Some time ago there was a thread about this topic, and I have recently noticed something rather odd. The cases concerned are those that have the upper right part of the body front shortened, presumably to allow for a slow speed dial. I have four of such cases - one is in normal plain leather with the longer lens cover for the f2.0 standard lens, so perhaps originally made for the Fed-B? The other three have the normal short lens cover for the f3.5 standard lens.
The strange bit is this - one of the cases has the ´lizard skin´ patterned leather and came with a Fed-1d s/n 173xxx. A second case is identical and came with a Fed-1e s/n 175xxx, and the third similar case is in plain leather and came with a Fed-1e s/n 183xxx. Recently on eBay there was another Fed-1e s/n 182xxx and ... yes, you´ve guessed it, identical case to 183xxx.
So there we have it - four somewhat unusual cases all with cameras having fairly close s/ns.
Fed-1d - 173xxx - Lizard skin pattern - Shaped for slow speed control Fed-1e - 175xxx - Lizard skin pattern - Shaped for slow speed control Fed-1e - 182xxx - Plain leather - Shaped for slow speed control Fed-1e - 183xxx - Plain leather - Shaped for slow speed control
I used to have such a case (with the Lizard skin pattern), it went away with a camera I sold long ago. I remember somehow that I mentioned about it back then. Its a dream to have a slow speed Fed 1 one day...
Unhappily, I don't always keep the bag when a camera is here: not enough place... It's a pity: difficult to say anything of the correspondences between bag and camera after. And the sellers themselves often mix any bag with a camera...
However, I think you are right. It seems that "lizard" skins are often seen with the last 1d-s and those with the low speed dial shape (prepared for the 1B-s) often with the 1e-s. Perhaps something to see with WW2?
Anyway, an interesting question...
Amitiés. Jacques. PS: Alain Berry had a 1B with such a special case. And his 1B was an early eBerdsk one (between 173600 and 174000, if I remember correctly).
Pre-war Fed cases
Posted - Feb 02 2012 : 4:37:56 PM
