"Classic" Leningrad prototype cameras

Hi,

At least 4 versions of "Classic" Leningrad prototype (... or prototype + 3 preseries) cameras are known to exist. The camera below is almost identical to early productional Leningrad, but the top plate is still different indeed. I would call this camera as the "missing link" between prototype and regular Leningrad cameras.



Best Regards,
Aidas

Aidas hi! My best congratulations on this unique camera! Leningrads from 1957 are rare to find, but this camera comes from 1st batch in 1956, if I see the number correctly.
I do possess two early Leningrad cameras from 1957, but never happened to see one with such a low serial number.

Most interesting! Very nice find once again Aidas! So... back to the old question.. now that you've probably seen all iterations of Lenigrad - how do the 000XXX numbers fit into the whole scheme and the whole 2-screw/4-screw variations? I am still very very unclear about all that.

And Alexey - great to hear from you here on the forum!!

Thanks,
Vlad

quote:

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Originally posted by levonsa

Aidas hi! My best congratulations on this unique camera! Leningrads from 1957 are rare to find, but this camera comes from 1st batch in 1956, if I see the number correctly.
I do possess two early Leningrad cameras from 1957, but never happened to see one with such a low serial number.

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Hi Alexey,

thanks for your comments and my special thanks for these nice pictures of ultra rare "Vympel" camera you just added on Wiki!

Best Regards,
Aidas

quote:

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Originally posted by Vlad

So... back to the old question.. now that you've probably seen all iterations of Lenigrad - how do the 000XXX numbers fit into the whole scheme and the whole 2-screw/4-screw variations? I am still very very unclear about all that.

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Hi Vlad,

there is no mystery in these numbers indeed.

GOMZ have produced Leningrad cameras with 2 screws up to 1958. All these cameras have 2-digits date prefix in the serial number, right?
To participate in famous Brussel's Fair (1958), GOMZ have produced a limited quantity of Leningrad bodies with 4 screws already. These cameras are unique, since fitted with GOMZ origin Jupiter-8 lenses. The serial number system was limited, since only 9.999 copies of Leningrad could be released obviously (6-digits serial number, 2-digits date prefix "58", so only 4 digits left ...). After the total amount of the released cameras have exceeded 10.000 units, GOMZ have changed the s/n coding system again. The new system starts from #000.001 and has no date prefix in the number.
So all the cameras from late 1958 up to 1960 can be find with "zero" as the 1st character. Though the big majority of these bodies have 4 screws on the frontplate, very few cameras can be found with old stock 2 screws yet (my #001058 for example).

Serial numbers of Leningrad were changed in 1960 again. These very few cameras have 2-digits date prefix "60", but are very rare to find nowadays. All cameras from 1961 have 6-digits serial number with 2-digits date prefix again...

The same story in 1963. After the total amount have exceeded 9.999 copies in 1963, LOOMP have released Leningrad with new s/n coding system again ... . These cameras came into the market with s/n "3xx.xxx", i.e 1-digit date prefix ("3" stands for 1963). Such a big amount of cameras per year was never reached again, so cameras released in 1964-1965 have standard s/n with 2-digits date prefix again...

Hope you will find my explanation useful.

Best Regards,
Aidas

Hi Aidas!

Great explanation, thanks so much! Now it all makes sense! This must be one of the most complicated numbering systems when it comes to Soviet cameras.. major props for deciferring it!

Best regards,
Vlad.

P.S. I'll try to find some time to give you a call, unfortunately Skype is completely blocked by my work firewall..

Thanks Vlad! I'm looking forward to hear from you soon!

Best Regards,
Aidas