'A' serial numbers for FED

Jacques
Very interesting your theory; but please do not understand as being my observation as an excludent one, of course A series were built at the same time of other no A series cameras
LP

Hi Luiz,
It's only a theory...
It sticks not too bad with all the Fed 2 I have seen these last weeks on eBay and elsewhere.
And it would explain why some Fed 2 were prefixed by A (the range
1-Oxxxxx was taken by the 3a) and why the A was abandoned (the range 1-1xxxxx was available some months later).
For sure, I never thought your observation was excludent!

Amitiйs. Jacques.

So, the A serie would exactly take the place of the 1-0xxxxx range, kept for the first 3a.
To be clear, that time!
And if i'm not wrong...

Amitiйs. Jacques.

quote:

---

Originally posted by Jacques M.


So, the A serie would exactly take the place of the 1-0xxxxx range, kept for the first 3a.
To be clear, that time!
And if i'm not wrong...

Amitiйs. Jacques.

---

I have to say that this is a 'very close to truth' assumption.

I wish you could also solve the mystery of 'B' prefix Kiev III?

Kind Regards

Zhang

Hi Zhang!
Sorry to say I'm not qualified for that new work!

Amitiйs. Jacques.

Hi Jacques,

just wanted to say my special thanks for your theory about "A" prefixes and other Fed-2 classifying - I have spent two days to check it .... and you are right indeed ... ! I have found some consistent patterns, but unfortunately all my material is on my office computer, so no comments riht now ...

Best regards,
Aidas

Merci, Aidas!

Jacques.

Hi Aidas!

Thanks for this serial # A197404 (added in the wiki)which doesn't follow the rule!
Perhaps it's only a mistake: A197404 engraved instead of 097404. For the moment, it could be the exception which confirms the rule...

Of course, if there are other exceptions...

Amitiйs. Jacques.

According to Soviet Cams I have a Fed2 typeD5. It has the modern ss of 30th 60th etc. Mine is without the decorative trim around the v/f. The problem is the author of the site list the serial numbers range: #2250.000-#2320.000 with #2251.006 to be the earliest. My Fed 2's #1248672.This should make mine a typeD4. So what I gather is that during the D4's run they already started using the non decorative top plate as seen on the later D5's production run. Interesting I thought. Oh and my Fed came with the chrome N26 52/2.8 lens.

To Jacques,

if my camera #A197404 comes with engraving mistake in the serial number, this circumstance makes it really unique, what do you think?

to gb hill,

thanks for your question about camera #1248672! All numbers in my classifier are approximate, I'm sure you know the reason why? Knowing, that the 1st digit in the serial number indicates the year of manufacture (1 stands for 1961), our cameras #248672 and #251006 are very close sisters indeed ... Thanks to your sample, I will change my serial numbers range a little bit, though there are at least few cameras (for example - #1252217, sold on eBay in 2008), which are certain type-D4 cameras indeed ...

Best Regards,
Aidas

Hello!

For the moment, your camera is unique, Aidas, for sure!
It will be interesting to know if there are other cameras like yours, beginning with A19xxxx. I always think it's an accident, and the correct number should be A09xxxx. It wouldn't be the first time there are mistakes at Fed's!
So, if I am not wrong, the following numbers, after A099999, should be 1100000. But it must always be proved!

Keep your camera preciously!

For the other question, I think too that changes were not made at a precise serial number, but on a range which can extend to some thousands of numbers. It was already the case with Fed 1 (including post war ones). And the different jumps of serial numbers don't render the task easier...

Amitiйs. Jacques.

To Aidas, I wish to say I enjoyed your site & gained much info I didn't know concerning the Fed 2. I never even noticed the trim around the v/f until you pointed that out in the different production runs. Too bad the serial numbers are not as easily understandable as the Zorki models, but I think you have it sorted out pretty well.
cheers, gb

Hi,

let me show you one more oddity about Fed-2 numbering systems ...

It's really believable, that the 1st million of total Fed-2 cameras have ended with serial number #0999.999, right? Following to our investigation results (special thanks to Jacques again!), the 2nd million should be started with 100.000 units of prefix "A" cameras, right?

My hypotesis is, just before FED have decided to use "A" prefixes for the first 100.000 cameras of 2nd million, a limited batch of Fed-2 cameras with strange serial numbers have entered the market. The same 7-digits serial number, but serial numbering system is changed again. And this system doesn't fit our theory in any ways ... Let me show you camera #9022351 ... which seems to be the bridge between Fed-2 cameras of '50ies and '60ies indeed.

One more engraving mistake, Jacques? May be, but I don't really think so. Too many unique cameras in one collection ... . If it's mistake however, the serial number should look like #9922351, since #0922351 doesn't fit again, right?

Sorry for my bad english, I've tried to explain the best I can.

Best Regards,
Aidas


http://www.ussrphoto.com/UserContent/892009_fed2_9022351.jpg

Hi Aidas!

You are right: too many Fed 2 with engraving mistakes in one collection would be too much!
I have in my datas the serial number 9022191 which is exactly the same as your 9022351: new range speed and low accessory shoe. I think too they were made just before the "A": the very first "A" have the same low shoe (and the new range speed).

Till now, I had an hypothesis. As we know, Fed had decided to use the first cipher as the symbol of the year. But they could have been "short" with numbers if they had produced too many Fed 2. Hence these strange 9022191 and 9022351 (after 9000001, 9000002, etc.)
But this hypothesis cannot be valid if we only find serial numbers beginning with 9022xxx and nothing before! So, I don't know

I go on digging!

Amitiйs. Jacques.

Hi Jacques,

thanks a lot for your message! Your information only confirms, that we are moving the right direction indeed ... Today I have heard a story, that one serious collector in Moscow would like to sell a complete (!!!) collection of FED-2 cameras. Let's wait for more details, ok? Who said, that Fed-2 is a really dull camera for collectors?

Best Regards,
Aidas