take a look at this 88-year-old FED 1c. It’s almost unbelievable how good the vulcanite and chrome look. The vulcanite has a different grain than usual, and the chrome shines exceptionally well. This camera is likely one of the last ones to still have the small bolt on the bottom cover.
A very fine 1c! As you say, it's rare now to find one in such a condition! But I am not sure that your camera is completely original. With such a serial number, the release button should be circled. It was circled just before the 1c series, at c. 51xxx, without interruption till the last 1e. And the special grain of the vulcanite disappeared at c. 61000. I can be more precise if you want. So probably, it's a 1b with a 1c cover.
you are right. It must be a FED 1b. I noticed that there's an extra housing screw on the bottom inside. My FED with the number 51113 doesn't have that screw anymore, but the one with the number 41141 still does. Is it actually known starting from which number the screw was omitted? It’s also interesting that the camera has a matching lens with the number 84911. It’s as if someone put the cover and the lens on a 1b.
And by the way, the topic is not more right now. If it is a camera below serial number approx. 50000 it was made in 1937 and is still 89 years old now :D
An 88 years old camera...
Posted - Apr 26 2026 : 3:47:43 PM
