Vostok

I found this one for sale in Ukraine.. is this a different variation than one in catalog or just has a shutter slapped on top?

http://ibay.com.ua/item/3161638-Fotokamera__Vostok__9kh12__0335_1948g.htm

Vlad.

Hi Vlad,

It is the same camera but with a shutter and Tessar lens added to the front.

Here are photos of my VOSTOK of which the lens and everything is original.
Serial number.....0660
Year of releas....1948
Lens..............Industar-51 4,5/210mm

Just like the one David posted on WIKI, but with red bellows which are also original to the camera.





Regards, Bill

Thank you Bill for posting it! Yea I figured that it was not an original configuration just wanted to make sure...
Vlad

The logo is still used by Novosibirsky Pribori Zavod.. May be seen at :
http://www.telescopes.ru/product.html?cat=3
LP

quote:

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Originally posted by Luiz Paracampo

The logo is still used by Novosibirsky Pribori Zavod...

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You may see this logo (and the real plant name) there:
http://www.zenitcamera.com/qa/qa-logos.html#npz

About "Vostok" origin: I don't know who first wrote about "an aviation factory in Tashkent, Uzbekistan"... We must see "Bulletin of the RCCC (C96)" (according J.L. Princelle), but David Tomlinson... you know... :(

Of course, this camera produser was NPZ.

Since Vostok seems to have been made in the years just after World War II, I suspect that possibly the factory NPZ was making aviation instruments or parts during the war, and this is where the information came from. At that time (during the war) probably most factories that had higher technical capability were manufacturing parts for planes, tanks, weapons, and related items or accessories. So, if this is correct about NPZ, and they were making some aviation parts during the war, it might be possible (although not strictly correct) to call the factory an aviation factory ... just in the same way it might be possible to have called Arsenal or LOMO a "camera factory" even though that is just part of their factory and production.

That being said, however... Tashkent is certainly not Novosibirsk! Thanks for the information Zoom!

Can someone tell me the exact English translation for the name of the factory, NPZ ? Is it Novosibirsky Pribori Zavod?





Regards, Bill

I was given the information about the Vostok being produced in Tashkent about ten years ago by a serious Moscow collector. Although I have visited Tashkent, and I found that there was a factory producing aircraft equipment, I could not get any confirmation that the Vostok was manufactured there.
The NPZ logo does not seem to be quite the same as the Vostok logo. Has anyone had confirmation from NPZ that they did manufacture the Vostok?

David(http://www.rcccuk.com)

David,
I agree that the logo is not exactly the same as the NPZ logo shown on the NPZ website, but it does look the same as the top version shown on the Zenit website, although I don't know where the Zenit website got those two variations.

I have just sent an e-mail to the NPZ factory with a photo of my Vostok, asking if they are the maker of the camera. I will post a reply if one comes to me.

Regards, Bill

Can someone tell me the exact English translation for the name of the factory, NPZ ? Is it Novosibirsky Pribori Zavod?

Novosibirsk Instrument Factory
Novosibirsky=New Siberian.
LP

I've been trying to think of what clues we can use to establish the origins of the Vostok. The camera itself does not seem to have any features common to any other, so there is only the logo to go on. What about the instruction manual? Does anyone have one? I have the passport, shown below. Does this give any clues? Has anyone got an NPZ passport of the 1940s/50s so that we could compare them?







David(http://www.rcccuk.com)

Thanks for putting up the scans of the passport David. I did not receive anything in the way of paperwork with my camera when I bought it, so this is very interesting.

It seems that the camera is called "Universal Photo Camera" or "UFK" on the passport! But, Ican not accurately read the rest of the passport to see if the factory name is there.

Regards, Bill

quote:

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Originally posted by RCCCUK

I was given the information about the Vostok being produced in Tashkent about ten years ago by a serious Moscow collector.

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Sorry, this is the mistake.

quote:

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Originally posted by RCCCUK
The NPZ logo does not seem to be quite the same as the Vostok logo.

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This is the plant No. 69 logo.
After the War this plant was known as NPZ == Novosibirskiy priborostroitel'niy zavod.

Yes, this passport only has the logo but not the factory name.. just as a sidenote the FKP-2 I've posted from Detlev's archives is also made at NPZ - http://www.ussrphoto.com/Wiki/default.asp?WikiCatID=17&ParentID=1&ContentID=1219&Item=FKP-2+Microfilm+Copier

That one DOES say NPZ above the same exact logo.

Hope that helps some.

Vlad.

The evidence so far convinces me that the Vostok was indeed manufactured by NPZ. I will alter my Wiki entry accordingly. Thanks for all your help.

David

(http://www.rcccuk.com)

After quite some time, the origin of the Vostok raises its head again with the entry in the book "1200 Cameras from the USSR", page 586/7. The item states that the Vostok is from an aviation factoty in the name of Ukalova, Tashkent.

David

(http://www.rcccuk.com)

quote:

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Originally posted by RCCCUK

After quite some time, the origin of the Vostok raises its head again with the entry in the book "1200 Cameras from the USSR", page 586/7. The item states that the Vostok is from an aviation factoty in the name of Ukalova, Tashkent.

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Because this error was published in J.P. Princelle book: page 243 (2nd edition).
Because this error was published in your Bulletin of the RCCC (C96).

Please, publish this article there...

Hi Zoom,

Thanks for your interest. What you say is true, but neither J. P. Princelle or I named a factory (Zavod im Ukalova). My information originated from a collector in Moscow (unfortunately I can't remember his name - it may have been Alexander Kamynin). Do you have any information on this factory (Zavod im Ukalova) or is there any evidence that Plant 69 (NPZ) actually manufactured the Vostok?

David

(http://www.rcccuk.com)

quote:

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Originally posted by RCCCUK

My information originated from a collector in Moscow (unfortunately I can't remember his name - it may have been Alexander Kamynin).

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Thank you. Now it is clear, who had misled all of you.

quote:

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Originally posted by RCCCUK

... is there any evidence that Plant 69 (NPZ) actually manufactured the Vostok?

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See this logo:

Than see this page: http://www.zenitcamera.com/qa/qa-logos.html#npz
It is simple... ;)

P.S.

quote:

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Originally posted by RCCCUK

Zavod im Ukalova

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"Zavod imeni Chkalova" ("Завод имени Чкалова"). Who is this Chkalov see there: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Valery_Chkalov
About that plant see this page: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tashkent_Aviation_Production_Association

Many thanks Zoom,

Your references and comments were very helpful. I think that we can all now agree on the origins of the Vostok. I was probably the last person to have doubts!

David

(http://www.rcccuk.com)

I think it would be a good idea to update our own WIKI to reflect the correct facts of origin and also to start entering serial numbers and dates of known examples. I have one and will enter the data for it later today.

Regards, Bill

I have one too ready to tell you, my data as Bill suggest
alain