Re: [Leica] Leitz and Leica Glass

["Patrick G. Sobalvarro" <pgs@sobalvarro.org>]

Marc James Small wrote:
> To the best of my knowledge, and per every written source I have at hand,
> neither Leitz nor Leica EVER made their own glass.  The Research Lab was
> simply that:  a research lab.  

I guess I have some written sources at hand that you don't:

"Several types of glass are necessary in any one lens.  A glass may be
supplied by one of a few optical-glass manufacturers in the world, or it
may be a special Leica glass developed and made in their own glass
laboratory.  Bought-in glass will be accompanied by a certificate that
it meets specifications; a batch of Leica's own glass will be analyzed
for chemical purity and tested for correct optical properties."

- -Dennis Laney, "Leica Lens Practice: Choosing and Using Leica Lenses,"
2nd Ed., Hove Books, 1993.


and:

"Leica lenses are based on high quality optical glasses, some of which
are produced in the Leitz Glass Research Laboratory, including the use
of rare earth glasses."

- - Guenter Osterloh, "Excellence in Photography: Applied Leica
Technique," 2nd English-language edition, Umschau Verlag, 1985. 


I'm pretty sure I have some other references that say this, as well, but
I'm too lazy to dig through them right now.

- -Patrick