Leica Filters

[pedaes]

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I apologise if this is seen as to trivial. Some of my Leica filter's have "Ernst Leitz Wetzlar" engraved on the rim. I would be interested to know when (date) the factory stopped using this branding and moved to "Leica". Also, is there a definitive date known for the end of manufacture of filters in-house (supposing they ever were). Thanks

[luigi bertolotti]

The changeover from the old Leitz brand to the Leica brand (a brand shared by two other companies, besides Leica Camera) happened in 1986 iirc ; I tend to think that Leitz probably never made the filters completely in-house... is mainly a matter of glass makers, and when Leitz had its own glass melting facility ('50s) it was a little one, devoted to experiencing and producing glass for lenses: can be that at the times of the "big Leitz factory" they cut raw plates of outsourced colored glass and mounted them into home-machined mount rings... but I think that from dozens of years they are completely outsourced and packaged (see the labels of the boxes detailing the manufacturer's location)

[pedaes]

Thanks, Luigi, I thought it would be at the same time as the rest of the catalogue but good to have confirmation. I think you are correct on manufacture, and would have expected they would only have done the mounting at best. Regards,

[gyoung]

I have one mount with E Leitz NY on it, I acquired it in the 60s with no glass in it and it has carried a gelatine 85B cut to fit ever since.

 

Gerry

[luigi bertolotti]

Yes, the "made in USA" filters are well known : indeed Leitz N.Y. for many years has acted also as a sort of a real manufacturing facility (probably also for customs reasons) for various collateral products, even rather important and complex (motors, external rangefinders, Visoflexes) : is an interesting part of Leitz history.