The early ("stepped") Fed 3

Hello,
I have recently completed my collection of Fed 3s. It's a camera I love; don't ask why... It is well known and common. But it seems there are (very!) tiny details not known until now.
So, if you are interested...

The first of my Fed 3 is the 1000245, so the 245th.
All the very early Fed 3 have in common one logo only on the front, the special cornered top plate mouldings and the rim around the finder. This one has too:
- an ocular with radial stripes,
- very fine engravings on the speed dial, perhaps made by hand.
Please, have a look at the photos.

Now, the s/n 1005855.
The special top plate mouldings and the rim around the finder are still there.
But
- the ocular wears decorative dots,
- the speed knob has ordinary engravings,
- the rewind button is different with a protruding axle. This sample is the only one I know with that detail.

Next Fed 3: the s/n 1018303.

Jacques.

The s/n 1018303 shows an "ordinary" rewind button, without the protrusion of the axle on the s/n 1005855. All the rest is the same.These 3x Fed 3 correspond to the Fed 3 type 1 first version, by the wiki : USSRPhoto.com - Russian / Soviet Cameras Wiki Catalog - Fed 3a Type 1 first version- From 1961.
Around 23000 samples were made by the factory in 1961.

Jacques.

Jacques,
my 1005960 has the flat rewind button axle, so it is only 105 numbers after yours. No other changes at all.

Ulrich

https://ritzelkiste.de

Thanks, Ulrich.
In fact, I have in my data the s/n 1002136 which has too this protruding axle. Probably a trial of the factory before dropping it...
To morrow, the Fed 3 type 1 second version, before the type 1 third version and then the type 2...
A too complex classification, certainly (it's me who made it in the wiki!). For the factory, it's rather a question of evolution towards reduced costs...

Amitiés. Jacques.

Now, the s/n 1023245.Only one difference with the precedent camera: there is no more rim around the finder.
Classified Fed 3, type 1, second version in the wiki. USSRPhoto.com - Russian / Soviet Cameras Wiki Catalog - Fed 3a Type 1 second version.
It still belongs to the first year of making (the "1"). And it is the 23245th. Total production of this second version: around 8000 cameras only.

Second year of making (1962): the s/n 2073086.
The only difference, well visible, is the round cornered top plate.
Classification Fed 3, type 1, third version in the wiki. USSRPhoto.com - Russian / Soviet Cameras Wiki Catalog - Fed 3a Type 1 third version.Total production of this third version: around 40000 cameras in two years: 1961 and 1962.

The s/n 2073140, only a few numbers from the 273086!
This sample has a new speed selector with the engraving on a disc.
It is the last variant with the single logo on the front.





It seems that this variant is not so common. I did not know it before this research.

The s/n 2130652.
The first variant to have a double engraving latin + cyrillic on the front, certainly for export, even if it does not wear "Made in USSR" on the back.For the wiki, it's a Fed 3 type 2. USSRPhoto.com - Russian / Soviet Cameras Wiki Catalog - FED 3a Type 2
No other modification.

Last, but not least...
This s/n 3177410 still has a double engraving on front.That time, "Made in USSR" is added.All the rest is the same.
I have put on it a rare Industar 61L "Lytkarino" made in 1964 (s/n 641176), not original on this camera.











Total production of the "double name": around 400000 samples, by Sovietcams. That seems much in only three years (?). I wonder it there was not a "hollow" taken by one of the other Fed cameras in production at the same time.
Of course, all comments are welcome!

Amitiés. Jacques.

Jacques,
thanks for the detailed overview of the different FED 3a models :-) I didn't know there were so many differences.
I also like the FED 3b with the quick-release lever, especially the one engraved (not silk screened) with “Revue 3.”
The lens on the last FED 3 is interesting.

Ulrich

https://ritzelkiste.de