Fed NKVD with odd serial numbers

Vlad,
Although I no longer have the photographs, Igor went and took photos of both locations, so I'm not sure that they are the same building. If I remember correctly, the smaller building was several blocks from the main FED factory.

I would think that as they expanded production, they must have expanded their space too?

Regards, Bill

When you go to google street view for "Sumskaya 135 Kharkov" you can see what I believe is the old FED factory. Now it seems to be the "Kharkov Aviation Factory" or something similar.

Probably this may have been where the new FED building was and the old one was close, in Lesopark, but smaller and the original factory? Probably "Lesopark 27" may have been an area or group of buildings, rather than a particular building?

Remember this was 80 years ago so your friend in Kharkov may not be old enough to have seen these changes?

Regards, Bill

Bill, that's interesting. I'm just conveying the word of a person who lives in that area... I don't know what to think now .

Best regards,
Vlad

Hi Vlad,

Me too. I have no idea and was just relaying what the guy Igor said and thought. But he did go out and take photos of a different (smaller red brick) building that he said was a FED building.

I don't know if any of these theories are correct. They all seem a little off. My best guess is that these cameras were numbered differently because they were used by an official agency, or as Guido said, for an update.

Sometimes it is better to wait until the answer becomes apparent.

Regards, Bill

Bill, I absolutely agree, no point of guessing here, it's counterproductive and creates a lot of false facts.

Best regards,
Vlad

I had to dismount my s/n 25726 to see if there is something strange inside. At least, I have just done it. But I could not remove the cover as the VF/RF windows are too tightly screwed. It's certainly a long time since somebody had a look inside...

So, nothing extraordinary. The press film with its screw to fix it is common until s/n 12xxxx/13xxxx. It's more interesting to remark that a place has been scraped: it's there that the day and month of mounting are usually engraved... Certainly, that means something... No engraving on the shutter box as well.

No hole for a possible connecting rod for slow speeds. And a very ingenious and simple shade with a cut to allow the movement of the diaphragm lever.

So, the mystery remains unsolved. This camera is really very well mounted, for me, better than the other Fed NKVD I have seen. But when was it made? Why? And what about the magnetic frame counter, the special release spring, the plaque inside the bottom, the absence of date inside and of course this odd serial number?

Amitiйs. Jacques.
PS: Don't hesitate to ask for other photos, if you have ideas.

A new NKVD with odd s/n should soon arrive here.
Here is a photo of the seller:



A s/n of 67610 (1c) is impossible with the CCCP engraving (1d). At first sight, it should be an error of engraving with a "1" missing on the s/n. More photos when I receive it.

Amitiйs. Jacques.

Well, the s/n 67610 is here.

No doubt: it's a 1d with all its features. The shutter box (iron sheet) and the film plate (magnetic, with hole) denote a camera in the c. 110000/150000 range, if all is original. The s/n of the lens (113869) confirms that possibility.

That time, no possible "missing cipher" (167610 would be too far), so, no question to try and find a twin in that range: with such a serial number, it's impossible...

Very happy to get a mysterious camera more!

Amitiйs. Jacques.
PS: date engraved inside: 2/XII. So, the shutter box was regularly controlled.

A friend of mine asks for some other photos of this #67610.
Here they are.

Another Fed camera with a strange number





In fact, an ordinary 1d, as it seems, but with a Fed 1b serial number.
I have no other detail about it and could not buy it: too expensive. But the explanation could be a missing cipher (s/n 97x09, for example).

Amitiйs. Jacques.

Amitiйs. Jacques.

Another 1b for this thread:





This s/n 1611 is exactly like my s/n 47042, in all details, especially the profile of the release button. Lens s/n 49908.

For the inside date: only X. So october? But why no day, as usual? Would that mean something? In my s/n 47042, the inside date is 22 IX.

Comments are welcome!

Amitiйs. Jacques.

I go on digging...
That time, it's a very early 1b, without accessory clip, with a 1a serial number:





Probably the original Fed 1a s/n was exchanged against a very early 1b for some reason (certainly repair)

And this s/n 4557 has green curtains:



... exactly like Ulrich's 1b s/n 7102, here: http://ussrphoto.com/Forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=3166&SearchTerms=fed,green,curtain

Internal date: 2 IV. Ulrich, do you have a date inside your s/n 7102? That would be interesting to know...

Amitiйs. Jacques.

Jacques,

a very nice find, the FED with the green curtains. I think those cameras are rare. Btw, are other colors than green known? Some Leicas have red curtains as I know.
I took a look inside my 7102, on the right bottom of the shutter housing is "4/17 IV" scratched in.

Ulrich

http://fotos.cconin.de

Thanks for the date, Ulrich.
In fact, I have 2/2/IV or 2/R/IV on mine.
So, very probably both cameras were made in april (1935). Our two cameras are twins by all their features. And mine was certainly an exchange under warranty: the original 1a is only some months earlier.
But is it the case too for all the others? Probably not...

Amitiйs. Jacques.

Jacques,

I have inspected my 4232, unfortunatelly there are no numbers scratched in. But can you check if the part where the bottom locks in (near the two screws for the spring tension are) it screwed in or rivited? On mine this part is screwed. On my 5899 and the 7102 this part is rivited.

Ulrich

http://fotos.cconin.de

Yes, Ulrich.
On the early Fed 1a, the "locking bar" was screwed, like on the Leicas, then it was riveted. I have just checked my Fed 1a-s: this bar is riveted on the s/n 5431 and screwed on the 1453, 3132 and 4642. It would not be normal to have a 1b with a screw bar.

I think that the original 1a s/n 4557 (which certainly had a screwed bar) was defective and the whole camera was exchanged against an early 1b taken on the assembly line, on which the 1a number was engraved (the same was made by Leitz for the Leicas). That explains the riveted bar and the green curtains. The date scratched inside must be a 1b's, not 1a's.
But you know all that!

Amitiйs. Jacques.