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 Look at this beauty, Queen of Russian cameras
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edger
15 Posts
Posted - Aug 18 2012 :  12:04:15 PM  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
I have an interesting version of FS-2 camera #1364 in near mint condition, in original box, with instruction manual and all accessories. This version of the camera was produced by GOI (Government Optical Institute) in Leningrad in 1943. There is a GOI logo on the camera’s mirror box, no KMZ logo. Later production of FS-2 cameras was transferred to the Moscow KMZ factory and GOI logo was replaced by KMZ logo with soviet star, sickle and hammer. The instruction manual says that this device was created for the military purposes, number of printed manuals is 100 copies. All the FS-2 cameras were sent to the soviet army immediately after production and vast majority of them were lost or damaged during the WW2. This FS-2 camera was presented by GOI to A.E.Dobrovolsky, who was the head of Soviet optical industry during the WW2 and directed Contax plant transportation from occupied Germany to USSR. He was the head of Kiev optical plant after the Contax equipment moved to Ukraine.


http://www.ussrphoto.com/UserContent/1882012_fs2_01.jpg


http://www.ussrphoto.com/UserContent/1882012_fs2_02.jpg


http://www.ussrphoto.com/UserContent/1882012_fs2_03.jpg


http://www.ussrphoto.com/UserContent/1882012_fs2_04.jpg


http://www.ussrphoto.com/UserContent/1882012_fs2_05.jpg


http://www.ussrphoto.com/UserContent/1882012_fs2_06.jpg


http://www.ussrphoto.com/UserContent/1882012_fs2_07.jpg


http://www.ussrphoto.com/UserContent/1882012_fs2_08.jpg


http://www.ussrphoto.com/UserContent/1882012_fs2_09.jpg


http://www.ussrphoto.com/UserContent/1882012_fs2_10.jpg


http://www.ussrphoto.com/UserContent/1882012_fs2_11.jpg


http://www.ussrphoto.com/UserContent/1882012_fs2_12.jpg


http://www.ussrphoto.com/UserContent/1882012_fs2_13.jpg


http://www.ussrphoto.com/UserContent/1882012_fs2_14.jpg


http://www.ussrphoto.com/UserContent/1882012_fs2_15.jpg


http://www.ussrphoto.com/UserContent/1882012_fs2_16.jpg


http://www.ussrphoto.com/UserContent/1882012_fs2_17.jpg


http://www.ussrphoto.com/UserContent/1882012_fs2_19.jpg


http://www.ussrphoto.com/UserContent/1882012_fs2_20.jpg


http://www.ussrphoto.com/UserContent/1882012_fs2_21.jpg


http://www.ussrphoto.com/UserContent/1882012_fs2_22.jpg


http://www.ussrphoto.com/UserContent/1882012_fs2_23.jpg


http://www.ussrphoto.com/UserContent/1882012_fs2_24.jpg

Edited by - edger on Aug 18 2012 4:25:46 PM
edger
15 Posts
Posted - Aug 18 2012 :  12:16:43 PM  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
...and one small, but important addition:


http://www.ussrphoto.com/UserContent/1882012_fs2_25.jpg

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edger
15 Posts
Posted - Aug 18 2012 :  1:29:46 PM  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
The camera was presented by GOI to A.E.Dobrovolsky, the head of Soviet optical industry during the WW2:


http://www.ussrphoto.com/UserContent/1882012_dobr01.jpg


Edited by - edger on Aug 18 2012 1:30:18 PM
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Vladislav Kern
Vlad
USA
4252 Posts
My Collection

Posted - Aug 19 2012 :  1:50:04 PM  Show Profile  Visit Vlad's Homepage  Reply with Quote


Hello Edger!

This is the nicest FS-2 I have ever seen indeed and such a historic piece made for Alexandr Dobrovolsky! Thank you very much for this post! Regarding the quantity of pieces, it says so right under "Tipographia" etc, which leads me to believe the quantity here referred to the number of instructions booklets and not the camera outfits.

Another interesting piece is here's a later picture of Dobrovolskiy:

http://www.ussrphoto.com/UserContent/1982012_dobrovoslkiy.jpg

And here's an early picture from Arsenal early Kiev production. Is he the guy on the left?

http://www.ussrphoto.com/UserContent/1982012_arsenal.jpg

Great post! May I add this outfit to our Wiki catalog with your permission?

Thanks!
Vlad.
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edger
15 Posts
Posted - Aug 19 2012 :  1:54:35 PM  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
Thanks, Vlad, yes, of course, you can add it to your Wiki catalog.
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edger
15 Posts
Posted - Aug 19 2012 :  2:35:21 PM  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
This outfit will be listed at Westlicht on November 23, 2012.
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Jacques M.
France
2604 Posts
Posted - Aug 20 2012 :  07:49:05 AM  Show Profile  Reply with Quote

A beautiful outfit, for sure...
Vlad, your picture of Arsenal is interesting. Are cameras Kievs or Contaxes? I cannot see exactly. And what about lenses? They look like 2,8/5cm or 3,5/5cm Tessars, not 2/5cm Sonnars or ZK. Do you know the date of the picture?

Amitiés. Jacques.
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Vladislav Kern
Vlad
USA
4252 Posts
My Collection

Posted - Aug 20 2012 :  08:47:42 AM  Show Profile  Visit Vlad's Homepage  Reply with Quote
Hi Jacques, this is actually a photo Bill Parkinson posted a while back, here's a thread for it for more information or if you'd like to continue discussion about it:

http://www.ussrphoto.com/Forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=1277
Cheers,
Vlad.
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Jacques M.
France
2604 Posts
Posted - Aug 20 2012 :  09:02:50 AM  Show Profile  Reply with Quote

I had completely forgotten that thread. Sorry
Must be my age!

I will dig out this thread.
Thanks, Vlad.
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edger
15 Posts
Posted - Sep 13 2012 :  07:09:03 AM  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
You can see this camera here:
http://www.westlicht-auction.com/index.php?id=174750
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edger
15 Posts
Posted - Sep 13 2012 :  2:25:45 PM  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
Space version of Leningrad is also very interesting:
http://www.westlicht-auction.com/index.php?id=174750
Never heard about this camera.

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okynek
759 Posts
Posted - Sep 14 2012 :  07:22:07 AM  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
This catalog also included Kiev 15 "75 birthday of L.I.Breznev"
I wonder if this camera was really made for the Soviet Leader birthday? Interesting how many cameras like this was produced?
Was only one camera presented as a gift to Soviet leader, or many was made for guests of the reception, kind like "Lenya's sweet seventy and a half birthday!" T-Shorts
If this camera is a real deal then "kiss my a$$" in USSR reached new high for me.
Something telling me that this camera may be fake.
I wonder if someone know more about this camera?
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Guido Studer
Guido
Switzerland
362 Posts
My Collection

Posted - Sep 14 2012 :  08:01:50 AM  Show Profile  Visit Guido's Homepage  Reply with Quote
Hello okynek

Under the picture is written in german (translated by Google with a little help from me):

"Unique equipment "75 Let LI Brezhnev Fotokomplekt 19/XII/1981" Camera Arsenal Kiev-15 TTL Nr.8003308 with 4 lenses: MIR-1 2,8 / 37mm Nr.8003308, Helios-81 Nr.8003308 2/53mm Jupiter-9 2/85mm Nr.8003308 and Jupiter-11 4/135mm Nr.8003308. All lenses and the camera have the same number and with the hammer and sickle and the words engraved "L.I. Breschnew 75 years". The camera lenses and two filters are mounted on a black aluminum plate machined from solid.
The equipment was build at the Arsenal factory in Kiev for the 75th Birthday of Leonid Brezhnev born on 19.12.1906 in the Ukraine, and should be handed to him at a birthday party on 19.12.1981 at the Arsenal factory in Kiev. Brezhnev was then also president and party leader of the CPSU. Even before his 75th Birthday Brezhnev was weakened by a stroke and was rarely in public. He died in 1982 without having had received the equipment. It remained in the Arsenal factory in Kiev. After the turmoil of 1989, the camera was sold and came to the West."

I don't think it's a fake.

Best wishes - Guido
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Luiz Paracampo
Luiz Paracampo
Brazil
2002 Posts
My Collection

Posted - Sep 14 2012 :  08:49:09 AM  Show Profile  Visit Luiz Paracampo's Homepage  Reply with Quote
This same kiev 15 camera was auctioned in 2002
I had this page long before this forum was born
http://www.novacon.com.br/odditycameras/kiev15.htm
and a similar space Leningrad can also be seen at
http://www.novacon.com.br/odditycameras/spleningrad.htm
Regards
LP
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Luiz Paracampo
Luiz Paracampo
Brazil
2002 Posts
My Collection

Posted - Sep 14 2012 :  08:51:40 AM  Show Profile  Visit Luiz Paracampo's Homepage  Reply with Quote
About being a fake on Brezhnev's kiev...........
I hava seen eventually some of them with different numbers
LP
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okynek
759 Posts
Posted - Sep 14 2012 :  09:34:02 AM  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
Thank you very much Guido for translation! I really appreciate it!
The story is great, I just have filling that this is only a story.
If auctioneers can prove it by documents then story become a fact.
Following the story, Breznev did not receive camera and never hold this set in his hands. It take most of the historic value off the set.
It also make it so much harder to prove that story is true. If camera would be presented to Breznev it would be witnesses, pictures, documents and more.
If camera was made by official order then it must be written request, or contract, it also would have passport and manuals.
I also ask myself a questions why it made the way it does? Would I make camera this way for Breznev?
I think no, I would make it differently. Camera is not a Faberge egg. It intended to be used, at list ones. Would Breznev use camera with such front plate to make pictures? He would looks really ridicules to me
I can go on and on about luck of many accessories I would expect to be included, no useful case what set came in, strange serial number.
I do not say that this set is fake yet, but I see to many red flags on it
I really like to see more prove.

Edited by - okynek on Sep 14 2012 11:18:12 AM
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okynek
759 Posts
Posted - Sep 14 2012 :  11:13:05 AM  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
Thank you Luiz for the links. I sow another "Space Leningrad" some time ago on eBay. They may not be as unique as auctioneers think.
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Martti Muda
fotomuda
Estonia
155 Posts
My Collection

Posted - Sep 14 2012 :  11:25:46 AM  Show Profile  Visit fotomuda's Homepage  Reply with Quote
All in English

http://www.westlicht-auction.com/index.php?id=174750&_ssl=off&lang=3
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edger
15 Posts
Posted - Oct 21 2012 :  09:16:27 AM  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
66% of items listed in the Russian cameras section of november Westlicht auction are FS-2 photosnipers:
http://www.westlicht-auction.com/index.php?id=2402217&acat=2402217&_ssl=off
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edger
15 Posts
Posted - Nov 24 2012 :  12:00:16 PM  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
The beauty was sold for ˆ 40 800:
http://www.westlicht-auction.com/index.php?id=2402217&acat=2402217&_ssl=off
I am sure it was a really perspective investment for the winner, the value of the camera will be much higher very soon.





Edited by - edger on Nov 25 2012 3:06:24 PM
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Vladislav Kern
Vlad
USA
4252 Posts
My Collection

Posted - Nov 29 2012 :  6:57:09 PM  Show Profile  Visit Vlad's Homepage  Reply with Quote
Wow! thanks for the update!
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edger
15 Posts
Posted - Dec 01 2012 :  3:20:43 PM  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
I hope the high bidder was one of this forum members.
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