The first version of the famous Leica copy.
A limited pre-series of 10 FED cameras was released in 1933, regular production started in 1934.
The parts of the camera that normally should be chromed are "galvanized" up to #5.800. This transitional finish is the result of the lack of chrome in the new factory.
The body of very early cameras often has a smooth black plastic cover instead of vulcanite, occasionally cameras with different covers like smooth brown plastic, leather, or gray vulcanite can be found.
Engravings on camera top: „ФЭД Трудкоммуна им. Ф.Э. Дзержинского. Харьков“
Shutter: 1/20, 1/30, 1/40, 1/60, 1/100, 1/200, 1/500 and Z.
Serial number range: #0.031 to 6.xxx .
known examples
#body - #lens ----- turn - cover --------- metal finish --------------- owner/source
0058 -- 58 ------------ 1 - smooth black ----------------- preseries-- private
142 --- no lens ----------- pigskin gray -------------------------------- private
155 --- no lens ----------- smooth black ------------------------------ ebay 2013
173 --- ? ------------1/2 - smooth black ------------------------------ Photo Arsenal
253 --- 253 --------------- smooth black - black --------------------- private
316 --- ? ------------------ smooth black ----------------------------- Знание и Труд 1936 #4
253 --- 253 --------------- smooth black - black --------------------- private
316 --- ? ------------------ smooth black ----------------------------- Знание и Труд 1936 #4
389 --- 889/389 ------ 1 - smooth black - black -------------------- private in Russia
489 --- ? -------------- 1 - smooth black ----------------------------- DVD Technik
491 --- 491 ----------- 1 - smooth black ----------------------------- private in Russia
508 --- ?/508 --------- 1 - smooth black ----------------------------- private in Russia
575 --- 1190/68 ---------- smooth black ----------------------------- private
600 --- 600 ---------------- Vulcanite ---------------------------------- private in Russia
608 --- ? ------------------- smooth black -----------------------------
689 --- ? ------------------- Vulcanite ---------------------------------- private
698 --- ? ------------------- Vulcanite ---------------------------------- private
793 --- ? --------------- 1 - pigskin ------------------------------------ private
911 --- ?/934/911 ----- 1 - smooth black ---------------------------- Alexey Nikitin
927 --- 1050/927 ------ 1 - Vulcanite --------------------------------- Alexey Nikitin
968 --- 1026/47/968 -- 1 - smooth brown---------------------------- private
1195 -- ? ------------------- Vulcanite ---------------------------------- Allegro 2011
1227 -- 2302/24 ------- 1 - Vulcanite -- burnished ------------------ Bill Parkinson
1233 -- 1276/14 ------- 1 - Vulcanite -- burnished ------------------ Christian G.(Niko80)
1399 -- 1458 --------------- Vulcanite --------------------------------- private in Russia
489 --- ? -------------- 1 - smooth black ----------------------------- DVD Technik
491 --- 491 ----------- 1 - smooth black ----------------------------- private in Russia
508 --- ?/508 --------- 1 - smooth black ----------------------------- private in Russia
575 --- 1190/68 ---------- smooth black ----------------------------- private
600 --- 600 ---------------- Vulcanite ---------------------------------- private in Russia
608 --- ? ------------------- smooth black -----------------------------
689 --- ? ------------------- Vulcanite ---------------------------------- private
698 --- ? ------------------- Vulcanite ---------------------------------- private
793 --- ? --------------- 1 - pigskin ------------------------------------ private
911 --- ?/934/911 ----- 1 - smooth black ---------------------------- Alexey Nikitin
927 --- 1050/927 ------ 1 - Vulcanite --------------------------------- Alexey Nikitin
968 --- 1026/47/968 -- 1 - smooth brown---------------------------- private
1195 -- ? ------------------- Vulcanite ---------------------------------- Allegro 2011
1227 -- 2302/24 ------- 1 - Vulcanite -- burnished ------------------ Bill Parkinson
1233 -- 1276/14 ------- 1 - Vulcanite -- burnished ------------------ Christian G.(Niko80)
1399 -- 1458 --------------- Vulcanite --------------------------------- private in Russia
1433 -- no lens ------------- Vulcanite -- burnished -- lost parts ---- ebay 2016 link
1511 -- ? --------------- 1 - Vulcanite ---------------------------------- Aidas
1765 -- 1827 --------------- Vulcanite --------------------------------- private
2029 -- ? --------------- 1 - Vulcanite -- burnished ------------------ ebay
1765 -- 1827 --------------- Vulcanite --------------------------------- private
2029 -- ? --------------- 1 - Vulcanite -- burnished ------------------ ebay
2191 -- 2261 ----------- 1 - Vulcanite -- burnished ------------------ Lenny
2313 -- 18266 ------- 1/2 - Vulcanite -- burnished ------------------ Bill Parkinson
2869 -- ? --------------- 1 - Vulcanite -- burnished ------------------ net
3227 -- 2095 ----------- 1 - Vulcanite -- burnished ------------------ David Tomlinson
3618 -- ? --------------- 1 - Vulcanite --------------------------------- 1200 cameras
2869 -- ? --------------- 1 - Vulcanite -- burnished ------------------ net
3227 -- 2095 ----------- 1 - Vulcanite -- burnished ------------------ David Tomlinson
3618 -- ? --------------- 1 - Vulcanite --------------------------------- 1200 cameras
3642 -- 4447 ----------- 1 - fine-Vulc -- burnished ------------------ sold 2008
3662 -- ? --------------- 1 - Vulcanite -- chromed ------------------- ebay
4141 -- ? --------------- 1 - Vulcanite -- burnished ------------------ A.Zilbert
4304 -- 6744 -------- 1/2 - Vulcanite -- burnished ------------------- Alexander K.
4141 -- ? --------------- 1 - Vulcanite -- burnished ------------------ A.Zilbert
4304 -- 6744 -------- 1/2 - Vulcanite -- burnished ------------------- Alexander K.
4426 -- 4725 ------------------------------------------------------------ Westlicht auction#5 lot#220
4642 -- Fed/Elmar ---------- Vulcanite -- chromed -------------------- Jacques M.
4643 -- ? ---------------- 1 - Vulcanite ---------------------------------- Aidas _______ see photos
4700 -- ? -------------------- Vulcanite ---------------------------------- Знание и Труд 1936 #4
5167 -- ? --------------- 1 - Vulcanite -- partly chromed -------------- private in Russia
5323 -- 5165 ---------------- Vulcanite -- burnished ------------------- Lens werks
5330 -- 4534/75 ------------ Vulcanite -- burnished ------------------- Jacques M.
4643 -- ? ---------------- 1 - Vulcanite ---------------------------------- Aidas _______ see photos
4700 -- ? -------------------- Vulcanite ---------------------------------- Знание и Труд 1936 #4
5167 -- ? --------------- 1 - Vulcanite -- partly chromed -------------- private in Russia
5323 -- 5165 ---------------- Vulcanite -- burnished ------------------- Lens werks
5330 -- 4534/75 ------------ Vulcanite -- burnished ------------------- Jacques M.
5340 -- 5507 --------------------------------------------------------------
5431 -- 6107/K98 ---------- Vulcanite -- burnished, Leica engraved - Jacques M.
5440 -- 6049/22 ------- 1 - Vulcanite ----------------------------------- Alexey Nikitin
5461 -- 5681 --------------- Vulcanite --- burnished ------------------- net
5585 -- 5583 ----------- 1 - Vulcanite -- burnished -------------------- Bill Parkinson
5682 -- ? --------------- 1 - Vulcanite ----------------------------------- Massimo Bertacchi
5890 -- ? ------------- 1/2 - Vulcanite -- chromed --------------------- Juhani
5899 -- ? ------------- 1/2 - Vulcanite -- chromed --------------------- U.Witte
5440 -- 6049/22 ------- 1 - Vulcanite ----------------------------------- Alexey Nikitin
5461 -- 5681 --------------- Vulcanite --- burnished ------------------- net
5585 -- 5583 ----------- 1 - Vulcanite -- burnished -------------------- Bill Parkinson
5682 -- ? --------------- 1 - Vulcanite ----------------------------------- Massimo Bertacchi
5890 -- ? ------------- 1/2 - Vulcanite -- chromed --------------------- Juhani
5899 -- ? ------------- 1/2 - Vulcanite -- chromed --------------------- U.Witte
Links:
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