we all know those pockets with white cards, or fixed metal plates ... on the back part of fed and zorki cases. why this ? on very early case, the plate is metal with linen and fixed... on later is a plain white plate made of some kind of plastic...
does anyone know what is the use of this plate ... ?
This topic was discussed in the past, you will find the thread with a little search.
Some said it's a protection for the camera-body when pressing the case-buttons, early bodies were not so strong and even on later Zorki-C you can find marks of the case-buttons on the vulcanite or the green and white cover. Some said it's something to take notes, and often you can find notes on that plastic card. I think it's a kind of protection.
I thought it was an aid to load film into bottom loader
Yes, that is a possibility too and was discussed also.
But Stephan said that first they were made of metal with linen and fixed. I didn't know this, so the original purpose might be protection, then it was changed to a moveable plate to help loading the film and owners also used it to take notes.