REID
1945
1946
1947
1951
1953
1958
1959
1964
1970
Reid
& Sigrist Ltd. was set up by British Major G. H. Reid after World War
l, as a manufacturer of precision instruments, including those for aircraft.
The Allies
confiscate all German patents under the Control Council Law of October 1945
and, subsequently, make them freely available.
Having
studied plans and parts for the pre-war Leica lllb, Reid make up a number
of prototypes.
The
Reid camera is announced in the British Journal of Photography. Due to government
interference, and problems with subcontractors, no cameras make it to the
market over the next few years.
Production
begins with the so called 'O' cameras. These are engraved R S in an oval with
'Reid and Sigrist Ltd', with' London' below, in capital letters. Serial numbers
are preceded by an A. This changes to P on later models. Reid lll Type l cameras
are marketed. These are engraved with the normal Reid logo, and with 'Leicester'
replacing 'London'.
Reid
lll Type ll (Reid llla) introduced.
Reid
l introduced. This is similar in appearance to the Leica Standard and is a
Reid lll Type ll without the rangefinder and slow speeds. Although advertised
as available to the general public, it is aimed specifically at government
bodies (military and police).
The
Reid la is mentioned in the British Journal Photographic Almanac. This is
to be a copy of the Leica 1f, with the viewfinder of the Reid l replaced by
a second accessory shoe (no copies, or photographs, are known to exist). The
Reid ll is also announced in the British Journal Photographic Almanac. This
is said to be identical to the Reid lll, but without the slow speed dial (it
was probably never produced, and it may be that cameras stated to be Reid
ll's were put together from spares and sold by A.W.Young Ltd.).
Production
ceases and tools and spares are sold to A.W. Young Ltd. of London.
The
Decca company (of record fame) take over Reid & Sigrist and close down
the camera making activity almost immediately.
Detailed
information is available in the
article The Reid Camera, by Mike Hardy, published in the summer 2000 edition
of Photographica World - The Journal of the Photographic Collectors Club of
Great Britain. Additional information is given on pages 39 to 50 of Leica
Copies - By HPR - Classic Collection Publications, 1994.
