Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2002/03/22
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Here it is, direct from the glasses' mouth, Fall 2001 issue of Leicaview, published by Leica USA, adapted in turn from an interview with Norbert Meinert, last manager of the Leitz Glass Factory: "The Leitz Glass Laboratory ....operated until 1989......Overall, the Leitz Glass Laboratory developed 35 new glasses from an estimated 50,000 experimental melts.....Without the laboratory, in fact, most of the modern lenses of the period 1949 to 1989 would not have been possible. Because of its work, the company produced up to 10 metric tons of glass a year, partly because of close communication between glass researchers and lens designers. Other large glass manufacturers were often behind Leita/Leica because optical glass is of only minor importance to them. Phototropic glasses, construction glasses, television tubes, baby bottles and the like are their real moneymakers. When these companies do undertake to develop optical glasses, it is only for those for which they anticipate a large demand. It was the exotic wishes of the Leitz Company that permitted it to develop the glasses it did during the 40 years it held sway in this area. "Once it was possible with new technology to derive maximum performance from optical lenses, however, Leica closed the Leitz Glass Laboratory. The growing number of glass manufacturers and new Methods of processing glass and manufacturing lens elements also made this desirable from a financial standpoint." A marvelous and indeed glorious history. One must nevertheless wonder at the last sentences.They seem to read: it was no longer economically feasible to keep the Leitz/Leica Glass Laboratory operating in terms of a cost-benefit analysis. Entirely understandable in today's tough, competitive world. Yet what splendid achievements they recorded! And what wonderful lenses they continue today to design and produce with glass manufactured by third parties. Seth LaK 9 (while we're on glass, has everyone gotten my signature? It's glass-related). In a message dated 3/20/02 5:58:04 PM Eastern Standard Time, leicam4pro@yahoo.com writes: > -- wwk001 <wwk001@netvigator.com> wrote: > > The question is wrong fundamentally. Leica doesn't not > > make glasses of their > > own. > > > > Frank W. > ============================================================ > > to the best of my knowlege, this is not true. Unless > it was sold off during the breakup, Leitz/Leica owned all > or part of a glassworks as a subsidiary. - -- To unsubscribe, see http://mejac.palo-alto.ca.us/leica-users/unsub.html