Fed Geodesia?

Hi people
I found this camera, and several like it, on eBay today

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=350300624898&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT

the camera looks like a Leica I and the base plate says Geodesia 1937
Howver, it looks far too new to be from 1937
I Googled "FED Geodesia" and came up with nothing
anyone out there know what it is????

Made by Moscowphoto, a famous remaker. Even colour shows it is imaginatory model.

Best regards,
Juhani

Hi Jedediah and welcome to USSRPhoto.com!

Moscowphoto (Mika) has a very talented master that makes incredible quality fantasy cameras. These are purely to indulge collectors and users who want some like new pretty vintage cameras. We had him do our 2nd anniversary camera. He's a great guy, if you do buy something from him please say hello from me.

http://www.ussrphoto.com/Wiki/default.asp?WikiCatID=76&ParentID=1&ContentID=1151&Item=USSRPhoto.com+Special+2+Year+Edition

Cheers,
Vlad

Hello Jedidiah,

The "FED Geodesia" is a non-existent camera (except for the fantasy model which you have shown us). However, there was a camera called "Geodesia" and also known as "FAG". "FAG" are the initials for "Fotographic Apparat Geodezia". It was made in the 1934-35 period. Here is the entry for it in our WIKI:

http://www.ussrphoto.com/Wiki/default.asp?WikiCatID=12&ParentID=1&ContentID=1300&Item=FAG+Geodesiya

Regards, Bill

I sometimes wonder why I don't buy such cameras...
It will put some colour in my always black rows of Leica like cameras...

Amitiйs. Jacques.

My wife thinks this is one the most beautiful cameras that I have. Right now it is in her vitrine as she has an "antique display".



Best regards,
Juhani

Made from a Fed, as it seems. Very interesting, even if all that glitters is not gold, alas...

Amitiйs. Jacques.

all that glitters is not fake ... it can be patina too



Stephan

i forgot to show the upper part




Stephan

and I suppose that Jacques will tell me that it's a very early fed transformed in a leica II hybrid...

no it's seems to be really n°1505, upgraded twice at the factory...

Stephan

A pity this camera is not in its IA original condition, with a mushroom release button...
I own too two well used Leica IC...
But all that is OT!

Amitiйs. Jacques.

Hi all!!

Here is one of these copies made probably by Mika..
Metal colour is champagne..
It's working very well

Fred

This is maybe the only fantasy camera I like, saw it on Juhani's website, #53, so I guess 99 were produced.
What was it before, a Fed? The secret might be under the base plate.

Hi Lenny...

It's xmas in a few days...
Ask and you will get the picture

Fred

Thank you so much Fred.
Now I know and many of these maybe 99 cameras might be different under the baseplate.
Merry xmas to you too.

Hi Fred!

Probably it is not a Fed.
On most Fed 1-s (except early 1a-s), the lock for the base plate was not screwed like on your camera, but riveted.
So, either you have an early 1a, either a Leica (more probable). Or something else!
Please, have a look at http://www.novacon.com.br/h3anexo2c.htm

Congratulations! Jacques.
PS: Did you asked the French seller about it?

Hi Jacques

I had a look at this website about this camera..
He says it is a reflex finder....
But in fact , it is just a bubble level....

Fred

Yes,you are right. It's only the bubble which helps the camera being right.
But I think you should have a close look at it.
The vulcanite, the position of the central screw under the lens crown, the baseplate screw: all that denotes an early prewar body (1b or early 1c).

If we add this Leica type lock to tight the baseplate, there are questions to put... Anyway, it's not a simple fake...
Amitiйs. Jacques.

Resseeing this thread I noted the FED cвmera made by Moscowphoto as the second year of USSRPhoto
FED is nor correctly written it should be FIeD

http://www.ussrphoto.com/Wiki/default.asp?WikiCatID=76&ParentID=1&ContentID=1151&Item=USSRPhoto.com+Special+2+Year+Edition

Thanks
LP