unusual Kiev-IIIa

Hello,
I have bought some weeks ago very interesting Kiev camera. It is definitely IIIa (with synchro contact). The camera has only cyrillic engraving on the front panel, BUT it has DOUBLE engraving in cyrillic/roman on the top: "Izgotovleno v SSSR / Made in USSR".
1) the cameras with double engraving on the top was made for export and they had double engraving on the front panel as well (according to Princelle it is Kiev-IIIa A71)
2) according to the SSK-book there was NO Kiev-IIIa cameras with engraving "Izgotovleno v SSSR / Made in USSR", but only Kiev-III (not "a") and also with double engraving on the front panel.

Here are the photos:

http://www.ussrphoto.com/UserContent/1642010_IMG_1377.JPG

http://www.ussrphoto.com/UserContent/1642010_IMG_1378.JPG

Any ideas?



Regards, Alexander

Hi Alexander,

It is interesting! Possibly the cameras that were being made for export were made in groups and so the accessory shoes were engraved with a serial number that was meant for export (part of the export group), but when the camera was actually assembled there was no further need of export cameras and so an "in-country" front plate was used.

Just a guess, but I know things don't always go as planned in a small production line. Another possibility is that the front plate was switched during a repair.

One thing I have always wondered is why Soviet cameras with export markings are so common to find in the Former Soviet Union ... weren't they exported to other countries?

Regards, Bill