Catalog Revision - USSRPhoto Wiki

Edited on 5/12/2016 7:09:26 PM by Lenny

TSVVS / VTS-VS

TSVVS (TCBBC in Cyrillic) stands for

Topographicheskaya Sluzhba Voyenno-Vozdushnih Sil

(Topographic Service of the Air Force)
According to Alexander Bronstein's website www.leica.boom.ru the correct name is VTS-VS.

One of the most enigmatic soviet cameras. There is a plate with text: "To colonel Maksimov L.K. for a long and blameless service in parts of VTS S.A., from the VTS Chief on December 9th 1957". This gives some basis to the unexpected assumption that it is necessary to read the name of the camera on the circle, as it was actually a normal practice in Russia, and it should sound - not TSVVS from Topographical Service of Air Force but VTSVS.

VTSVS

Voyenno-Topografitscheskaya Sluzhba Vooruzhennyh Sil

(Militar Topographical Service of Defence Forces)

These were possibly special cameras that were manufactured by Soviet goverment for high ranking people in the military or the KPSS (Communist Party). Possibly given as gifts for excellence in service to the Soviet Union. Maybe given to generals and ministers, but very selectively according to historical records.

Type: 35mm / Leica-Contax copy

Lens: Carl Zeiss Jena Sonnar 50mm f2

Factory: uncertain (possibly ALMAZ ~ Yuri Davidenko Theory ~ DVD Tech), Moscow, USSR

Production: less than 1000 units total in 1949 & 1950

Pictured camera:

Body serial: #577

Lens serial: #3090237

Year: 1950

more photos at: nightphoto.com

Known Examples of TSVVS Cameras and lenses

notes: (CZJ = Carl Zeiss Jena) __ (M-info = List of TSVVS cameras from Dr. Milos Mladek)

body# _ year _ lens#/type _ Owner/Source _ Authenticity _ # baseplate/# shutterbox

Unmarked _ ? _ 3060338 CZJ 2.0 ___ DVD _______________ YES
Unmarked _ ? _ 5403601 Jup-8 _____ Princelle ____________ YES
Unmarked _ ? _ 3101418 CZJ 3.5 ___ SH_Photo ___________ ?
Unmarked _ ? _ 3066143 CZJ 3.5 ___ Alexander K.
1 ____ 1949 __ 3060168 CZJ 2.0 ___ ebay sovdepia __ (Authenticity of serial number is doubtful although camera is real TSVVS)
6 ____ 1949 __ ? / ? _____________ Photohistory/Abramov
7 ____ 1949 __ 3060235 CZJ 2.0 ___ eBay uv1962
7 ____ 1949 __ ? / ? _____________ Princelle / M-info __
7 ____ 1949 __ 3089557 CZJ 2.0 ___ Ebay / foto_hobby
22 ___ 1949 __ ? / ? _____________ Princelle-info
27 ___ 1948 __ ? / ? _____________ Princelle-info _________ YES ?
33 ___ 1949 __ ? / ? _____________ M-info __
41 ___ 1949 __ 2269946 CZJ 1.5 ___ Princelle _____________ YES
71 ___ 1949 __ ? / ? _____________ M-info __
88 ___ 1949 __ 3060333 CZJ 2.0 ___ Private ______________ YES
153 __ 1949 __ 226xxxx CZJ 1.5 ___ JPG _________________ YES
155 __ 1949 __ 5909407 Jup-8M ___ Westlicht #8 / M.Mladek _____ FAKE

171 ___________________________ Westlicht auction#20 lot#377

177 __ 1949 __ 3050587 CZJ 2.0 ___ eBay

184 __ 1949 __ 3094933 CZJ 2.0 ___ Private ______________ YES

194 __ 1949 __ ? / ? _____________ Photohistory/Abramov
200 __ 1949 __ 2269238 CZJ 1.5 ___ W.Parkinson _________ YES
214 __ 1949 __ 2727413 CZJ 1,5 ___ eBay 11/2013
245 __ 1949 __ 3090072 CZJ 2.0 ___ WestLicht Auction _____ YES

261 __ 1949 __ 3060279 CZJ 2.0 ___ Westlicht auction#29 lot#258

264 __ 1949 __ 3089522 CZJ 2.0 ___ Jacques M. __________ YES __64/64
266 __ 1949 __ ? / ? _____________ tiscali.co.uk __________ YES
271 __ 1949 __ 3009139 CZJ 2.0 ___ C.Asquini ___________ YES
280 __ 1949 __ 3050898 CZJ 2.0 ___ M.Mladek ___________ YES
292 __ 1949 __ 3059649 CZJ 2.0 ___ Alexander K. ________ YES
303 __ 1949 __ 3089341 CZJ 1.5 ___ net
308 __ 1949 __ 3050909 CZJ 2.0 ___ KING-2 (website) _____ YES

311 __ 1949 __ 3095126 CZJ 2.0 ___ Alexey Nikitin ________ YES
330 __ 1950 __ 3060329 CZJ 2.0 ___ EBAY Jan 2010 _______ YES
366 __ 1950 __ 3092474 CZJ 2.0 ___ Private _____________ YES
372 __ 1950 __ 3059505 CZJ 2.0 ___ Ebay-Arsenal ________ YES
392 __ 1950 __ ? / ? _____________ M-info __
422 __ 1950 __ ? / ? _____________ M-info __
440 __ 1950 __ ? / ? _____________ M-info __
441 __ 1950 __ 3092387 CZJ 2.0 ___ Sovietcams.com ______ YES
442 __ 1950 __ 5509465 Jup-8 _____ Arfact Auction _______ YES

466 ____________________________Westlicht auction#16 lot#318

467 __ 1950 __ 3059591 CZJ 2.0 ___ RAF Camera _________ YES

469 __ 1950 __ 3096197 CZJ 2.0 ___ eBay Jan 2013 _______ YES __ 20/20
471 __ 1950 __ ? / ? _____________ M-info __
488 __ 1950 __ 3059778 CZJ 2.0 ___ Princelle/Milos Mladek __ YES
488 __ 1950 __ ? / ? _____________ M-info __
503 __ 1950 __ 3090471 CZJ 2.0 ___ Jacques M. __________ YES __ 89/89
514 __ 1950 __ 3050719 CZJ 2.0 ___ Private ______________ YES
517 __ 1950 __ 3093560 CZJ 2.0 ___ Westlicht #7 _________ YES
544 __ 1950 __ ? / ? _____________ M-info __
552 __ 1950 __ 3090384 CZJ 2.0 ___ Ebay-Photo _________ YES
552 __ 1950 __ 3090384 CZJ 2.0 ___ Igor N.Rykov ________ YES
575 __ 1950 __ 3009075 CZJ 2.0 ___ eBay jan 2013 _______ YES
577 __ 1950 __ 3090237 CZJ 2.0 ___ W.Parkinson _________ YES
607 __ 1950 __ 3059688 CZJ 2.0 ___ Private _____________ YES
629 __ 1950 __ 3060385 CZJ 2.0 ___ Westlicht # 13 _______ YES
632 __ 1950 __ 3092490 CZJ 2.0 ___ Ebay Jan 2015 _______ YES
638 __ 1950 __ 3059899 CZJ 2.0 ___ Ebay-moscowphoto _______ FAKE
650 __ 1950 __ 3093650 CZJ 2.0 ___ David Tomlinson ______ YES__2/36
665 __ 1950 __ 3006819 CZJ 2.0 ___ Private ______________ YES

687 __ 1950 __ 3089508 CZJ 2.0 ___ Westlicht auction#29 lot#259

699 __ 1950 __ 3094394 CZJ 2.0 ___ U.Witte ______________ YES
700 __ 1950 __ ? / ? _____________ A.Bronstein ___________ YES
705 __ 1950 __ ? / ? _____________ Princelle _____________ YES

707 ___________________________ Westlicht auction#20

709 __ 1950 __ 3090875 CZJ 2.0 ___ C.Asquini ____________ YES

714 __ 1950 __ 3059762 CZJ 2.0 ___ Alexander K. _________ YES
733 __ 1950 __ 3060196 CZJ 2.0 ___ Private ______________ YES
747 __ 1950 __ ? / ? _____________ M.Mladek __
756 __ 1950___3095256 CZJ 2.0 ___ A.Nikitin
781 __ 1950 __ 3059927 CZJ 2.0 ___ A.Berry _____________ YES
785 __ 1950 __ 3095141 CZJ 2.0 ___ Private ______________ YES
790 __ 1950 __ 3051259 CZJ 2.0 ___ Private ______________ YES
792 __ 1950 __ 3094435 CZJ 2.0 ___ Asahi-net ____________ YES
804 __ 1950 __ 3060175 CZJ 2.0 ___ Ebay Italy ____________ YES
816 __ 1950 __ 2019243 CZJ 2.0 ___ Ebay
901 __ 1950 __ ? / ? _____________ Princelle info __

From this list you can see that all the Sonnar 50/1,5 are from an early 1938 prewar uncoated batch and are on the earlier camera, and that all the f/2 lenses are coated and from postwar Jena production batches on later cameras. The 50/1,5 lenses seems not to be leftovers found after the war (coated lenses would have been available at that time).

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Catalog entry revision

TSVVS / VTS-VS