Jupiter-9 fro Kiev, Serial number ending with T

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Printed on: 5/8/2026 5:33:59 PM

Topic

Topic author: fedka

Posted on: 20080217203026

I have an usually numbered Jupiter-9 (Kiev mount).
It is made by Arsenal, looks like a normal Jupiter-9, but two things are unusual:

1. Serial number 611951T
2. "Sdelano in CCCP" (Made in USSR in Russian) is stamped on the outside of the mounting ring. I'll take a picture soon.

My questions are - does anyone know what the "T" at the end of serial number means?

Replies

Reply author: Luiz Paracampo

Replied on: 20080218163530

these lenses were common at the 1960 I remember that the firt imports of Kiev lenses to Brazil had the Arsenal logo on them.
This was common also for the Jupiter 12. I believe these were lenses assembled in Arsenal with KMZ parts. Exact like pastic cases and front metal lens caps of KMZ series, except the logo in lens ans the plastic case. i remeber even equal number engravings on lens barrel. In 1963 or 1964 they left all production to Lytkarino.

Reply author: fedka

Replied on: 20080218203124

Luiz,
You did not mention the "T" in the serial number - this puzzles me most.
have you seen these serial numbers?
What can this T mean?

Yuri

Reply author: Luiz Paracampo

Replied on: 20080218204827

Yuri
Unhappyly I never saw such a T. Any colour in it? like older "P"? Analogy to Zeiss coating?
Regards

Reply author: fedka

Replied on: 20080218212258

No, the T is not a stan-alone letter, it is actually the last character in the serial number.

The number is 611951T, just like that.

http://www.ussrphoto.com/UserContent/J9_611951T.jpg

http://www.ussrphoto.com/UserContent/J9_611951Tmount.jpg

Reply author: nightphoto

Replied on: 20080218220125

I believe I have heard that sometimes the "T" may mean "technical". So, maybe a slightly higher quality, made to higher specifications, or even slightly changed formula to make edge to edge sharpness better (or flatter field). But I don't know for sure ... jsut what I believe I heard at some time in relation to another Soviet lens that had a "T" at the end of the numbers.

Regards, Bill

Reply author: fedka

Replied on: 20080218231330

It must be some special designator, though the lens itself looks like just any other J-9 from this period.
This is the first and only lens with a letter at the end of the number that I've ever seen.

Yuri

Reply author: mermoz37

Replied on: 20080219075135

hi friends,
my own specialist in St Ptrbg (a friend dealer) told me last year : "T" means special lenses for low temperatures (like artic trip etc...)
i cannot prove so much now....

Reply author: Zoom

Replied on: 20080219082103

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by mermoz37
 hi friends,
my own specialist in St Ptrbg (a friend dealer) told me last year : "T" means special lenses for low temperatures (like artic trip etc...)
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
"T" in this meaning was the index to a device name, not to a number. But all may be in Arsenal... ;)

At second, not "Arctic", but "Tropical"...
See http://www.zenitcamera.com/qa/qa-indexes.html#tropical

Another "T" was for TV-lens:
http://www.zenitcamera.com/qa/qa-indexes.html#tv

Reply author: Vlad

Replied on: 20080219084213

Welcome back Alain, a pleasure to see you again [:)]

Reply author: Luiz Paracampo

Replied on: 20080220210451

Hey Zoom!
very good to know meanings of the letters!
The "T" means so, a glue modification on the "skleika"
now a correction:
the page
http://www.zenitcamera.com/qa/qa-indexes.html#tropical

explains "Narujnyi Baionet" for Kiev 5 Jupiter 8NB
Note: Kiev 5 is not a mirror reflex but a rangefinder one
Regards
Luiz

Reply author: Vlad

Replied on: 20080220211239

Actually, Zoom, also on that page "T" is explained as tropical as an index inside the model number (thus the example is given like "ОФ-28Т"), not serial #... it still does not explain the existence of a T in the serial number..

Vlad.

Reply author: fedka

Replied on: 20080220212919

Vlad, I agree, it would be Jupiter-9T then.
The thing is, I do not see anything else special about this lens. It has the red P (Cyrillic), just like any other lens.

It does have that 'made in USSR" engraving on the mount, which I do not recall seeing before, but this is not uncommon.

I am actually more curious now than I was before:-)

Reply author: Vlad

Replied on: 20080220213443

Yura, it may have to be filed along with A and B Kiev camera indexes... [:)]... I wish someone would write a book about Arsenal nomenclature [;)]

Reply author: Vlad

Replied on: 20080220214336

Supposedly Mike Haley (napchop) has some Arsenal connections, maybe he knows something.. I see him add and revise some entries in catalog from time to time (a ghost writer [;)] hehehe), which is much appreciated by the way Mike, if you ever read the forums... [:)]...

Vlad

Reply author: Zoom

Replied on: 20080221062208

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Luiz Paracampo
 explains "Narujnyi Baionet" for Kiev 5 Jupiter 8NB
Note: Kiev 5 is not a mirror reflex but a rangefinder one
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
Of course. Misprint...

Reply author: Zoom

Replied on: 20080221065640

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Vlad
 it still does not explain the existence of a T in the serial number..
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
Nobody know this exactly now. Probably, the "T" in serial number indeed designated a tropical execution or variant (another coverings, greasings, efficient in the damp warm environment).