[Leica] outsourcing components

[Frank Dernie <FrankDernie@compuserve.com>]

Dear DonjR43198,

A manufacturer is defined for the World Motor Racing Championships as the
intellectual rights holder of the car design. This is generally accepted in
ALL industry. Horst gave a very clear explanation of how his company
produces its products. This is typical of most manufacturing industry.

>Also, does Ferrari today demand better parts and closer tolerance work
from 
>its suppliers now than it did 40 years ago or do its designers loosen up
the 
>specs so more parts meet the quality control tests?

Modern parts are made to MUCH higher tolerances than 40 years ago because
the machine tools are so much better. Parts fit together properly without
hand fettling as a result. For Leica or Ferrari. Certain adjustments are
allowed for in the design, such as castor adjustment on the car or
rangefinder on the Leica.

>Buying parts off the shelf and then assembling the parts rather than
actually 
>making the parts does not make the assembler a manufacturer.  It makes
that 
>company an assembler.

You seem to be very upset about something, I have never heard of any
company being refered to as an "assembler" or in such a derogatory way.

If Leica go to a range of subcontractors for quotes for manufacturing parts
to their drawings they are being normal. Designing the camera to use
standard fasteners (screws etc)would be normal.

Some censure may be appropriate if they went to a range of specialists and
just,for example,  bought bodies from Cosina, rangefinders from Olympus,
winding mechanisms from Nikon, shutters from Minolta and lenses from Hoya
then bolted them together claiming it to be a Leica. They no not. They
proceed in exactly the same way as any manufacturing Company in the world
today. I am surprised you have a problem with this.

Hope this helps,
Frank