FED Stalinets

STALINETS (made from FED-1) ..... 35 mm film / coupled rangefinder ..... lens: FED / 50 mm f.3.5 .
body serial # 68 ..... lens serial # 6112
Non-factory modification (circa 1980 ?) of a circa 1936 - 1937 NKVD - FED, Kharkov, USSR
production: unknown

Notes: This is an older 'fake' commemorative FED. It has been polished to the brass and possibly gold-plated in some spots, the original engravings on the rangefinder housing replaced, a custom lens cap turned from brass, and small red stars enameled on the cap and top.

The FED it was made from is of the older type, circa 1937, and the "STALINETS" modifications were probably made around 15-25 years ago, before the early FEDs had enough value to sell for much! The newer fake Leicas and non-original modifications seem to be made from post-war Zorki and Fed cameras.

I believe the original idea and legend behind the "STALINETS" is that they were special FED cameras given by Joseph Stalin to important Communist officials, Military Generals, and other VIPs of the Soviet Union. The engraved and enameled 'star" motif is quite reminescent of the authentic TSVVS camera that was of a high quality and was produced in very limited quantities. A lot of work and time went into this camera and the last photograph shows it with several photographs of its' two namesakes ... Josef Vissarionovich Stalin (in 1919) and Felix Edmoundovitch Dzerjinski (together with Stalin, circa 1925).