Walter Kluck in his office at Leitz Canada with a Leica M4-P. Circa 1980 – courtesy of LHSA article
Toronto. Continuing with the exchange member ‘guest’ article to celebrate our 25th anniversary year [1999], editor Bob Lansdale chose this piece from the Leica Historical Society of America (LHSA) titled, “Long Live the Leica M! A tribute to Walter Kluck, 1922-1996″ written by Rolf Fricke just across the lake.
Rolf’s article is highlighted by these words.”Oskar Barnack invented the Leica camera in 1914. Ernst Leitz II marketed it in 1925. Ludwig Leitz and Willi Stein updated it with the Leica M3 in 1954. Walter Kluck at Midland, Ontario saved the Leica M line from extinction in 1976.”
And yes, the famous ‘M’ line lives to this day as a fine digital camera! When the article was published, Bob had an M6 in his arsenal and often got positive comments on the quality and sharpness of his prints taken with a summicron (f/2) 35mm focal length lens. I have the same Mandler designed lens, but on an M4 camera.
In his tribute to Walter, Rolf begins, “It is because of Walter Kluck that the M-Leica is alive and well today. M-series rangefinder Leicas flourished until the seventies, when Japanese single-lens-reflex cameras reached a dominant level of popularity among photographers, thus reducing the demand for rangefinder cameras. Lower quantities and rising manufacturing costs made production of rangefinder Leicas uneconomical in the historical town of Wetzlar, Germany, the traditional home of the Leica.
“This led to the painful decision to discontinue Leica rangefinder cameras, retaining only the new line of Leicaflex cameras. The end of Leica M camera production in Wetzlar would, in turn, trigger the cessation of Leica M lens production in Midland.
“That decision was about to be implemented when Walter Kluck, the enterprising president of Ernst Leitz Canada Limited, vigorously campaigned for the transfer of Leica M4 camera production to Canada. Leica M lens production accounted for a major portion of Leitz Canada’s business, and its cancellation would mean serious difficulties for that company. The manufacture of other optical products (like military and specialty optics) was still too small to absorb the cancellation of Leica M lenses.
“Besides, Kluck was totally loyal to Leitz, and he firmly believed in the Leica M system. He was also deeply concerned with protecting the jobs in the Midland plant, so he did what only a courageous manager would dare to do in such a situation—he forged ahead.” …
To read all of this article, view the issue 25-2 pdf file on the free members-only DVD/thumb drive. To join the PHSC, look above or at right to ‘Membership’. Email any questions to Lilianne at member@phsc.ca. And be sure to attend all our 2025 events (the October 19th fair is next). While we can’t say you will find that special old Leitz/Leica bit for your collection, we can say you will see old friends and some items to perfectly complement your collection.
