Fed Berdsk - Known Examples

Two more... n.179919 https://www.ebay.com/itm/RARE-FED-1-E-Zorki-NKVD-sn-179919-1-3-5-F-50M-M-Original-Case-1000pcs-serie/373007503343?hash=item56d8facfef:g:w64AAOSwv-ledOPm
and n.176931
https://www.ebay.com/itm/FED-Type-1e-Berdsk-Rangefinder-Camera-3-5-50-M39-Leica-Mount-USSR/174310750899?hash=item2895bafab3:g:-hAAAOSwYfBe3ojC

The interesting thing is that each seller tells a different story ... :-)

quote:

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Originally posted by basic-collector

Here another camera to add to the list, №175553 from a seller on ebay
https://www.ebay.com/itm/FED-BERDSKI-type-1e-Vintage-WWII-1945-Russian-Original-Camera-copy-Leica-II-D/143657847916?hash=item2172accc6c:g:F7IAAOSweFhewZH4

It seems strange inside, looking from the opened bottom... what's your feelings?

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Yes, I had seen it.
It looks like a spring for cameras with a delaying mechanism. Probably a home made modification...
Thanks for the numbers.

Jacques.

I have just dismounted my 1e s/n 183613 (though very reluctantly) to know more about that camera. Here are some photos:


http://www.ussrphoto.com/UserContent2/1182020_IMG_0152.JPG

http://www.ussrphoto.com/UserContent2/1182020_IMG_0161.JPG

http://www.ussrphoto.com/UserContent2/1182020_IMG_0169.JPG

I have plenty of others, if necessary!

At first sight, all seems correct for a 1e. Except, of course, the date 16/X. If this camera is completely original, that would mean that some very late 1e were mounted after the evacuation, possibly at Berdsk.

Concerning this s/n 183613, the shutters are original, and I found nothing really strange when taking it to pieces, except that the lensplate is not shimmed, and that it seems not perfectly centered on the body. Perhaps difficult conditions of mounting at Berdsk?

The last 1e known is the s/n 183906, by Alexey Nikitin's site. As far as I know, we don't know the internal inscription of date on the very late 1e.

Amitiйs. Jacques.

Two other Fed 1e here:

- the S # 178311 with the 2/50mm # 32348. Date inside: 8 VII, more or less coherent with the other dates we have,
- the S # 183209, with a macro collapsible Fed lens. In fact, all comes from a Fed-Zorki camera, except the cover! Beautiful leatherette, perfectly working. And no date inside (contrarily to Fed, KMZ did not have that "tradition").

Jacques.

A 1e more here. In fact, an S with a surprise:


http://www.ussrphoto.com/UserContent2/2112023_IMG_0924.JPG

The "20-1" was engraved for the Fed B: coupling with the slow speed machanism. Rather rare!
All the rest is common, alas. I hoped some traces on the shutter box, but all is regular...


http://www.ussrphoto.com/UserContent2/2112023_IMG_0925.JPG


http://www.ussrphoto.com/UserContent2/2112023_IMG_0927.JPG

Amitiйs. Jacques.

I had forgotten: 31 VIII (1941) is engraved inside on the shutter box. It's the last day found for these cameras, though the last s/n is 183892 in our wiki, 183906 by Alexei Nikitin's site...
Was this camera delayed for some reason, or the mounting at the factory went on later in september?
I own the 183613 with 16 X inside, but I doubt...

Amitiйs. Jacques.

Jacques,

congratulations to that rarity!

My latest FED Berdsk has serial number 182433 and the numbers 5 VIII scratched on the shutter housing.

Ulrich

http://fotos.cconin.de

Thanks, Ulrich!

I received another 1e S some days ago, in very bad condition, but for nothing (or almost).
In fact, the rewind button was lacking (easy to re-place), but the release button was absent too. So, no connecting rod towards the release spring, no command of the main drum, etc. My first idea was to keep it for parts.

But a 1e S is not such common... Here is the result. The body is still a wreck, but the missing parts are in place. It is always non working:
the curtains must be changed and the mechanism checked. But I had a lot of fun!


http://www.ussrphoto.com/UserContent2/1022023_IMG_0979.JPG

An oddity on the body: a hole in the back, so probably to check the register. But there is no hole in the press-film...


http://www.ussrphoto.com/UserContent2/1022023_IMG_0980.JPG

That time, no date on the shutter-box for this s/n 174942.

Amitiйs. Jacques.