Red Stamp CPSU Congress cameras

This was brought up on ZCG - a member there was saying that the red stamp CPSU Congress cameras (Zenit E, Zorki 10, Zenit EM(!! someone found one of those there) were given out as presents to congressmen just like the Lomo LC-A congress... anyone heard of that? or these were just commemorative models?

Vlad.

I doubt we'll ever know for sure. Those Congresses had some 5000 delegates...

These congresses were huge events, and no expenses were spared. Delegates were treated well for sure. I would think there were given gifts, but what gifts??

We need to find a delegate who will tell us if the CPSU was that generous.

AFAIK when delegates of XXV congress CPSU arrive to Moscow, they was given bag(s) with goodies, included specially made office supplies (pen(s) notebooks est.), they was given special badges, souvenirs, brochures, they was given passes to theaters, and they was given cameras with commemorative stamp. Mostly Zenit E, but by now we are discovered Zorki 10 with such stamp. What very well can tell that not every delegate was equal. Possibly delegates was divided by ranks and every rank have they set of goodies?
It would be very interesting to know how CPSS divided "equal" delegates and who got what.
Possible that other goody-bags was given as bonuses or as "tips" to organizers and servants of the congress and included commemorative cameras of different types?
Also possible that KMZ had trouble to came up with needed quantity of Zenit E (5000 cameras is a huge quantity, probably month of production of entire assembly line) so they added other types of the cameras.
I doubted cameras with such stamp was ever sold in retail.

hmm.. well I was thinking along the lines that these were sold in retail as commemoratives since there was a whole bunch of stuff in retail commemorating the "Syezd KPSS" (CPSU Congress). Like pins, stamps, posters, envelopes, etc.. why not cameras?

Also so far I'm aware of:
Zenit E
Zorki 10
and Zenit EM (was found recently by ZCG member).

And I think someone here was showing some other camera with this stamp - was it Zorki 4 or 4K?

Any other ones?

Vlad

I own a Krasnogorsk-1 (I believe it's a 1, 1976) that has the stamp on its side.

Steve

I brought up this question with Georgiy Abramov (photohistory.ru), he also seems to be of the same opinion as Okynek that these cameras were never in retail but made for presents.. very interesting.

Vlad.

Steve, very interesting - cine camera? That must've been a very fancy present than!

Vlad

Steve anxiously waiting for a pictures!! Movie camera with CPSS congress stamp!!! That should be from bag of at list regional party precedent(Председатель Обкома КПСС)!
I also have a question, what congresses of CPSS was issue commemorative cameras? Only for XXV and XXVII(LOMO LS-A)? Than what was giving for other congresses?