New here, and a FED identification question

Hi All,

I'm very new here, having just picked up my first ever FED last night from a Craiglist posting. I have and use all sorts of film cameras in all types of format (including a Leica iiif), but this is the first FSU camera. I spent a lot of time last night and this morning researching my new FED, purely out of curiousity, and it's been very interesting reading all the history behind these cameras but I have still not conclusively identified mine! I'm beginning to suspect it may be cobbled together from different models.

So, I initially thought it was a model D as it has the "NKVD-USSR" engraving, but the serial number is 3661, the middle screw above the lens is covered by the mount, and the three screws are visible around the film rewind knob. There seems to be a lot of knowledgeable people on here so I thought I would ask for opinions. Any ideas?

The camera itself works great. Shutter seems accurate to my ear, and viewfinder is clear, although I need to adjust the rangefinder. Can't wait to run some film though it!

http://www.ussrphoto.com/UserContent/492012_engraving.jpg

http://www.ussrphoto.com/UserContent/492012_engraving.jpg

http://www.ussrphoto.com/UserContent/492012_full.jpg

http://www.ussrphoto.com/UserContent/492012_full.jpg

Hi Dave, seems like you got one of the "warranty cameras", the running theory here is that if you had a FED-1a and it broke, if you took it to FED factory for repair, they would either repair it or give you a newer model - in your case a FED-1c but you get to keep your serial number since that is what the passport of the camera would be registered to. Again it's just an unconfirmed theory thrown around here on the forums. Very nice historic piece!

Cheers,
Vlad.

Very interesting! Thank you, Vlad. I have just finished the rangefinder calibration and will run a roll of film through it tomorrow. It's a lovely little camera.

Cheers,

Dave

Hi Dave,

There is something about these strange numbers in the wiki:
http://www.ussrphoto.com/Wiki/default.asp?WikiCatID=98&ParentID=1&ContentID=1035&Item=FED+1b+%2D+Unusual+Serial+Numbers

But in those cases, the body and the engraving of the cover were homogeneous: all were from 1b-s. And the only strange fact was the serial number, belonging to 1a-s. Hence, what Vlad writes: probably a question of warranty.

Your camera is more complex: the body (1a, b or c), the cover (engraving of 1d, so after serial # 95xxx) and the serial number (1a) cannot be put in the same "story". If we imagine that the 1a s.n. 3661 (made in 1935)had to be repaired, why do we have a body which cannot be a 1d-s? If the repair did not want the replacement of the shutter box, why was the cover changed? What about a warranty on at least 3 years? etc...

If you had some pictures showing the internal parts (shape of the rangefinder cam, base of the shutter box), sure it would be of great help.

A very interesting camera, indeed!

Amitiés. Jacques.

Thank you, Jacques, for the additional sleuthing! I love a good mystery :)

Here are a few more photos of the camera.

http://www.ussrphoto.com/UserContent/592012_rangefinder_cam.jpg

http://www.ussrphoto.com/UserContent/592012_rangefinder_cam.jpg

http://www.ussrphoto.com/UserContent/592012_pressure_plate.jpg

http://www.ussrphoto.com/UserContent/592012_pressure_plate.jpg

http://www.ussrphoto.com/UserContent/592012_base.jpg

http://www.ussrphoto.com/UserContent/592012_base.jpg

I realise that the lens may or may not be original, but here's a picture of the serial number, and one of another number on the opposite side of the inner face of the mounting ring.

http://www.ussrphoto.com/UserContent/592012_lens_serial.jpg

http://www.ussrphoto.com/UserContent/592012_lens_serial.jpg

http://www.ussrphoto.com/UserContent/592012_lens_marking.jpg

http://www.ussrphoto.com/UserContent/592012_lens_marking.jpg

Thanks again for the help so far, and for any additional information.

Cheers,

Dave

I love mysteries too!

It seems that
- the belt of the body is from a 1b or 1c (no hole in the back, as it seems),
- the knurling of the knobs is coarser than on 1a and early 1b. This one begins at c. 26/30xxx.
- the shutter box comes from a 1a or 1b (screw box/belt),
- the rangefinder is from a 1a or 1b (oval cam).
So, a 1b?

The lens is interesting too. It could be original. If it is, with such a serial number (38143), the body (belt + mechanism) could have a serial number c. 35xxx/38xxx, so could be a 1b.

About a possible explanation...Warranty? Mistake when engraving the serial number on the cover? I let you forge a story![:)]

Amitiés. Jacques.

Wow, that's quite a hodgepodge! Nevertheless, I like this little camera and have just loaded a roll of Neopan to put it through it's paces. Thanks again for the info!