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 serial numbers:
#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
253 __ 253 ___________ smooth black _ black ______________ private
279 __ ? _____________ smooth black _ black ______________ private
316 __ ? _____________ smooth black ____________________ Знание и Труд 1936 #4
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 not original _______________ 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 not original _______________ 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
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Links:
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