I have posted the story of my trip to the Leica factory in Solms today. Although long, the story may prove useful for some of you.

http://www.thebakers.org/leica

-- Kevin Baker (kevin@thebakers.org), January 18, 2002

Answers

Kevin, congratulations! - a fascinating account of your visit that really makes me want to follow in your footsteps.

I was surprised to hear the tour is three hours long and very comprehensive it seems. How often are these tours held?

What else can you tell us of the factory, how many people are assembling M's etc?

-- Giles Poilu (giles@monpoilu.icom43.net), January 18, 2002.

Dear Kevin: Your description is a true tour de force of its own!! I am not surprised that you did not see the R8 production area but I suspect that most of the assembly now takes place in Portugal! Anyway, I felt that I was in Solms with you. (8>))--Albert

-- Albert Knapp MD (albertknappmd@mac.com), January 18, 2002.

Kevin,

Thank you so much for the write-up of Leica Factory Tour. A few years ago while travelling to Solms and Wetzlar, I had a very similar Leica Factory Tour as yours. Actually I was quite elated (and grateful) to have such a tour given the fact that I only gave Leica two hours of notice. Mr. Karl-Hans Welcker was on vacation that day and he had to drive to Solms to meet us at the factory from his home at Wetzlar. This goes to show you the type of organization that Leica is. I'm impressed. BTW, for those of you who plan to visit Solms factory and need lodging, your chances of finding a place to stay is better off at Wetzlar. I stayed at the Hotel Wetzlar (Burgerhof), which has impeccable quality of service while I was there. From Wetzlar to Solms is about 20 minutes by driving, on the way you will pass the Minox factory as well :)

-- Gerald (hsus@netzero.net), January 18, 2002.

Thank you so much. A very interesting report. Please, what are the demographics of the work force? Young, old, male, female, etc.?

-- Dan Brown (brpatent@swbell.net), January 18, 2002.

Hello Kevin,

thanks for this report! I went thtough it with a lot of interest. It made me feel like going again through the factory which I did about a year ago. Tours are conducted on demand AFIK. Because of short notice, I was the only German on a tour in English ...

Mr. Karl-Heinz Welcker works from his office in Wetzlar. You could call this outsourcing. I think he is retired(!) after a long duty with LEITZ/ LEICA but his enthusiasm and love for the LEICA keeps him going. He can be contacted to book the tour by phone (+) 6441 200 90 99.

Best wishes

-- K. G. Wolf (k.g.wolf@web.de), January 19, 2002.

Answers to the questions above:

The factory normally offers tours on Thursdays and Fridays. English tours are scheduled as demand dictates, but at least one or two a month plus special requests.

People assembling M cameras look to number around 12-15. That includes every aspect of assembly from what I could see. Part of the assembly room was not available when I was there. Could be more folks in there.

Demographics in the facility were typical for the area. Most of the workers were middle age (35-50) and there were several extremes to the young and old. Several young women (22-24) were working in the grinding and polishing area. Several elderly people were working in various parts of the factory. All were very cordial and the older men and women seemed to be performing mentorship on the younger folks in some areas. The young women in the polishing area were receptive to what appeared to be advice or coaching from an older man. Teamwork seemed to be as common as the "red dot" scattered everywhere around the factory.

One more thing... While in the area I noticed several Japanese men there. I'm sure if anyone else sees them there will be the obvious speculation that "LEICA HAS BEEN SOLD TO NIKON", etc... Leica may be sold now and again, but the craftsmanship of their people in the factory make the difference, and as long as they are what I saw, I'm not worried.

-- Kevin Baker (kevin@thebakers.org), January 19, 2002.

Hi, Kevin.

Thanks very much for your posting.

I don't remember havig seen photos made by you but if you make them the way you write you are a very well accomplished photographer too, Sir !

Thanks, again

-Iván

-- Iván Barrientos M (ingenieria@simltda.tie.cl), January 19, 2002.

Thank you for the report. Next time I visit our head office in Herzogenaurach I must stopover in Frankfurt to do the tour. By the way I understand Leica distributors from afar send technicians to Solms for training. The repairmeister I use here in Hong Kong was trained at Wetzler many decades ago.

-- ray tai (razerx@netvigator.com), January 31, 2002.

The M6TTL is not assembled in Solms. It's only finished. That means only the top cover, wind lever, flash shoe, speed dial and "red dot"... are added there. 90% of it is assembled in Portugal.

And the staff and work force in Vila Nova de Famalicão can be really proud of the wonderful job.

The reason you didn't saw the R8 assembly line is because it's made 100% in Portugal since a year now (before it was also 90%).

-- Lucien (lucien_vd@yahoo.fr), January 31, 2002.