Early Fed 1a

Everybody's dream.
http://cgi.ebay.fr/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=290939046515&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649

amazing to see this!

The serial number is repeated on the lens ring: the parts were made and regulated one by one...

See too:
http://www.ussrphoto.com/Wiki/default.asp?WikiCatID=98&ParentID=1&ContentID=990&Item=FED+1a+%2D+smooth+black+covering+%28%3F%29

Alain had seen such a camera (as well as one with a brown cover) at Biиvres some years ago now...

Wow, very nice!
Too bad the lens is missing.

Let's see if/how fast it is sold for this price.

Regards,
Christian

Yes, the lens is missing.
Probably, in these very early numbers, it had the same s/n as the body...

Jacques.

An interesting detail for this camera, I think.

The catch of the lock is screwed on the shutter box, like on all the Leicas. On Feds, I had only seen riveted ones till now.

An evolution or a repair with Leica parts?

To compare, I have the 1a s/n 5330 with rivets, and the 4642 with screws. But I think the last one was repaired with Leica parts.

If you have early 1a-s, it would be interesting to know...

Amitiйs. Jacques.

I'm always fascinated by the details you notice, Jacques.

Interestingly, my 'new' FED1a No#1233 has those screws as well:


All my other FED1c-e including the FED-S have rivets.

So either both of those early cameras have been repaired with Leica parts - which seems very unlikely, or - there was a transition from a Leica-like design with screws to rivets somewhere between serial #4642 and #5330.


Regards,
Christian

Another 1a with screws instead of rivets:
http://www.ebay.fr/itm/FED-1a-Extremely-Rare-Russian-RF-LEICA-II-camera-manual-BOX-cap-spool-1934-/181174816245?pt=US_Vintage_Cameras&hash=item2a2edc4df5#ht_914wt_1117

Not in a good condition, alas...
So, the rivets should be an evolution towards simplification and standardization. Like many other details on the way to the 1d...

Jacques.

I had forgotten my 1a s/n 5431, always with rivets.

About my s/n 4642, it really has Leica parts: plate of the lens (in fact, the two ones: the body one with a "0" and the lens one with Leitz engravings), the sensor of the rangefinder which is Leica shaped, even the shape of the catch of the lock, wider than on Feds, etc.
In fact, certainly the shutter box was replaced by a Leica's (A, C or D before 1933).

So the limit is before that number.

Jacques.

A strange mixture indeed.
Do you think the lens is original? It has a pretty high serial.

But I guess we can now say that early FED cameras really had screws and those are original.

By the way - would you add your FED1a SN and lens SN to the wiki? Might be interesting to see what early camera-lens combinations looked like.

Regards,
Christian

For sure, the lens (of the 1a on eBay) is not original: it's not a "one turn". It would rather be a 1d's, by the serial number (c. s/n 150000 for the body?)

OK to put my 1a-s on the wiki, of course!.

Jacques.

Here are some photos of FED No. 1227 ~ Lens No. 2392. Burnished finish. Very close to Christian's camera (No. 1233 ... only five cameras between them). This has the screws on the bottom too. Maybe the lens is a bit later than the camera too. I will be selling it on Ebay soon and will be sorry to see it go as it is my earliest FED. So I thought I would post some photos before it leaves my hands.
Best regards to all, Bill









Regards, Bill

Thank you for sharing this, Bill!
Surely a beautiful camera, I see it also has screws instead of rivets at the base plate.

Could you post a picture of the lens mount with the lens unscrewed?
My camera has a broad rangefinder sensor.

Regards,
Christian

Hi Christian,
Here is a photo but it is hard to see the rangefinder sensor. But it has the broad, rectangular-shaped sensor rather than the later triangular one. Here are a few other pictures showing the lens and other details too. Thanks for sharing the photos of your camera too. Two beautiful sisters (or brothers depending on your viewpoint) born on perhaps the same day!
Best regards, Bill















Regards, Bill

Beautiful and rare!

I am puzzled by the big screw on the shutter box, not far from the bottom screw (which ties the shutter box to the body).

This screw hides a big hole on Christian's camera. This hole is more little on the 5xxx series. It always exists on my 1b s/n 7122, but has disappeared on my 7373. Nothing after.

Has anybody an idea? What is this hole for?

Jacques.

Excellent photos, Bill!

Some more from my camera:






The broad rangefinder sensor


The hole in the bottom of the shutter box Jacques mentioned doesn't lead anywhere, there's nothing behind - it's really just a hole. I have no idea what it is for.




Regards, Christian

Christian,
The rangefinder sensor on my No. 1227 is a more rectangular shape. Not so broad on the end that contacts the lens. Basically rectangular with a rounded back and no threaded hole like yours has. It just looks flat with no hole or anything. I also have two other early FEDs, No.2313 and No.5585, both with burnished finish and they also have a rectangular rangefinder sensor. And rectangular seems to be what I have seen on all of the early FEDs so far, except yours. I have a feeling that yours may have a replaced rangefinder sensor. Maybe Jacques can look at any he has and see what they look like. Here is a photo of what all three of mine look like (this is a photo of No. 1227)






Regards, Bill

So, the hole is nothing but a hole! Perfect!

I have never seen a sensor like yours, Christian, on any of my Fed 1... In fact, it could look like a Fed 2's or a Zorki's.
My 1a have sensors like Bill's, except the chromed s/n 4642 which has a Leica's. Logical: the external barrel of the lens comes from a Leica too!

Jacques.

Very strange...

Indeed it's a Zorki or later FED sensor.
http://www.jay.fedka.com/index_files/Page391.htm

However, the rangefinder seems to be well calibrated for the full turn lens - the double images overlap correctly at 1m and infinity.

Should I waste a roll of film to test it?

Probably just a replacement by a repairman when the old one broke off, or possibly became worn down too much. The shape should not matter too much and I believe the difference between the rangefinder function for a full-turn lens and a half-turn lens would be in the rangefinder mechanism, not the shape of the sensor. No doubt the rangefinder is accurate if the images line up correctly and match the lens scale. Probably it is more accurate than most early FEDs for having been worked on.

Regards, Bill

I agree with Bill: you should not have problems if the repairman has done his job correctly.
As for the difference between a one turn and a half turn lens, I think there is none for the rangefinder. It seems that the thread of the distance ring is different.

I regularly use two of my pre war Fed S. And I have just tried my 1928 Leica I (A). Interesting and not so odd. You should try, Christian...

Amitiйs. Jacques.