adoorn001 Posted March 7, 2020 Share #1  Posted March 7, 2020 Advertisement (gone after registration) Leica packaging changed through the years. The box type can sometimes be a means to determine the age of a product. Specially for products without a serial number it can be difficult to determine its age. Apart from the box type I know that the logo's and trademarks of Leica and Leitz have changed over the years. In Leica collector's guide second edition by Dennis Laney you find these changes in logo on page 40. But so far I haven't found a source that tells me the period that the different packaging were used by Leitz. I know it started wit dark red boxes without any text on it. Then came the dark red boxes with text, later the lighter red boxes, then a greenish box, red and white and two white boxes. The last box type is Black/silver. See photo. Can anyone tell the period that these different boxes were used.  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 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/307215-the-leica-box-colors-and-printing-types-through-the-years/?do=findComment&comment=3926762'>More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted March 7, 2020 Posted March 7, 2020 Hi adoorn001, Take a look here the Leica Box colors and printing types through the years. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
lct Posted March 7, 2020 Share #2  Posted March 7, 2020 Brown boxes too: 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 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/307215-the-leica-box-colors-and-printing-types-through-the-years/?do=findComment&comment=3926847'>More sharing options...
alan mcfall Posted March 7, 2020 Share #3  Posted March 7, 2020 Don't forget those "crocodile" boxes. Perhaps even earlier that dark red/brown. 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! 3 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/307215-the-leica-box-colors-and-printing-types-through-the-years/?do=findComment&comment=3926904'>More sharing options...
adoorn001 Posted March 11, 2020 Author Share #4  Posted March 11, 2020 Thanks Alan an lct for your additions. Do you have any idea during which period the different box types where used? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
lct Posted March 11, 2020 Share #5  Posted March 11, 2020 (edited) Difficult to say. Brown above were just before the red & white if memory serves, so seventies i would say but i may be wrong. You may wish to ask Leica. Edited March 11, 2020 by lct Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
willeica Posted March 11, 2020 Share #6  Posted March 11, 2020 As with all things relating to Leica the amount of overlaps, variations and exceptions is considerable and the packaging can only be taken as a general indication of age. For items with a serial number this is a better indicator, but it is also subject to variations, overlaps, number hold backs etc The following is an approximate sequence based on what I have in my collection and what I have seen. Bear in mind that my colour description may be different to yours. Plum (my word, some would say dark red and I have one from about 1930 that is quite clearly purple) Late 1920s and early 1930s Croc Box (for accessory lenses and filters only with variation on the paper side panels - I have yellow, orange and pink, possibly other colours) Late 1920s and early 1930s Red (the most iconic colour) 1930s, 1940s and into the 1950s Pale Green and White (my description) 1950s and 1960s Brown (the one I am least familiar with). I will follow what Ict suggests about this coming before the red and white and say 1950s and 1960s Red and White 1950s?, 1960s, 1970s and I have one Canadian example from the early 1980s White with Red or black lettering or logos 1970s?, 1980s, 1990s, early 2000s Silver and Black from mid 2000s into 2010s and 2020s I am sure that members will have plenty of 'gotchas' on this and all information to vary or add to this list would be most welcome. William 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandro Posted March 13, 2020 Share #7 Â Posted March 13, 2020 Advertisement (gone after registration) Didn't Jim Lager publish something about the boxes in either Vidom or Viewfinder? Lex Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
luigi bertolotti Posted March 13, 2020 Share #8  Posted March 13, 2020 Another styling that was used for sometime in the '60s (for cameras too, I think... this is for the Focorapid) 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! 2 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/307215-the-leica-box-colors-and-printing-types-through-the-years/?do=findComment&comment=3930671'>More sharing options...
adoorn001 Posted July 6, 2020 Author Share #9  Posted July 6, 2020 Hi, During lock down I had opportunity to go a bit further in the packaging/boxes Leica used through the years. Starting with your comments I searched eBay for Leica lenses and cameras with original box. This gave me quite a good idea of the period that box colors/designs were used. Please take a look at an article I wrote on it on my website. Feel free to comment on it. https://www.aleica.nl/en/news regards from the Netherlands. Alex 4 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
willeica Posted July 6, 2020 Share #10  Posted July 6, 2020 Thanks Alex. You have certainly done a great job and added to my own ' rough guesstimate' on these boxes and the relevant dates. I see that you have some other very interesting pieces on your website. I might send you some bits and pieces on various topics to add to what you have. Are you planning an English translation of the von Einem book? Some of the pieces on the I Model A look a bit like that. Well done. William Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
alan mcfall Posted July 7, 2020 Share #11  Posted July 7, 2020 Speaking of boxes, and just for fun, who has the smallest Leitz box? And the largest? My candidates for smallest are here in this photo. From the left, SOOBI, DOOLU, ELPIK and the winner, ORAKO. At some point, a box too small would have been as likely as the item, to get lost. Later small items such as plastic sync plugs, filters for the STEMAR and so on seem to appear in slightly larger boxes. At to the largest box, I only can offer the 560 Telyt or some projectors. Somewhere there must be a box for an Epidiascope or Enlarger or something else gigantic. 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! 2 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/307215-the-leica-box-colors-and-printing-types-through-the-years/?do=findComment&comment=4005074'>More sharing options...
alan mcfall Posted July 7, 2020 Share #12  Posted July 7, 2020 Here is an additional photo of some early boxes. On the left, "Croc" boxes and on the right, "Plum". Both have the "stick-on" lable white sheets, which I think were used before more elaborate embosing. None of the Croc boxes have the code word marked, all of the Plum boxes have the code word. My theory is that the Croc boxes were first and the Plum slightly later. A few are stamped in red, "Germany", explicitly for export I suspose. The Croc finish boxes were not only used for filters and close-up lenses, but for other of the very earliest accessories. I have seen the box for the Fiate Stereo slide bar. One might assume that other pre 1927 accessories, such as Final, Finot,Fiaku and Fiama may have been similar packaged. If members could  show any examples it would be informative. 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! 2 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/307215-the-leica-box-colors-and-printing-types-through-the-years/?do=findComment&comment=4005079'>More sharing options...
adoorn001 Posted July 7, 2020 Author Share #13  Posted July 7, 2020 Thanks for your additional comments. William, as to the Von Einem book. I have the 3rd extended 2008 edition. It is in English. The books are individually numbered. Mine has number 195. Alex Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
alemartinezc Posted July 8, 2020 Share #14  Posted July 8, 2020 The lettering of this one is not in very good condition and the box itself may be a little off topic  here, but still  lovely to me. I use it to keep  a pair of Leica lenses. It came from a surplus of the Hospital I work  in (so, free). 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 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/307215-the-leica-box-colors-and-printing-types-through-the-years/?do=findComment&comment=4005593'>More sharing options...
Pecole Posted July 8, 2020 Share #15  Posted July 8, 2020 And don't forget the American Leitz (ELNY) boxes. I had at least two, in very bad condition (see the photos I found in my archives): the first for folding shade SOOPD, the second one for COOMI extension tube. I add photos of the very old tiny box for DIREKT delayed action (not Leitz Wetzlar, but cataloged and sold by them), of the nice fitted box for SOOIC-MN dual range Summicron, three different boxes for ELDIA and a very nice red box (unfortunately, I have only a B&W photo) for the Leitz Leica-Stereo-Vorsatz STEREOLY. 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 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/307215-the-leica-box-colors-and-printing-types-through-the-years/?do=findComment&comment=4005738'>More sharing options...
Pyrogallol Posted July 8, 2020 Share #16  Posted July 8, 2020 1960’s style ? The box lid is very tight and the lens fits inside so tight that I just broke my finger nail getting it out to photograph. 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 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/307215-the-leica-box-colors-and-printing-types-through-the-years/?do=findComment&comment=4005801'>More sharing options...
willeica Posted July 9, 2020 Share #17  Posted July 9, 2020 (edited) Here is an early Maroon box for a BEVOR close up stand. It has the name stamped on the back and somebody has ruled the back with markings in centimetres (an 'added extra'). The small writing on a label was probably added by a dealer. The box will also take the 3 close up lenses (ELPRO, ELPIK and ELPET) in croc boxes, which are an exact fit. I have an early filter (possibly a FILBY, if I remember correctly) in a croc box with a pink label on the front. I can post a picture of that if anyone is interested. 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 Edited July 9, 2020 by willeica 3 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/307215-the-leica-box-colors-and-printing-types-through-the-years/?do=findComment&comment=4006282'>More sharing options...
mmx_2 Posted July 9, 2020 Share #18  Posted July 9, 2020 Great idea!! Here is my humble contributions, a few Leitz New York boxes for a Focaslide and an adaptor ring. 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! 2 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/307215-the-leica-box-colors-and-printing-types-through-the-years/?do=findComment&comment=4006467'>More sharing options...
alan mcfall Posted July 11, 2020 Share #19  Posted July 11, 2020 Here are a few boxes that I found, not super rare, but possibly interesting. 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! Leicinamatic/Optivaron early 1970's, folding early Liecaflash 1934, clamshell case for the IIIf, Leitz binocular box for 3 x 13.5 binoculars 1920's, MOOLY, OOFRC remote winder, 85 wetzlar and 28 New York finders, film cartridge with box and cartrige both marked New York, Midland rings for filter turret (14117), and a magazine for the Leitz 110 format projector. Just interesting to know that Leitz binoculars also  used the red with gold boxes for a time. The 110 projector, I have four, did not reach full commercialization. 3 Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! Leicinamatic/Optivaron early 1970's, folding early Liecaflash 1934, clamshell case for the IIIf, Leitz binocular box for 3 x 13.5 binoculars 1920's, MOOLY, OOFRC remote winder, 85 wetzlar and 28 New York finders, film cartridge with box and cartrige both marked New York, Midland rings for filter turret (14117), and a magazine for the Leitz 110 format projector. Just interesting to know that Leitz binoculars also  used the red with gold boxes for a time. The 110 projector, I have four, did not reach full commercialization. ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/307215-the-leica-box-colors-and-printing-types-through-the-years/?do=findComment&comment=4007118'>More sharing options...
luigi bertolotti Posted July 14, 2020 Share #20  Posted July 14, 2020 On 7/8/2020 at 2:25 PM, Pyrogallol said: 1960’s style ? The box lid is very tight and the lens fits inside so tight that I just broke my finger nail getting it out to photograph. 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! Curios that the drawing onto the box is of the short mount - Visoflex version. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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