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 Strange serial on Ajax F-21
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Mikael Billstrom
billan

Sweden
4 Posts
Posted - Nov 18 2011 :  6:23:19 PM  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
Hi!

I recently bought a F-21 which has serial number: N* 33708. I have read in several forums that the two first numbers represent the production year, but that is not possible if they started producing the cameras about 1951...

The camera seems to be original and used.

Do anyone have any ideas about this? I have watched several photos and newer seen any F-21 with similar serial number.

Guido Studer
Guido
Switzerland
362 Posts
My Collection

Posted - Nov 18 2011 :  6:52:44 PM  Show Profile  Visit Guido's Homepage  Reply with Quote
Hello Mikael

The mystery of the s/n of the F-21 is not yet solved. I have collected some numbers over the years and I found some blocks of s/n beginning with 5xxx, 3xxxx, 7xxxx, T7xxxx, T8xxxx and T9xxxx. I think the (later) "T" models are numbred by year, the earlier ones my be batches made over some years. Maybe also the 7xxxxx range could be numbred alike. It could well be that the 5xxx serie may also represent the year in the two first numbers, at least from 1951 trough 1953. There exist also other numbers, i.e. 006xxx, Pxxxxx or 2Pxxx and 2Ixxx.

If I should guess I would say your camera was made in the late 50's or in the 60's. But that's just a wild speculation. ;-)

If anyone have more infos about the existing numbers I would be happy to see a list.

Best wishes - Guido
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xalmaz
Russia
37 Posts
My Collection

Posted - Nov 19 2011 :  03:20:24 AM  Show Profile  Visit xalmaz's Homepage  Reply with Quote
Hello Mikael,
If your read on russian, this page for you(KMZ make F-21):
http://www.zenitcamera.com/qa/qa-serialnumbers.html
If your unknown russian, in two words: for military products serial number can contain(exactly known only military customer, rules changed in times): PYQNNNNN. P - last digit of plant-maker(KMZ has #393), Y - last digit of year(1953,1963,...), Q - quoter of year, NNNNN - serial number in quoter. Or maybe PYMNN, 7 - mean month in year. Choose yourself: #708 in year, #8 in july. e.t.c...
And letter "T" mean tropical.

http://xalmaz.narod.ru
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Mikael Billstrom
billan
Sweden
4 Posts
Posted - Nov 19 2011 :  05:21:28 AM  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
Hi!!

Thanks for two great awnsers! I am so impressed that there is people that knows about this - I am amazed!

Thank you for taking time to awnser!
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Mikael Billstrom
billan
Sweden
4 Posts
Posted - Nov 19 2011 :  08:23:14 AM  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
Hi Xalmaz!

Thanks for great help! Is is right that my camera is from KMZ fabric, made "year 3" aso. Is it possible to know from which decade it belongs (1953 -63 -73 -83)?

TAHNKS!!


quote:
Originally posted by xalmaz

Hello Mikael,
If your read on russian, this page for you(KMZ make F-21):
http://www.zenitcamera.com/qa/qa-serialnumbers.html
If your unknown russian, in two words: for military products serial number can contain(exactly known only military customer, rules changed in times): PYQNNNNN. P - last digit of plant-maker(KMZ has #393), Y - last digit of year(1953,1963,...), Q - quoter of year, NNNNN - serial number in quoter. Or maybe PYMNN, 7 - mean month in year. Choose yourself: #708 in year, #8 in july. e.t.c...
And letter "T" mean tropical.

http://xalmaz.narod.ru

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xalmaz
Russia
37 Posts
My Collection

Posted - Nov 26 2011 :  1:01:30 PM  Show Profile  Visit xalmaz's Homepage  Reply with Quote
Hi Mikael!
I'm not an expert in F-21, probably, if you insert picture of yours F-21, we can talk more precise.

http://xalmaz.narod.ru
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