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Christopher Sabine
ChrisS
Spain
29 Posts |
 Posted - Apr 16 2013 : 3:13:52 PM
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Hi all
Do we have any information concerning the annual numbers of early Zorki-3 made before the year code was added to the serial number? The earliest year code seems to be 54 when the s/n was in the 5000's - can we be more precise about the actual date of introduction of the year code, perhaps from known passports?
SovietCams website lists under PM1260 a camera with two serial numbers, an old one without year prefix on the R/F housing and a new s/n on the body top plate with prefix - however the two camera numbers are different. This seems strange to me as I would expect the two numbers to correspond. Are any more examples like this known, or could this camera simply have had an earlier R/F housing fitted as a replacement, perhaps for a damaged one?
There also seem to be some transitional cameras corresponding to PM1245 (slow speed detent and large V/F window), but with later year-marked serial numbers. I have one in my collection with s/n 547248, and I have recorded several others with numbers in the 7, 8 and 9xxx serial range of 1954. There seems to be a considerable transitional overlap of features at this time, but when?
I also have an early camera in the late 03xxx serial range corresponding to PM1235 fitted with a 1953 Jupiter-8 lens. Both camera body and lens are in a similar well-used condition and everything functions very smoothly - perhaps that's why it has been well used! One of the locking catches on the baseplate, the one below the wind-on, is of a type I have not seen before, but seems to be original - it has a separate small central section (perhaps intended to be detachable or spring-loaded?) but seems to operate normally - is this just an early version?
Any answers to these queries gratefully received.
ATB Chris. |
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Vladislav Kern
Vlad
USA
4252 Posts
My Collection
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Posted - Apr 16 2013 : 8:12:53 PM
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Hi Christopher,
There is no data on how many were made but the transition happened in the second half of 1954. Highest camera I've seen with 5 digit serial # is around 05600.
Source: 1200 Cameras from USSR book.
Cheers,
Vlad. |
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Guido Studer
Guido
Switzerland
362 Posts
My Collection
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Posted - Apr 16 2013 : 9:03:51 PM
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Hello Christopher
As a collector with special interests in the Zorki 3 I have build a page with some information on this camera (see [1], sorry, german only). The last Zorki 3 with the short number I ever saw was the 06179 (seen on eBay, IIRC), the first with the year prefix is the 546413 (in my own collection).
I hope this will help.
Best wishes - Guido
[1] http://www.g-st.ch/privat/kameras/zorki3.html |
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levonsa
levonsa
Russia
248 Posts |
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Jacques M.
France
2604 Posts |
Posted - Apr 17 2013 : 1:39:48 PM
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Hello,
About Zorki3/3M, there were 106 of them made in 1951, 1335 in 1952, 671 in 1953 and 34145 in 1954. Just to finish: 48862 in 1955 and 2450 in 1956.
There were many variations during the first years: the position of some screws, the screws of the accessory shoe (hidden or not), the rim (or not) round the viewfinder, the presence (or not) of a triangular shoe to steady the camera, the locking pin (or not) on the slow speed dial on the 3M. Certainly, I miss several changes. Even the size of the viewfinder was changed!
Probably, the 3/3M must be considered as a laboratory for the future 4...
Chris, it would be interesting to have a photo of the baseplate of your 03xxx. As for me, I have the 00707 with a huge viewfinder.
Thanks, Alex, for your astonishing crossover models! Really, an exciting camera! And one of the most beautiful...
Amitiés. Jacques. |
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Christopher Sabine
ChrisS
Spain
29 Posts |
Posted - Apr 17 2013 : 3:58:39 PM
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Hello Vlad, Guido, Alex and Jacques
Many thanks for your very helpful replies. I am preparing some observations on this model of camera as I think a number of features are worthy of comment, both from data gleaned from your replies and also from a few things I have noticed which I have not seen recorded elsewhere - nothing dramatic but perhaps worth noting. I will include relevant photos when I post my observations, hopefully fairly soon.
My thanks to you all again, ATB Chris. |
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Zorki-3 queries
