FED-KMZ 1947

Hello,
some time ago I found this nice FED-KMZ. The camera looks very good, has old 'MOCKBA' lens, the shutter goes to 1/1000, etc., BUT there are some details, that make me doubt about the genuine. For example, serial number 00077 does not fit to the year of production 1947 (?! there were produced some first cameras at the end of 1947, but not with s/n 00077, I think), black body covering has NO screws.
Fake?! Do you have any ideas about this?


http://www.ussrphoto.com/UserContent/512010_FED-KMZ-001.jpg


http://www.ussrphoto.com/UserContent/512010_FED-KMZ-002.jpg


http://www.ussrphoto.com/UserContent/512010_FED-KMZ-003.jpg


http://www.ussrphoto.com/UserContent/512010_FED-KMZ-004.jpg

Regards, Alexander

Dear Alexander,

The camera is very nice and almost looks authentic, but I think it is not. Here is what I see:

* As you say, no screws on the body.

* The KMZ "prism" that is engraved on the top looks bigger than the one shown in Princelle & 1200 Cameras.
Also it seems to be placed differently .. more evenly between the "FED" and the "1947" than in examples shown.

* The lens may not be authentic as it has a later style of knob on the focusing handle
(more like the ones on lenses from 1950 onward).

* Maybe the vulcanite is a bit rougher texture than on the example shown in 1200 Cameras.

* Although you don't show the back of your camera, I think there should metal tag with engraving "FED" riveted to the   back.

* And, as you have said, the serial number is too late for 1947.

So, I think it may not be authentic. Maybe Alain can tell better since he has an authentic example (pictured in 1200 Cameras ... No. 65 from 1948). In any case, it is a very nice camera since the real example is impossible to find!

Regards, Bill

Hello Alexander

Bill gave you some very good points about this (very probably) fake. Two things: In picture #2 you can see the back of the camera and you don't see the "FED" plate. And the other: Very early Industar 22 didn't have any name engravings, the "Moscow" engraving was released in 1948 (and "Zorki" in 1949) with s/n of at least #1500 (maybe even earlier; my latest early Industar 22 without such name has s/n 756). You should find the s/n of the lens on the back of the mount.

But it's a nice camera anyway! ;-)

Best wishes - Guido

Hello Alexander,
I agree with Guido and Bill about your Fed-KMZ. However, it is a very interesting camera, with the 1/1000th of a second, so the mechanism of a Fed S.
The engravings look like my Fed Sport's. I wonder if the craftsman could not be the same...

Amitiйs. Jacques.

Yes Jacques ... I think it looks like it was also made by the same craftsman who made the beautiful FED Sports. In a way, I think that some of those who made the finest of these non-authentic models, such as this FED-KMZ and your FED-Sport, will become famous in their own right. Maybe some of them are former factory craftsmen at KMZ or FED, and that is why their work is so fine. It would be wonderful if they ever became known by name for their work instead of anonymous!

Regards, Bill

Thank you for your tips.

Regards, Alexander

Hello Alexander,

Indeed, your "FED-KMZ" camera is a Fed-C, released in 1939. Serial number's range #80000-#93000. You can easely find out an appropriate top plate with FED NKVD-YCCP engravings to enjoy the authentic rare camera again. The only problem should be the lens, since prewar FED lens are not compatible with postwar Zorki lenses as I know ...

Best Regards,
Aidas

All the question is to know if this camera is more interesting in the present condition or in the original one... And if I'm OK with Aidas to say that it's probably a pre last version of the 1c, we cannot be completely certain: the camera can have been remounted from spare parts. So, what was exactly the original version of the camera? And what about a 2/50 Fed lens, difficult to find alone, expensive, and which would probably need an adaptation to the body?

As for me, I wouldn't hesitate: the Fed S are not such rare (c.13000 samples) ...

But I don't say we must buy all the fakes we see here and there!!
Even if, like Bill, I should be interested to know the craftsmen who made some of these cameras.

Amitiйs. Jacques.