very early Leitz Leica ad from a CD compilation by Erwin Puts
Toronto. Early on photography became a main-stay of advertisements, brochures, and manuals. As camera and image collecting interest grew, so did interest in photographic history, including that of camera manufacturers.
Around the same time, the CD replaced the old vinyl records with a digital format and a longer play time. Modern homes had CD players in spite of discerning ears hearing their harsher rendering of music compared to the analogue vinyl sound.
People discovered the CD could be used to record text and images as well as music. Adobe’s PDF file format even allowed exact copies of a document’s layout including text and images. In the late 1990s Erwin Puts compiled a selection of Leitz documents, all carefully scanned and recorded on a CD titled, “LEICA History 1925 – 1965″.
Once used as backup media, the CD/DVD format is passing into history in the face of streaming services, thumb drives, and other solid state devices. In fact, many modern computers no longer have a built in CD/DVD reader/writer.
In issue 24-3 I reviewed the CD using a personal copy. The review begins, “This CD is the first of a several planned to provide inexpensive access to the many historical documents produced by various European camera manufactures.
“Author. The material was selected and assembled by Erwin Puts, a well-known Leica enthusiast and photographer. You can learn more about Erwin and his opinions on the various Leica reference books at http://www.imx.nl/photosite/leica/leica-home.html.
“Source. Erwin researched the Leitz Wetzlar archives held by Leica Camera in Solms [once in the nearby Wetzlar Leitz plant] and selected documents covering the Leica and related accessories. The selection is a mix of catalogues, brochures, instruction books and other materials published over the years 1901 to 1972. Most of the papers are marketing materials.” …
Members could read the rest of my ‘prose’ by viewing the pdf file for issue 24-3 on the free members-only DVD. Joining the PHSC is a snap (and cheap) – see Membership above or at right. Direct any questions to Lilianne at member@phsc.ca.
