Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2003/01/21
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]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. I would appreciate any input in this matter. Henrik Williams ___________________________________________________ Henrik Williams Professor i nordiska språk Institutionen för nordiska språk Uppsala universitet Box 527 751 20 UPPSALA Telefon: 018-471 68 73, 018-46 31 46, 0733-90 86 30 - -- To unsubscribe, see http://mejac.palo-alto.ca.us/leica-users/unsub.html