Leicapasion Posted November 28, 2019 Share #1 Posted November 28, 2019 Advertisement (gone after registration) When I thought I had already closed my Fikus collection, I could add one more. I didn't find any references in any book or catalog. Can anyone contribute anything? Greetings, we continue to collect. Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here… Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! 4 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/303925-fikus-very-rare/?do=findComment&comment=3863471'>More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted November 28, 2019 Posted November 28, 2019 Hi Leicapasion, Take a look here FIKUS VERY RARE. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
a.noctilux Posted November 28, 2019 Share #2 Posted November 28, 2019 Nice FIKUS. First time I see 5cm Summar and Elmar different settings engraved as such. Is the weight same as other your's Fikus ? Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
TomB_tx Posted November 28, 2019 Share #3 Posted November 28, 2019 Interesting - the "The Leica, Ltd., Tokyo" on the box and engraving suggests this was a creation of the Leica office in Japan. Is there any historical information about such a Leica office? Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
zeitz Posted November 28, 2019 Share #4 Posted November 28, 2019 I have a Leica FISON clone made by "The Leica Tokyo". I have never found out any information about the company. I assume it was somewhat like Leitz New York. A year or so ago James Lager had a little article in Viewfinder seeking information on the company and perhaps showing another product, if I recall correctly. (Now I'll send all day looking for it.) Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here… Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/303925-fikus-very-rare/?do=findComment&comment=3863526'>More sharing options...
Pecole Posted November 28, 2019 Share #5 Posted November 28, 2019 Very interesting, indeed. I had never heard something about "Leica Tokyo, Ltd" and its products. And the twin engraving "Elmar - Summar 5 cm" on the FIKUS is a total novelty as well. Thanks to Leicapasion and Zeitz, mand to anybody proposing more information. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pyrogallol Posted November 28, 2019 Share #6 Posted November 28, 2019 Seems reasonable that the Summar setting gives a shorter lenshood than the Elmar setting as the width of the glass optics on the Summar at f2 is wider than the Elmar at f3.5 and should need a wider lenshood than the Elmar to avoid vignetting, though I have used a normal FISON hood on a Summar, but not at f2. I have a SOOMP hood but it is a bit big and clumsy to use. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
alan mcfall Posted November 29, 2019 Share #7 Posted November 29, 2019 Advertisement (gone after registration) As the screw mount leica camera was copied by dozens of countries, so also many accessories often do appear. In some cases they are outright clones, and sometimes they are just somewhat similar, and occasionally they might break new ground. It seems to me to be difficult to trace the actural reason for the existance of such accessories. Cost, availability (such as during the war), patent issues, or just a desire to do it their way. Some of these may have been approved by Leitz, many perhaps not. Also, the opposite is possible, as Leitz sometimes acquired ideas, technology, and even complete lenses from other companies. Many companies just noted that their product was "for" the Leica. The Actina works in Japan, evidently also used the words, "The Leica, LTD, Tokyo". Several accessories are engraved "The Leica Tokyo". Whether this was with Leitz approval, I do not know. Lager, Viewfinder, V 16, No. 2, shows a copy stand, ball head and sliding copy attachment, all marked The Leica Tokyo. The identification of a FIKUS hood is new to me. This photo below shows two sliding copy attachments (first patented by Willard Morgan in 1932 in the US), the first box marked "The Actina Works" and the second, possibly later, is The Leica LTD, Tokyo. Both are marked patented, but by whom? Leicensed by Leitz, or not? Also in the photo is an early rotating copy attachment for the Leica by DWIGG company in Pasadena, California. The concept would seem to infringe on Leitz long produced OORES. A more common concept is the folding or flip-in version marked under the name "Speed-O-Copy". The final image in the photo is a sliding copy attachment devoid of any engraving, has no viewer provision and is very heavy brass not aluminum. Is it a prototype for the Morgan original, or just something else. Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here… Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! When it comes to accessories made to work with the leica there are so many. Leica camera owners often needed economical, fast solutions to copying, flash. fillters, exposure measurement, enlargement and so forth, and the "aftermarket" was ready to supply. The many E. Leitz New York products ( Hasbroeck lists at least 25 different categories for the period 1942-50) were started when the war stopped shipments, but for the most part they seem to be a higher quality than some of the others. The exclusive sales agent for Leitz in Japan before the war was, Schmidt Shoten Ltd, in Tokyo, I would be surprised if they had anything to do with the Actina products, but maybe someone has more information. 2 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! When it comes to accessories made to work with the leica there are so many. Leica camera owners often needed economical, fast solutions to copying, flash. fillters, exposure measurement, enlargement and so forth, and the "aftermarket" was ready to supply. The many E. Leitz New York products ( Hasbroeck lists at least 25 different categories for the period 1942-50) were started when the war stopped shipments, but for the most part they seem to be a higher quality than some of the others. The exclusive sales agent for Leitz in Japan before the war was, Schmidt Shoten Ltd, in Tokyo, I would be surprised if they had anything to do with the Actina products, but maybe someone has more information. ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/303925-fikus-very-rare/?do=findComment&comment=3863952'>More sharing options...
luigi bertolotti Posted November 30, 2019 Share #8 Posted November 30, 2019 (edited) Interesting item… and the Summar engraving is a noticeable feature : afaik, of the many variants of the FIKUS I never saw one with "Summar" written onto (you see Hektor, Elmar 3,5cm... also the 127mm in the NY version) ; Worth noting, Leitz did indeed quote Summar as a "compatible " lens for FIKUS in its catalog : Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here… Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! And, iirc, none of the original FIKUS had the classic "Leica" writing on the shade (black in most of the variants), Edited November 30, 2019 by luigi bertolotti 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! And, iirc, none of the original FIKUS had the classic "Leica" writing on the shade (black in most of the variants), ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/303925-fikus-very-rare/?do=findComment&comment=3864483'>More sharing options...
willeica Posted November 30, 2019 Share #9 Posted November 30, 2019 There are many variations of the FIKUS, but I don't recall seeing a Summar marking before, except for the one on the top right of Page 402 of Laney's book, which is also marked for the Hektor. Both of those markings are below the one for the Elmar. Below on the left is a FIKUS marked 'E Leitz Wetzlar'. On the right is a variant of the FIKUS called ADVIK and marked 'E Leitz New York'. It should be noted that it has a 127 mark (for the 127mm Velostigmat) just below the usual 135mm marking. Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here… Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! William 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! William ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/303925-fikus-very-rare/?do=findComment&comment=3864925'>More sharing options...
Leicapasion Posted December 1, 2019 Author Share #10 Posted December 1, 2019 What is clear is that with LEICA you can never give a collection closed. Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here… Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! 6 3 Quote Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/303925-fikus-very-rare/?do=findComment&comment=3865156'>More sharing options...
alan mcfall Posted December 4, 2019 Share #11 Posted December 4, 2019 It seems the earliest items were engraved "THE LEICA TOKYO", and shipped in a red box marked "THE LEICA, LTD, TOYKO". Perhaps later items, still engraved the same, were shipped in boxes marked "Made by the ACTINA Works, Tokyo". suggesting involvement by a company named Actina. Who were they? Later, 1950's, items are seen engraved, 'THE ACTINA TOKYO'. The web information I can gleen is that Actina was a British importer of photographic equipment, headquartered in London 18 Woodstock, Bond Street. They were in-and-out of financial trouble over the years, partnering and merging with others, finally in 1963 being sold out completely to Dufay. They appeared in the USA as Actina, Inc. in New York, with many ads in post war Popular Photography magazine, and applying for US patents and trademarks. Although they marketed a variety of products including cameras (not Leica), their main focus seemed to be lens hoods, filters and copy attachment. Many of these were no doubt sourced from Japan. But some filters are seen in packaging marked "A British Product"." In addition to the Fikus, Fuldy, and KGOON renditions, I have also noted a lens hood for the Summicron engraved "THE ACTINA TOKYO", flash attachments engraved only ACTINA 53 and ACTINA 89 both in red boxes marked Made by ACTINA Works, Toyko. The 53 for the Leica Camera, and the 89 for Advanced Leica Amateures and Professionals. I have the 53. There are also larger ACTINA tripods, up to 1.5m height. Here are a few photos. I expect the main interest is in the items that actually have Leica engraved on them. Maybe others can find more information. Or, older Bond street experts may remember the firm. ' Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here… Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! 1 3 Quote Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/303925-fikus-very-rare/?do=findComment&comment=3866969'>More sharing options...
wlaidlaw Posted December 7, 2019 Share #12 Posted December 7, 2019 (edited) Here is my FIKUS a pretty standard version . I don't use it a lot preferring to use the VALOO on my early Elmars to save scrabbling about with a finger nail to adjust aperture and the FIKUS seems a rather sloppy fit on my 5cm/2.5 Hektor, where a VALOO does not fit. Wilson PS It does not fit on my 135 Hektor, which has a grooved front ring too large for the FIKUS, so I use a 12585 hood with spring release clips. Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here… Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! Edited December 7, 2019 by wlaidlaw Quote Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/303925-fikus-very-rare/?do=findComment&comment=3868962'>More sharing options...
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