From the Fed 1e to the 1f...

Hello,

Just one letter of difference between 1e and 1f, but some years of war too and the reconstructiobn of the factory...
It is said that Fed recovered "from scratch" in 1948. Perhaps we could discuss (once more ?) of it, with comparative photos. It's what I propose...

The four cameras in photos:
- an ordinary late 1e (s/n 183231)
- the Fed-Arsenal s/n 00067,
- the Red Flag 200977,
- the 1f "romashka" 210112.

A photo of the family:

http://www.ussrphoto.com/UserContent2/592021_IMG_0402.JPG

First one, the 1e.
A well known camera, now. As we have already said in other threads, they were still made in Kharkov before the evacuation in september 1941. Here is an ordinary 1e:


http://www.ussrphoto.com/UserContent2/592021_IMG_0405.JPG


http://www.ussrphoto.com/UserContent2/592021_IMG_0406.JPG

Not completely ordinary, in fact : a 1,5/5cm Sonnar was adapted to a Fed mount. In fact, it seems that Fed missed lenses, and it's not the only 1e to have an "exotic" lens.

Two photos more:

http://www.ussrphoto.com/UserContent2/592021_IMG_0407.JPG



http://www.ussrphoto.com/UserContent2/592021_IMG_0408.JPG

So, the common vulcanite and an ordinary shutter box (made in steel, so magnetic; and with nickel bolts).
But all the 1e are not so regular. If you want to see some odd ones, just have a look at https://photolubitel.com/index.php?route=module/kbm/article&kbm_article_id=9
There are 1e-s with parts which existed not yet in 1941...

Second camera: the Fed Arsenal s/n 00067. Well known on this forum, as we discussed about it some years ago:
http://ussrphoto.com/Forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=2884&whichpage=1&SearchTerms=fed%2Carsenal
It was made at Arsenal in 1945, just before the factory was in charge of Kievs. 11 known items only, most in bad condition.


http://www.ussrphoto.com/UserContent2/592021_IMG_0417.JPG


http://www.ussrphoto.com/UserContent2/592021_IMG_0418.JPG

Found without lens (I added the 2/50mm Fed which was the best concerning the position). Generally found with an early Industar 22, two with an early Fed "one turn" (for the 1a).
The vulcanite seems exactly the same as the 1e one.

Two more photos:


http://www.ussrphoto.com/UserContent2/592021_IMG_0420.JPG


http://www.ussrphoto.com/UserContent2/592021_IMG_0421.JPG

Bad condition of the chrome. The shutter box is interesting: made of steel (magnetic) and equipped with nuts in brass.

The turn of the Red Flag NKAP now.
Several versions are known: with "stretched" vulcanite, "romashka" one and with ordinary one (1e type), that last one being contested. I don't talk about the fakes (I have several if necessary).

This s/n 200977is a regular NKAP:

http://www.ussrphoto.com/UserContent2/592021_IMG_0410.JPG


http://www.ussrphoto.com/UserContent2/592021_IMG_0411.JPG

Two photos more:

http://www.ussrphoto.com/UserContent2/592021_IMG_0413.JPG


http://www.ussrphoto.com/UserContent2/592021_IMG_0415.JPG

This vulcanite was never seen before. But we will found it again on some first 1f. For the "romashka" vulcanite (also named "flower", please see the 1f below).
Concerning the shutter box, it is made in brass (non magnetic); the nuts are in brass too (like the Fed Arsenal).

Last item: the early Fed 1f s/n 210112.
http://www.ussrphoto.com/UserContent2/592021_IMG_0424.JPG


http://www.ussrphoto.com/UserContent2/592021_IMG_0425.JPG

Nothing special, except of course the circled release button which reminds the 1c to 1e series. Very fast, the 1f release buttons will be soft on the 1f.

Two photos more:


http://www.ussrphoto.com/UserContent2/592021_IMG_0426.JPG


http://www.ussrphoto.com/UserContent2/592021_IMG_0428.JPG

The "romashka" vulcanite is of course very special. It can be seen on the first series of 1f and on some Red Flags. Note too that the "stretched" vulcanite exists on Red Flags and on some very rare 1f. For those who are interested:
https://ussrcameras.ru/catalog/631
Thanks, Alexei!

About the shutter box, it is made in brass (non magnetic), and so are the nuts (cf the Arsenal and the Red Flag). Very soon, the nuts will be nickelized, the shutter box remaining in brass untill s/n 240000 (very roughly).

What to conclude? Certainly nothing! All that was just to discuss a bit.
The question of vulcanite, for example, is very interesting and suggests that there were communications between Berdsk (1e) and Kharkhov (1f).
The variability of some 1e, with parts not yet existing in 1941, could denote a post 1941 montage.
The nuts made in non painted brass (or only blackened) on the Arsenal, the Red Flag and the very early 1f lets think of a sort of "permeability" between the different spots where Fed parts could be found (and made).
Fourth question (for me, I'll stop there!): I am puzzled by the number of old parts (possibly coming from 1a/early 1b) on the known Fed Arsenal. But I know: its existence is contested!

Amitiйs. Jacques.
PS: if necessary, I can add other parameters and other cameras to the comparison.

I should have proposed a short comparison with an early, but ordinary Fed 1f too.
Here are some photos of the s/n 210455.

http://www.ussrphoto.com/UserContent2/1192021_IMG_0429.JPG


http://www.ussrphoto.com/UserContent2/1192021_IMG_0430.JPG

The visible change is the release button: circled on the others, soft on this one.

Two other photos:

http://www.ussrphoto.com/UserContent2/1192021_IMG_0433.JPG


http://www.ussrphoto.com/UserContent2/1192021_IMG_0436.JPG

That time, the shutter box looks different, at least for the nuts which are nickelized. The shutter box itself is still made of brass (non magnetic). And the vulcanite becomes regular.

All comments are welcome!

Amitiйs. Jacques.