Texas Leica

“Texas Leica” refers to a camera with a big rangefinder. Most often, a Fuji camera is called a “Texas Leica.” Texas means “big” and Leica means “best” in this nickname. The “Texas Leica” term has been in use since at least 1991.
   
 
Wikipedia: Leica
Leica is the name of several cameras produced by a German company of the same name. The company, formerly Ernst Leitz GmbH, is now three companies: Leica Camera AG, Leica Geosystems AG, and Leica Microsystems GmbH, which produce cameras, geosurvey equipment and microscopes, respectively. Leica Microsystems GmbH is the owner of the Leica brand, and grants licenses to Leica Camera AG and Leica Geosystems.
   
photo.net forum
Just be curious: where does the name “Texas Leica” come from?
S. LIU , may 21, 2004; 07:43 p.m.
I did a search on photo.net, most people call some Fuji rangerfinders “Texas Leicas” but some people also call other medium format rangerfinders “Texas Leicas”. My questions is not what is “Texas Leica” but where the name comes from. Since I am not a American, perhaps I missed some culture background meaning of the word “Texas”. Google search is not very helpful for question like this.

Answers
Jason Everitt , may 21, 2004; 07:51 p.m.
Texas = big
The MF rangefinders are like big Leicas.
A mickey of alcohol = 375 mL
A TEXAS mickey = 3L
(...)
Dale Dickerson , may 21, 2004; 07:58 p.m.
There are old expressions, “They grow them big in Texas.” and “The best is from Texas”
A MF rangefinder is big compared to a 35mm Leica rf. If you believe that old Texas expressions, that big MF rf must be from Texas. If you believe Texas only produces the very best and that the very best rf is a Leica the camera must be a “Texas Leica”.
 
However everyone know the very best rf is a Contax II and New York is where you find the biggest and best. So really it should be called a “New York Contax”.
 
What do you expect? I live in NY. I am not going to say Texas! 😊
   
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From: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) (Alan K Biocca)
Date: 28 Dec 91 05:14:30 GMT
Subject: Re: What ever happened to fully manual cameras?
 
There are quite a few good new manual cameras still on the market.  I just got one (for christmas), a Fuji GS670II, sometimes referred to as a “Texas Leica”.  No batteries, meters, or any of that modern junk.  And a real “‘adult’ sized” negative that you can evaluate without a magnifying glass!
     
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From: Donald Farra

Date: 6 Oct 1993 16:44:30 GMT
Subject: Re: Bicycling / hiking / climbing and photography
 
You may want to check out the Fujica 645 camera.  It has a built in meter of sorts, and its optic are very good.  There is no mirror and it is well built. The camera uses medium format film and produces 6x4.5cm negatives.

I use the 645s bigger brother, the 690GSW (or more commonly known as the Texas Leica),