Posted - Feb 09 2014 : 12:36:45 PM Looks like it has been constructed for engineering try outs. Or its a part of educational crafting and workmanship, just like a trainee of a workshop made this as a project. Some parts look like they have been slimmed down.
Or at least, thats how I look at it (from an engineers point of view)
okynek
Posted - Feb 09 2014 : 11:59:29 AM Possibility that this camera is not Russian, but Chinese. Or it can be "home made" modification, or custom modification for special or scientific use. Possible that camera was modified for 24x18mm negatives or for special film size? (=>reason for second frame counter) Would be very interesting to pick inside of the camera.
Jacques M.
Posted - Feb 09 2014 : 11:21:38 AM Always about the speeds, I remembered something odd on early Leicas. After verification, the 500 first Leica I model A made in 1925 had a Z-25-40-60-100-200-500 scale. This was changed after into Z-20-30-40...
Anyway, I doubt this camera can be a direct Fed proto...Too much differences with the early Fed 1a. And the model was officially the Leica II (first batch in 1932), as far as we know... Perhaps a "lateral" work, if it was really made at Kharkov?
Jacques.
Vlad
Posted - Feb 09 2014 : 10:55:13 AM I'm more confused about the frame counter, those existed in that time period?
Jacques M.
Posted - Feb 09 2014 : 10:50:37 AM An interesting question.
Evidently, the lens is not original. But at least we know it's a M39 camera... The speed dial is more interesting. Hand written, why not on a prototype. But a new scale on a 1932-1933 camera? And no Z (or B) position. Curious.
