The first time I saw the
Leica Stammbaum (Family Tree) was in 1972 during a visit to Ernst Leitz Wetzlar
(that was the name of the company before it was changed to Leica Camera). It was on display in the Leica museum, located
at their old headquarters, which is now occupied by Leica Microsystems. It was an impressive display. You would reach it via a freestanding
staircase in the main lobby, going up to the second floor. The Stammbaum was the first item you saw at
the entrance to the museum.
It has changed little since
then. It still shows the Ur-Leica, the
original prototype at the bottom and then all subsequent models of the Leica
rangefinder cameras up to the first Leica reflex cameras. At that point the Stammbaum splits into two
sections, one for the Leica reflex models and one for the rangefinder cameras. The only changes have been the addition of
new camera models as they were developed, and the original Ur-Leica has been
replaced with a replica. The original is now sitting safely in a vault.
Of course the appearance of
the display has changed many times, especially when Leica made the move to
Solms several years ago. Even there the
display changed its appearance, the last time after the renovation of the Solms lobby about four years ago.
The original Leica Stammbaum in Solms prior to the renovation of the lobby
Photo: R. Kok
The Leica Stammbaum in Solms
Photo: H. Richter
Now that Leica has moved back
to Wetzlar, to their new headquarters at Leitz Park, the general assumption was
that the Leica Stammbnaum would move also.
But it hasn’t been on display at all.
The new Leica museum is showing a lot of exciting and rare items, but
the Stammbaum is nowhere to be seen
What happened? The simple answer is that Leica doesn’t own
the Stammbaum any longer. Just yesterday
I received word of what happened to it from the Leica Store in Manchester,
UK. The owner David Stephens kindly gave
us permission to use his account and photographs of this historical event.
In November 2013 David and Richard visited the old Leica Solms
Factory to collect some equipment. On display was the Historic Leica Stammbaum
minus the iconic collection from Leica’s 99 years of camera production. The
receptionist told us that the cameras had been taken to the new Leitz-Park in
Wetzlar for display in state of the art glass cabinets. So begged the question
– ‘What are you doing with the Tree?” –
After several conversations/emails and phone calls with the powers that
be we received an email in February 2014 saying that, for an agreed price, we
could ‘collect’ the Tree from Solms for our new Leica Store in Manchester.
Guess what? Richard and David booked the next available ferry from Hull to
Rotterdam and drove down to Solms, cash in pocket, to collect the one and only
Leitz Family Tree. What a coup !
The Leica Stammbaum in Solms after the move to Wetzlar
Photo: Leica Store Manchester
Photo: Leica Store Manchester
Not all went smoothly – the tree, even in its
disassembled three pieces was somewhat a snug fit in our trusty Octavia Estate.
So with chins on the dashboard we set off back to Manchester. Back at base we
started the task of assembling the history of Leica from 1914-2014 (100 Years
of Leica in Leica’s 100th Anniversary Year).
After several months and many trawls through various
online sites we finally managed to replicate the original ideology of the tree
display filling it with Pre Leica M Cameras, LeicaFlex Cameras, and Leica M and
R Cameras. Some of the cameras on the tree are exceedingly rare, and we are
privileged to be able to display them all in our store for Leica lovers around
the world to enjoy.
The Leica Stammbaum at its new home at Leica Store Manchester
Photo: Leica Store Manchester
Photo: Leica Store Manchester
What we have is a truly historical piece of Leica Art
which we hope you will come and enjoy next time you’re visiting Manchester.
I have to agree. This was indeed a coup.
For more information about
the Leica Store Manchester. Go to: www.leicastoremanchaster.com
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For high quality camera bags and accessories worthy of Leica equipment, go to
I am amazed that Leica sold the Solms Stammbaum.
ReplyDeleteYou certainly are not the only one. As the Leica grapevine has it, Leica is regretting that move.
DeleteThat must have been an entertaining trip on the way back from Solms to Manchester.
ReplyDelete