FED-3 serial numbers.

I have just been checking the seraial numbers of my FED cameras and I am very puzzled by the fact that most FED-3 cameras have seven digit serial numbers, but some have only six digits. I notice particularly that the Olympic models from 1980 have six digit numbers, but these are not the only ones. The six digit numbers will almost certainly duplicate numbers on earlier FED cameras. Does anyone know anything at all about the numbering system that FED used?

David.

David,
my explanation of this is following:
1) Olympic models had own numeration without the year of production
2) since about the end of 70th there were already produced more then 100000 FED-3 cameras and it was decided to take out the year of production from the s/n of camera. The number of the camera had 2 digits for year and 5 digits for s/n.
The number had to stay 7-figure, but without the year of production. So you can find the FED-3 cameras from end of 70th to the begin of 80th with numbers 0xxxxxx with reserved 7 digits for s/n.

Regards, Alexander

Hello David,

I don't really know the Fed 3-s after 1966-67.
What I know: it is exceptional that Fed indicated the year by the first two numbers of the serial numbers. KMZ generally did that, almost as a rule, but not Fed.
The only exception I know is for 1967 (and for some 1966 bodies and lenses): 50th anniversary of the October revolution. But perhaps there were other exceptions later?

Here is an old thread: we had tried to understand something in that mess some years ago:
http://www.ussrphoto.com/Forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=506&SearchTerms=Fed,2,serial,numbers

I would be pleased to know more about those never ending mysteries...

Amitiйs. Jacques.