The first version of the famous Leica made in Ukraine.
A first limited pre-series of 30 FED cameras without rangefinder was released in 1933, then another one of 10 cameras, with rangefinder that time. Regular production started in 1934 with the s/n 0041, as it seems.
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. Some early versions are painted in black.
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. All covers including the vulcanites on the early FED 1a are leaves, the cut of the leaves can be seen under the lens.
Engravings on camera top:
ФЭД Трудкоммуна им. ФЭДзержинского Харьков
(FED Trudkommuna im. FEDzerzhinskogo Kharkov)
(FED Labor Commune named after F.E.Dzerzhinsky Kharkov)
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
0077 _ 77 _________ 1 _ smooth black ___________ web
142 __ no lens ________ pigskin gray ______________________ private
155 __ no lens ________ smooth black, chrom _______________ A.Nikitin
173 __ ? ________ 1/2 _ smooth black, chrom _______________ Photo Arsenal
253 __ 253 ___________ smooth black _ black ______________ Oscar Fricke
253 __ 253 ___________ smooth black _ black ______________ Oscar Fricke
279 __ ? _____________ smooth black _ black ______________ Oscar Fricke
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
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
757 __ 86/757/799______ smooth black__ galvanized _________ private in USA
600 __ 600 ____________ Vulcanite _______________________ private in Russia
600 __ 600 ____________ Vulcanite _______________________ private in Russia
607 __ ? ______________ smooth black _ burnished __________ Oscar Fricke
608 __ ? ______________ smooth black ____________________
689 __ ? ______________ Vulcanite _______________________ private
698 __ ? ______________ Vulcanite _______________________ private
608 __ ? ______________ smooth black ____________________
689 __ ? ______________ Vulcanite _______________________ private
698 __ ? ______________ Vulcanite _______________________ private
763 __ ? ______________ Vulcanite _______________________ Oscar Fricke
793 __ ? ___________ 1 _ pigskin original __________________ private
911 __ ?/934/911 ___ 1 _ smooth black ____________________ A.Nikitin
793 __ ? ___________ 1 _ pigskin original __________________ private
911 __ ?/934/911 ___ 1 _ smooth black ____________________ A.Nikitin
922 __ ? _____________________________________________ Oscar Fricke
927 __ 1050/927 ____ 1 _ Vulcanite _______________________ A.Nikitin
968 __ 1026/47/968 _ 1 _ smooth brown ___________________ private
927 __ 1050/927 ____ 1 _ Vulcanite _______________________ A.Nikitin
968 __ 1026/47/968 _ 1 _ smooth brown ___________________ private
1010 _ ?____________1 _ Vulcanite _ burnished _____________ Leica Copy
1195 _ ? ______________ Vulcanite _______________________ Allegro 2011
1227 _ 2302/24 _____ 1 _ Vulcanite _ burnished _____________ Bill Parkinson
1233 _ 1276/14 _____ 1 _ Vulcanite _ burnished _____________ Christian G.(Niko80)
1195 _ ? ______________ Vulcanite _______________________ Allegro 2011
1227 _ 2302/24 _____ 1 _ Vulcanite _ burnished _____________ Bill Parkinson
1233 _ 1276/14 _____ 1 _ Vulcanite _ burnished _____________ Christian G.(Niko80)
1363 - ? ______________ Vulcanite _ burnished _____________ AVITO 2014
1399 _ 1458 ___________ Vulcanite _______________________ private in Russia
1399 _ 1458 ___________ Vulcanite _______________________ private in Russia
1433 _ no lens _________ Vulcanite _ burnished _ lost parts ____ ebay 2016 link
1453 _ 2041/26 _____ 1 _ Vulcanite _ burnished _____________ Jacques M.
1511 _ ? ___________ 1 _ Vulcanite _______________________ A.Nikitin
1765 _ 1827 ___________ Vulcanite _______________________ private
2029 _ ? ___________ 1 _ Vulcanite _ burnished _____________ ebay
1765 _ 1827 ___________ Vulcanite _______________________ private
2029 _ ? ___________ 1 _ Vulcanite _ burnished _____________ ebay
2191 _ 2261 ________ 1 _ Vulcanite _ burnished _____________ Lenny
2278 _ ? _________ 1/2 _ Vulcanite _ burnished _____________ eBay
2313 _ 18266 _____ 1/2 _ Vulcanite _ burnished _____________ Bill Parkinson
2327 _ ? ___________ 1 _ Vulcanite _ burnished _____________ net
2608 _ ? ___________ 1 _ Vulcanite _ burnished _____________ ebay
2869 _ ? ___________ 1 _ Vulcanite _ burnished _____________ net
3123 _ 844 _________ 1 _ Vulcanite _ burnished _____________ Jacques M.
3227 _ 2095 ________ 1 _ Vulcanite _ burnished _____________
3618 _ 4284 ________ 1 _ Vulcanite _______________________ 1200 cameras NOW Juhani / Finland
3227 _ 2095 ________ 1 _ Vulcanite _ burnished _____________
3618 _ 4284 ________ 1 _ Vulcanite _______________________ 1200 cameras NOW Juhani / Finland
3642 _ 4447 ________ 1 _ fine-Vulc _ burnished ______________ sold 2008
3662 _ ? ___________ 1 _ Vulcanite _ chromed _______________ ebay
4049 __ ? _____________________________________________ Oscar Fricke
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
4600 _ 4767 ________ 1 _ Vulcanite _ burnished ______________ Fred L.
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 _________________________ A.Nikitin
5461 _ 5681 ___________ Vulcanite _ burnished _______________ net
5440 _ 6049/22 _____ 1 _ Vulcanite _________________________ A.Nikitin
5461 _ 5681 ___________ Vulcanite _ burnished _______________ net
5554 _ ? ____________ Vulcanite _________________________ movie about FED
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
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
5941 _ 5921 ________ 1 __________________________________ Princelle / Oscar Fricke
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Links:
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