Beige Export Narciss

So I had an interesting conversation today regarding the beige export Narciss... the running theory is that these cameras didn't actually exist and all the export beige ones are top cover transplants from black ones to increase the value of the camera.

Here's a sample, but this seems to be a medical version with the plaque on the back..



Source: http://www.submin.com/16mm/collection/narciss/cameras/cream_latin.htm


Wanted to put this up for discussion. Any input is appreciated.

Thanks,
Vlad

So this brings me to an interesting question which may support this theory of top cover transplants: This particular camera being a medical version has a presentation engraving on the back... Who would gift a medical Narciss?



I bought this medical set couple of weeks ago (that's what this plaque is usually from):







This is from 1964... and beige ones are usually earlier years... the only two that are known which are beige exports are one in Viktor Suglob's collection #6502137 and this one pictured above #6502552.. I guess this begs the question whether there were late beige models at all...

Vlad,

1. You are thinking as an American here. In USSR - there was no logic on what, where and when you can find something. Gift of a medical Narciss is perfectly fine. Especially given the fact that it is a fully 'civilian' set functionally.

Ok, here is a theory for you - Natasha was working at a medical institution, and the Government, based on the 5-year plan allocations and funds, distributed this Narciss there. The camera was odd and totally useless as no film for it was found or nobody was able to load the cassettes. So her boss said - Natasha, Eduard's birthday is coming, a round number, this weird thing has been sitting in my desk drawer for 6 years, why don't you present it to Eduard?
And Natasha took the camera to an engraving atelier, where a former Gulag inmate made this beautiful engraving.
My heart melts as I see Natasha giving this Narciss to Eduard.

2. Transplants - if only two are known, seems like a very small market for transplants. And this also involve repainting.

3. A better question - why would anyone made an export medical Narciss?

4. Also, never thought about it - how common is a beige "regular" Narciss?

If Narciss is equipped with a medical screen (prism), it's hardly suitable for ordinary use - it's not suitable for focusing.

Yuri, you make a valid point, gifting a 3-4 year old medical Narciss may make sense in economy where these things like that are hard to come by

Ћiga, you also make a good point but I think those can be easily replaced with regular prism, (and medical screen can be replaced with ground glass from a donor camera).. but I guess yeah you need a donor camera for it or make your own...

Cheers,
Vlad

Beige Narciss is not that more uncomommon than black...

see this entry:
http://ussrphoto.com/Wiki/default.asp?ContentID=1688&ParentID=49&WikiCatID=50
and observe also the existance of a grey Narciss

First of all we are not talking about first experimental gray bodies and the last one anniversary sample. We are talking about serial cameras.
The first cameras were really meant for medicine purposes, but not the last cameras from 1965.

Yuri is right, you do not need to look for any logic. It could be everything.
The camera was engraved in 1971, six years later after stopping the serial production. So it was not more a medical camera, it was a "civil" camera for everyone, BUT you have to think about the fact that it was almost not possible to buy something in the Soviet Union in 70-80th. It was possible to get something by acquaintance only, if we are talking about consumer goods.

So, the loving wife got somewhere a great camera out of the old stocks, which was no longer produced, and gave it to her husband on his Birthday. Isn't it a real love story? NO, it is a story of the real life in the USSR.

Now about the beige color. Start of "civil" production was in 1963, so it was decided to change the look of the camera and since 1964 we have a black one. Nevertheless we can find beige cameras after 1964 as well.

About the export engraving on this beige camera there can be many different opinions. My opinion is that this beige covering was simply remained from the old stocks. I have a transitional model from 1963. On this camera you can see some attempts to change the general look of the camera. I will take a photo of a camera and post it here in some hours.

Regards, Alexander

So, this is my Narciss form 1963. Look at the inscription "Narciss". It is not only black, it differs a little from standard one.




Regards, Alexander

Thanks Alexander for you opinion. that may be that it's old stock body... I'm comparing your narciss logo to mine, the only thing I see a little different is the Ц tail is a bit narrower than on mine, mine is more round...

Cheers,
Vlad