KIEV-4 (TYPE 2)

Hello everyone,
This is the back and bottom of my Kiev with the Ukrainian engravings, s/n 6014578. I am interested in more explanation of the bumps on back, as well as the little "feet" on bottom. I've not found much more than a mention of either on the internet.
I bought this from a woman in Ukraine for the princely sum of $28.00, plus $25.00 shipping, who was selling all sorts of things. She did not mention the serial numbers as most sellers do,only describing it as an old Russian camera with no idea of how to use it. Although it needs cleaning, it does seem to be in working order. So maybe I got lucky.


http://www.ussrphoto.com/UserContent/2242013_kievback1.jpg




http://www.ussrphoto.com/UserContent/2242013_kievbottom1.jpg



JimmyB

Hi Jim,

The feet seem to appear in all Kiev models past circa 1960 or so, or so I noticed among my 15 Kievs.. the bumps I think may be from a repair of the film pressure plate. Look inside and see whether you have screws or rivets holding your pressure plate on the inside of the back cover.

Cheers,
Vlad

The bumps are so called "Zeiss Bumps" because they also appear on early Contax cameras. They are result of a chemical reaction between the material of the rivets that hold the film pressure plate and the material of the back. It is green rust. The bumps are filled with it.

Ulrich

http://fotos.cconin.de

I heard too that the glue which was used has a part to play...
All my prewar and war Contaxes have these bumps, more or less visible. My very early Kievs too (48-49 ones), not the following ones (I don't have post 1957 Kievs).

Hence the explanation I saw somewhere: the bumps would be the "certificate" of German origins for Kievs. Arsenal would have used another glue after... Why not?

Amitiйs. Jacques.

Vlad, my '55 Kiev does not have bumps nor legs. The pressure plate has rivets. I can account for all but the two tiny bumps. There are no scratches-honestly I would think nothing has ever been disturbed just by looking.
Ulrich,the only reference I found referred to them as 'Contax bumps'. But either way I wasn't sure what it meant. I am a tinker and do it yourself type-probably not a good idea to let the rust remain if there is such.
Jaques, I sort of got that idea but since there is much conflicting information about the Russian cameras I sort of took it with a grain of salt. I could well imagine glue causing the bumps. I did see a 1938 Contax which does not appear to have the bumps on back.
The photos of this Kiev did not reveal the bumps, so I didn't notice them until I got the camera. Btw, I love the sound of the shutter :)
Thanks for the responses everyone.

JimmyB

Jacques,

I own later Kievs than 1957 that have those bumps. They are not so big as on early Kievs or Contaxes, maybe it's a process of time. In twenty years the Kievs from the late 60ies will also have fat bumps :-)


Jim,

I also have early Kievs with no bumps at all. And Contaxes too. I thinks it is important where they were stored over the decades. If the humidity is high there is more risk to get those bumps.

And, by the way, welcome to the club :-)

Ulrich

http://fotos.cconin.de

Sure the question of glue must be taken with a smile... But it can be one of the agents... like metal of back/metal of vulcanite, without forgetting time and the changing leatherette/vulcanite.

Till now, I thought that Jena Contaxes did not have these bumps. And one, just being sold on eBay, has them...

Never mind, the "shlishhhhh" of the slow speeds is inimitable!

Jacques.

Thank you for the welcome,Ulrich :) It is a very nice club for people suffering from a rare obsession!
Cement,especially a strong type can react to leather or other materials. If a reaction occurred, there would be no escape but upward into the soft material,I suppose.
I found another Kiev with bumps just like mine but for the two tiny ones.
Jacques, it is a truly unique shutter sound. And beautiful.

JimmyB

Stupid of me: I had the "official" explanation for the bumps and for many other problems...
http://www.zeisscamera.com/services_overhaul-cIIa-leather.shtml

You are right, Jim: we are all mad, here...

Amitiйs. Jacques.

Jacques,

my Jena Contax also has two bumps. These bumps are always on nearly the same position. The description of Mr. Scherer seems to be right. I have tried once to remove them on a Kiev but the thin leather broke away. It's not easy to remove the leather.

Ulrich

http://fotos.cconin.de

Jaques, thanks for the great link. One day I would like to have a Contax III.
I work for Justin boot company. Sometimes we have to separate leather which has already been cemented to a rubber sole. We use industrial 615 solvent which instantly softens the cement. Any strong solvent would likely work.
On leather which is dry and brittle with time I think I would first realize I would likely end up replacing the leather. Then I would use mink oil or something similar to soften the leather, and then use solvent, working it beneath the cover a little at a time.
I guess it depends on whether or not the bumps bother you enough to take the risk.

JimmyB