Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2013/01/20
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]One of the first civilian computers using semiconductors instead of tubes and destined to calculate optical formulas was used by Leitz Canada in Midland Ontario. It had the volume and aspect of 2 or 3 bench model freezers In fact US Laws at that time prohibited to buy anything made in Germany. This was the main reason for setting up this new Leitz facility abroad. The US Governement badly needed their optics for civilian and military use. Including NASA. You can easely recognize those optics and systhems, Most of the time they bear the name ELCAN i.e. Ernst Leitz Canada. M-4 military cameras often come with a double serial number. One from the company and one from the US forces. ELCAN labelled items are much in demand by some collectors. When Leitz Germany had just taken the decision to stop the production of the M-4 in favor of the M-5 they received a huge order for M-4 cameras and lenses from the US Governement. Again for the military (US Navy) and NASA. The whole production facility under the supervision of Docter Mandler was then moved to Canada where production continued. Later it appeared that the M-5 would have a shorter history than expected and that there was an additional demand for the M-4 from the civilian market, not only in North America but also in the rest of the world Leitz Canada is totally separated from the German Leitz and Leica facilities. In Germany the company suffered years of financial troubles. Its management changed several times. Not so in Canada where they kept making profits after a management buy-out. But they continue to work with the German company. Have a nice W-E. Cedric Agie cedric.agie at gmail.com 2013/1/20 Frank Filippone <red735i at verizon.net>: > Herb... the Museum is certainly on my list, next time up north.... > > In exchange for which I need to also go to the Lace Museum (San Jose, I > think)...! > > Can you point us to the WEB Page? > > Frank Filippone > Red735i at verizon.net > > > > _______________________________________________ > Leica Users Group. > See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information