Topic
Topic author: Jacques M.
Posted on: 20191104074831
Reply author: Vlad
Replied on: 20191104080100
Thank you Jacques! yes most definitely the front plate is from the no-name 4a as the cut indicates. I believe I've seen this one for sale [:)]. Decided to pass on it just for this reason.
Best regards,
Vlad
Reply author: Jacques M.
Replied on: 20191104080643
Reply author: Jacques M.
Replied on: 20191104082535
Reply author: Jacques M.
Replied on: 20191104083520
Thanks for your comment, Vlad.
I must say that I much prefer cameras which put questions to their owners... It's the case for this one.
By whom and when was it mounted? Impossible to say. There is no marking inside; specially the Kiev number engraved near the finder is absent. No Contax engraving, either. This camera is blind, if I except the blue signature.
Perhaps an illegal mounting with spare parts in 1950? The no name front plate would have been added later, to fool a buyer?
I would be happy about comments.
Amitiés. Jacques.
Reply author: Vlad
Replied on: 20191104084414
Thank you Jacques! very interesting! It is indeed probably technician's signature on the inside! No name plate it's either to fool a buyer or as a repair but it had to be outside of USSR since these plates were exported. It was noticeable right away that the front cover was taken off because the leather was peeling off on the "bump" in the corner. Number 1 sign of tampering with Kievs [:)].
Сheers,
Vlad
Reply author: xya
Replied on: 20191104132032
just a hint: the blue inscription, to me it's german and says "Verbesserung" which is improvement in english. whatever this means...
www.a7camera.com www.120folder.com www.instantphoto.eu www.135compact.com www.oddcameras.com
Reply author: Guido
Replied on: 20191104135656
Hello Xya
The second letter could be an "E" or an "O" and the next one a "B" but the "R" is missing. The last letter may be a "G" but for me it looks more like a "Z". Just my 2 cents.
Best wishes - Guido
Reply author: xya
Replied on: 20191104151431
it seems to be this handwriting quite common before and just after WWII in germany, a mixture between latin and german (Sütterlin) letters. yes, it could also be an "o", but it seems to me, that someone writing an "e" got stuck in the 3 lttle grooves and so lost the "r" in the grooves. he started with the "b" again. the end could be as well a "g" as a "z", you are right...
www.a7camera.com www.120folder.com www.instantphoto.eu www.135compact.com www.oddcameras.com
Reply author: Jacques M.
Replied on: 20191104162911
Reply author: uwittehh
Replied on: 20191110115850
Jacques, I also own such a 1950 Kiev with a lot of Contax parts. On my front mask is the cyrillic and latin name engraved (not stamped). These cameras are rare, on ebay is or was also one for sale, the seller wants to have about 900 Euros.
Altix and I inspected my 1950 Kiev. He told me that these cameras were made in 1947 and that it could be that they were used for assembly training in the Kiev factory. 3 years later they have been engraved with a serial number and were sold.
Ulrich
http://fotos.cconin.deReply author: Vlad
Replied on: 20191110120228
wow it looks like something in Russian to me that I could not read, didn't even think it was German! [:)]. Ulrich, i also heard of a common practice in USSR of technicians to take parts home and then assemble a working camera for themselves... this may be this case..
Best regards,
Vlad
