Look at this beauty, Queen of Russian cameras

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Topic author: edger

Posted on: 20120818120415

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

Reply author: edger

Replied on: 20120818121643

...and one small, but important addition:

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

Reply author: edger

Replied on: 20120818132946

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

Reply author: Vlad

Replied on: 20120819135004

[:0][:0][:0][:0]

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

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

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

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

Thanks!
Vlad.

Reply author: edger

Replied on: 20120819135435

Thanks, Vlad, yes, of course, you can add it to your Wiki catalog.

Reply author: edger

Replied on: 20120819143521

This outfit will be listed at Westlicht on November 23, 2012.

Reply author: Jacques M.

Replied on: 20120820074905

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.

Reply author: Vlad

Replied on: 20120820084742

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.

Reply author: Jacques M.

Replied on: 20120820090250

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

I will dig out this thread.
Thanks, Vlad.

Reply author: edger

Replied on: 20120913070903

You can see this camera here:
http://www.westlicht-auction.com/index.php?id=174750

Reply author: edger

Replied on: 20120913142545

Space version of Leningrad is also very interesting:
http://www.westlicht-auction.com/index.php?id=174750
Never heard about this camera.

Reply author: okynek

Replied on: 20120914072207

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?

Reply author: Guido

Replied on: 20120914080150

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

Reply author: Luiz Paracampo

Replied on: 20120914084909

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

Reply author: Luiz Paracampo

Replied on: 20120914085140

About being a fake on Brezhnev's kiev...........
I hava seen eventually some of them with different numbers
LP

Reply author: okynek

Replied on: 20120914093402

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.

Reply author: okynek

Replied on: 20120914111305

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.

Reply author: fotomuda

Replied on: 20120914112546

All in English

http://www.westlicht-auction.com/index.php?id=174750&_ssl=off&lang=3

Reply author: edger

Replied on: 20121021091627

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

Reply author: edger

Replied on: 20121124120016

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.

Reply author: Vlad

Replied on: 20121129185709

Wow! thanks for the update!

Reply author: edger

Replied on: 20121201152043

I hope the high bidder was one of this forum members.

Look at this beauty, Queen of Russian cameras

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