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Leica Camera AG


Short history

In 1849 Carl Kellner (1826-1855) founded the "Optical Institute" (Optiches Institut) in Wetzlar, Germany, which began manufacturing microscopes. In 1869 Ernst Leitz (1843-1920) assumed the direction of the Opisches Institute and the company was renamed Ernst Leitz Optische Werke, continuing to manufacturing the microscopes. Leitz started manufacturing also binoculars in 1907. Leica started manufacturing Leica cameras by Oskar Barnack in 1913.

In 1914, Ernst Leitz founded a company called Leica Camera AG in Germany. The name Leica comes from the first three letters of the founder, "Leitz = Lei" and first two letters of the word “Camera = Ca”, namely Lei + CA = Leica.

Leica modell Ia, 1927. Photo: CC-PD 4.0.

In 1920 Ernst Leitz’s son Ernst Leitz II, assumes the company direction and becomes a joint-stock company, under the name Ernst Leitz GmbH. After the Second World War, Leitz GmbH continued to manufacture the cameras. In 1952, Leica opened a factory in Canada 1952 and in 1973 in Portugal.

In October 1954, Leica announced its first riflescope model, which were the most advanced riflescopes in that period. Leica has been operating in Wetzlar until 1986, when it moved to Solms. At the same time, Ernst Leitz GmbH changed its name and became Leica GmbH. Leica Camera AG, which bears the name Leica, remained as an independent company. In 1998 the Leica Group companies Leica Camera, Leica Microsystems and Leica Geosystems are three independent companies.

Leica Camera AG, Wetzlar, 2015. Photo: CC-PD 4.0.

During its long history, Leica has manufactured and manufactures still very high-quality cameras, riflescopes, laser rangefinders, microscopes and other optical devices. Today Leica Camera AG employs approximately 1 600 employees and its headquarter is in Wetzlar.


References

  • Leica, url: http://us.leica-camera.com, 16.1.2019
  • leica, url: http://en.leica-camera.com, 16.1.2019
  • Leica magnus, url: http://www.nordis.fi, 17.2.2018
  • Leica Magnus Riflescope, url: http://www.all4shooters.com, 17.2.2018
  • Leica Magnus in depth test and review, url: http://www-rifleshootermagazine.co.uk, 20.2.2018
  • Leica, url: httpp://www.leica.pt, 19.1.2019

★ January 1, 2019 (✪ April 27, 2019)

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