Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 1997/03/24
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Stephen Gandy wrote: >the camera, the wartime Xenon, and the variable finder all have >Arrows engraved on them pointed foward. What were their purpose? Stephen, These arrows are almost certainly British Government markings. For centuries, Britain has used the "Broad Arrow" mark to indicate "government property". I sem to recall that the sides of the arrow form a triangle of around 60 - 70 degrees, and are about two-thirds the length of the centre line of the arrow marking. If I'm right, your Leica served with the German Navy during the war, and was either captured during the war or seized following the war, then taken into British military service. The British Ministry of War bought every Leica and Contax it could find in the early stages of the war, and purchased others (presumably via a neutral nation) during the war. Regards, Doug