Talk:Geiss
This is the discussion page for Geiss. Click here to start a new topic.
|
Ha I see in the page history that 11 years ago in one of my own edits I attributed all "Sandmar" lenses for Argus C3 to Geiss. Since then I've seen enough 1950s instances of "Sandmar" offered as a first-party product from Argus (although manufactured in Germany) that I'm doubting Geiss had the trademark first. Was it actually a trademark licensed to both by Enna Werk?--Vox (talk) 14:06, 18 October 2022 (UTC)
- Okay, I see that I wasn't entirely wrong in my 2011 edit—but the picture is still confusing:
- February, 1952, Geiss announces it will import Sandmar lenses for C3 from Germany
- May, 1952, Geiss is advertising the "first and only true telephoto" for C3
- September, 1952, Argus employee newsletter (page 6) shows "The Argus C3 telephoto made in Munich, Germany" not indicating whether Argus or Geiss is distributing.
- December, 1952, in the Argus Eyes newsletter (page 2), company president says "The telephoto lens, furthermore, has been well received, with orders for it still running somewhat ahead of our ability to deliver."
- March, 1953, in the Argus Eyes newsletter (pg. 2), president says, "The third product to be introduced at the photographic show in Chicago next month is a wide-angle lens for the C-3. This lens is being manufactured in Germany especially for our C-3 and will give us a complete line of accessory lens for the camera."
- May, 1953, Argus is advertising Sandmar lenses as a first-party product
- May, 1953, Geiss-America listed in a directory of Manufacturers and Importers; but I don't find contemporary ads for any products.
- [believed] 1955, Argus supports C-3 Sandmar lenses with its own instruction manual
- October, 1954, Geiss lenses for modified Argus C4 are announced (what Geiss is best known for)
- December, 1954, Enna Lithagon lenses for modified Argus C4 are advertised.
- Copyright 1961 Sandmar lens owners manual from Geiss; in its photos have "ARGUS" engravings just been painted over?
- This photo shows a patent number for a telephoto lens credited to a Munich/München inventor (home of Enna), assigned to "Harry J. Graw" of Chicago (home of Geiss-America). I also find this later patent for a wide-angle from this same duo. Significantly the Sandmar 35mm often seems engraved "US patent pending."--Vox (talk) 21:48, 18 October 2022 (UTC)