrated History. Volume II - Lenses p.
> >> 131) which certainly speaks against my quess.
>
> __________________________________________________________
> Henrik Williams
> Professor i nordiska språk
> Institutionen för nordiska språk
> Box 527
> 751 20 UPPSALA
> Telefon: 018-471 12 75, 018-46 31 46 (hem), 0733-90 86 30 (mobil)
> Fax: 018-471 12 72
> E-post: henrik.williams@nordiska.uu.se
> __________________________________________________________
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In reply to: Message from Henrik Williams <henrik.williams@nordiska.uu.se> ([Leica] Mystery Hektor 1:4/8.5 cm)