Which is the "We Saved the Company" Commemorative?

I think it would be a tie between (1) the M4-2, which indeed pulled Wetzlar's hindquarters from the fire, and (2) the Hexar RF, which kicked said hindquarters (now relocated to Solms) hard enough to push development of the M7, further moving things along.

And, shouldn't the inscription read, "YOU Saved the Company?"


- Barrett
 
Last edited:
The Kentucky Fried Chicken Camera a.k.a Year of the Rooster
The Sultan of Brunei's gold plated and diamond encrusted monstrocity
The Royal Wedding Camera
The Anton Bruckner M6 with 12 CD's of Bruckners Music
The Oresundsbron (Danish 1/2 of the bridge between Copenhangen and Malmo
The Ein Stuck - how to buy REALLY lousy stocks
The Flag decorated M6 TTL's. At lest you could remove the flags with solvent.
The Last 1000 M6 TTL's!
and on and on.
These cameras guarantees sales as you have to order a certain number and pre-pay. Cash in hand for Leica. It is then up to the dealers to try to make some money back on them.
The good thing with the commemorative "specials" is that one doesn't have to buy them. However, they do allow Leica to continue to produce cameras for those of us who wants a good box with shutterspeeds and focusing system built in to it (which is really all a camera body is!).
 
Now I get the question, I think. Are you asking which commemorative model was perhaps made in honor of someone, or some organisation, as "thanks" or "repayment in kind" (read "free" advertising,) for a bail out cheque?

I reckon " The Sultan of Brunei's gold plated and diamond encrusted monstrocity" as Tom put it.

It all lead to the a la carte program. IMHO a service of no interest to most - apart from the fact different viewfinder mags were made "a la carte" options only for the M7 some time ago.
 
Isn't the MP (basic model or ala carte) a commemorative camera, to honor the original "Mechanical perfection" of the M2/3?

My guess the standard MP

Marcus
 
None -- or all.

As long as you're making and selling Leicas, it doesn't matter what you engrave on them.

Most of the so-called 'Commemoratives' are not Leica initiatives, but orders from clubs, dealers/importers or even individuals.

Would any rational company turn down a big order, with a nice mark-up, just because of the moans of a few ultra-purists, the greater part of whom have probably never bought a new Leica in their lives? And who will probably never even see, let alone handle, these 'funnies'?

Cheers,

R.
 
TJV said:
Now I get the question, I think. Are you asking which commemorative model was perhaps made in honor of someone, or some organisation, as "thanks" or "repayment in kind" (read "free" advertising,) for a bail out cheque?

.
Click to expand...

No, not at all.
History is subject to interpretation, even Leica history.

I am asking which Leica Commemorative was really about more than it seemed to be at face value.

Face value said one thing. Significance said "WE saved the company (and you didn't)." Granted, this is my way of looking at it, NOT the official Leica way of looking at it.

Stephen
 
"We saved the Company" Commemorative?

Sounds like the Black Paint LHSA M6, isn't it?

If it isn't brassed, it isn't a collectible-inspired camera that won't dare to be brassed. Or photograph any commemorations with.

I once advanced (advanced! The Humanity!) a Black Paint M6, and a Dubai Titanium M6...oh, the look on their face was a Kodak moment.
 
Roger Hicks said:
The French have a saying: plus royaliste que le roi, more royalist than the king. An astonishing number of Leica commentators seem to think that they have a God-given revelation that makes them understand the brand better than the owners.
Click to expand...

The Spaniards have another one: más católico que el Papa.
 
maddoc said:
The Leica CL ? The M5 brought them down and the CL kept the company alive.
Click to expand...

no. The M5 and CL together almost destroyed Leica.

There was a demand for a small Leica simply because there had never been a small M Leica before. The CL was wonderfully successful in sales. But it destroyed M5 sales while giving less profit to Leica as it was made by Minolta. People talk about the failure of the M5, without realizing it may have been very successful had it not been sold alongside the CL.

Remember, the question is about a commemorative, not standard production.

Stephen
 
The other one that comes to mind is the M6 "Ein Stück". I think this camera was offered when Leica decided to change from a "GmbH" (Ltd.) into a corporation. "Ein Stück" means "one piece", opposite to divert the ownership of the company to a broad society of share-holder.
 
maddoc said:
The other one that comes to mind is the M6 "Ein Stück". I think this camera was offered when Leica decided to change from a "GmbH" (Ltd.) into a corporation. "Ein Stück" means "one piece", opposite to divert the ownership of the company to a broad society of share-holder.
Click to expand...

logical,
but Leica Wetzlar did not save Leica Wetzlar.

Stephen
 
maddoc said:
The other one that comes to mind is the M6 "Ein Stück". I think this camera was offered when Leica decided to change from a "GmbH" (Ltd.) into a corporation. "Ein Stück" means "one piece", opposite to divert the ownership of the company to a broad society of share-holder.
Click to expand...

are you serious?! there was a commemorative for this?!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom