Leitz sumptuous item name codes

[lxmike]

I love everything to do with screw thread leicas, l adore the craftsmanship, the gadgets, but most of all l love the names items have such as SBLOO and so forth. I am sure this question may have been asked and answered before, how, what when and why did Leitz employ such codes to their items, was there a logical system behind the names?

 

[xayraa33]

I love everything to do with screw thread leicas, l adore the craftsmanship, the gadgets, but most of all l love the names items have such as SBLOO and so forth. I am sure this question may have been asked and answered before, how, what when and why did Leitz employ such codes to their items, was there a logical system behind the names?

Leitz used the five letter code names sorted alphabetically. Leitz introduced code names for their products in 1928, so that orders by dealers could be placed by telegraph without extra confusion. Since about 1959, Leica has used five digit numeric values instead of the well loved code names.

 

[lxmike]

Leitz used the five letter code names sorted alphabetically. Leitz introduced code names for their products in 1928, so that orders by dealers could be placed by telegraph without extra confusion. Since about 1959, Leica has used five digit numeric values instead of the well loved code names.

thank you this is both helpful and interesting

 

[Sumarongi]

Well, without any doubt the best one is: NOOKY.

Doesn't mean anything in German, and I guess it cannot be found in standard bilingual dictionaries ....

Hmmm... probably an English speaking maker should have made, for their German speaking consumers' equivalent amusement, a "SCHNACKSI", or so 😉

 

[lxmike]

Well, without any doubt the best one is: NOOKY.

Doesn't mean anything in German, and I guess it cannot be found in standard bilingual dictionaries ....

Hmmm... probably an English speaking maker should have made, for their German speaking consumers' equivalent amusement, a "SCHNACKSI", or so 😉

😀😀😀😀😀😀

 

[michaelwj]

There is some method in a sea of madness, for instance codes beginning with P are generally filters, R is mostly used for Reprovit copy stand equipment, and many early binoculars had a code starting with B.
The best ones however are the ones that sound something like what they were.

 

[David Hughes]

Firstly, it was best for telegrams as 5 unit codes counted as one word. And letters were simpler to transmit by hand in Morse.

Secondly, numbers are limited to a few thousand combinations (10x10x10x10x10) and letters mean 26x26x26x26x26.

Lastly, these codes were commonplace in the days of telegrams; f'instance Bentley's and C&W's.

I used C&W's a lot for international work when I was a civil servant. Copies of the code books were rare and people who had them would auction them off on retirement. Luckily you could remember the common ones; for example TUNHO meant do you agree? or I/we agree. I could type that in my sleep in the 60's and often did...

Regards, David

 

[Dralowid]

And don't forget sending Cables...or Telexes

 

[Rob-F]

If they were still using code names today, I guess the M9 might have been KAPUT for a while, until the sensors got fixed.

 

[David Hughes]

And don't forget sending Cables...or Telexes

Hi,

If you knew what telegraphists got up to during the night you'd never forget and you'd shudder now and then...

Regards, David

 

[maigo]

Hi,

If you knew what telegraphists got up to during the night you'd never forget and you'd shudder now and then...

Regards, David

Ooooo... maybe... naughty telegraphists and the predecessor of Snapchat - Snaptap.

This could be the missing chapter from the book "The Victorian Internet"

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[farlymac]

If they were still using code names today, I guess the M9 might have been KAPUT for a while, until the sensors got fixed.

I like that. And anything going to Leica USA could be listed as SNAFU. 😀

PF

 

[Richard G]

I like the SHOOC finder very much (135). It sounds good. SVGOO is harder to pronounce and it suggests a Swedish overtone (90mm finder). SBOOI seems Asian and is indispensable on an LTM with a 50. The SBKOO sounds Japanese and suicidal which it isn’t as it’s a pretty good 21 finder. The SLOOZ, for the 28, sounds more louche...

 

[Mr_Flibble]

I'm partial to RIFLE myself.

 

[Dralowid]

What was the Leitz cable address at Mortimer Street?

 

[David Hughes]

What was the Leitz cable address at Mortimer Street?

The only place you'd find that would be on their headed notepaper. They don't even publish a 'phone number for Mortimer St in their 1930's catalogues.


I expect we'll get a lot of suggestions, though...


Regards, David

 

[JMQ]

If they were still using code names today, I guess the M9 might have been KAPUT for a while, until the sensors got fixed.

Rob, I nearly spat out my coffee when I read your post!

 

[andrewmore]

microtome, london

was the telegraphic address of Leitz for their Mortimer Street office

I found a photographic on-line of a letter headed paper to do with the sale of the last M3 camera or some such - I'd struggle to find it again as I can't remember what combination of words I used to search for the information…

Regards

Andrew C. More

 

[Sumarongi]

microtome, london

was the telegraphic address of Leitz for their Mortimer Street office

I found a photographic on-line of a letter headed paper to do with the sale of the last M3 camera or some such - I'd struggle to find it again as I can't remember what combination of words I used to search for the information…

https://leicarumors.com/wp-content/...t-Leica-M3-ever-produced-on-sale-on-eBay5.jpg
from: https://leicarumors.com/2018/06/01/...is-currently-on-sale-on-ebay-for-595000.aspx/

See also this here:
http://www.ernst-leitz-wetzlar.de/kataloge/microtomes/index.htm

 

[lxmike]

There is some method in a sea of madness, for instance codes beginning with P are generally filters, R is mostly used for Reprovit copy stand equipment, and many early binoculars had a code starting with B.
The best ones however are the ones that sound something like what they were.

l find it all so enthralling