Both Bill and I have this old Russian catalog from 1969 and I've stumbled upon this very interesting section - a Sputnik-2 is described, and mentioned everywhere but the picture illustrates Sputnik-1. Bill and I had a discussion about this and he seems to think that this is not a mistake but a wrong picture.. any thoughts? http://www.ussrphoto.com/UserContent/2572009_s2-1.jpg
Just to add that the publication date of this "KATALOG" is November 1969.
Also the Sputnik-2 that is pictured on the catalog page has a serial number that looks to be No. 55000118 ... so the camera pictured is from 1955.
I have just noticed in the technical specifications page that the lens is listed as "T-35" ... the same lens listed in Princelle in the listing for Sputnik-2.
So, I am thinking that in 1969 there was the intention to produce a Sputnik-2 shortly and it was thought to be put into this catalog as "Sputnik-2" even though a photo of the new camera did not yet exist.
So here, an interesting mystery exists ... original Sputnik has a T-22 lens ... the Sputnik-2 in this catalog (and in Princelle) have a T-35 lens in the specs... the three cameras called Sputnik-2 that Alain Berry, David Tomlinson, and I have show a name of "MC TRIPLET-23" on the lens face plate.
I am thinking that over the years it was thought and actually decided to produce a Sputnik-2, but only different display models or prototypes were made and the actual Sputnik-2 was never produced. And so, the camera pictured in Princelle and the two or three Sputnik-2 cameras that were sold on Ebay two years ago may either be different versions of the display models, or possibly just fakes made by people who also saw this catalog.
So my questions are:
Why would a forger not put a "T-35" designation on the lens (instead of "T-23" since this is what is mentioned in this catalog and in Princelle?
Why does the camera Sputnik-2 in Princelle have a serial number of "58370" (1958 ?)?
Why do the Sputnik-2 cameras sold on Ebay have serial numbers beginning with "77xxxxxx" ?
Can anyone read this article and specs in Russian and come up with any answers that will help to clarify the history of a supposed Sputnik-2?
Here are links to our old discussions and WIKI listing of the Sputnik-2:
Sputnik-2 circa 1969??
Posted - Jul 25 2009 : 12:06:34 AM
