Komsomolets | |
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I believe, that Komsomolets was the very first postwar mass-production camera to enter the Soviet Union market. An official LOMO sources refer to september of 1946 as Komsomolets start.
The very first Komsomolets cameras had frame counters on the body and left-sided film window on the rear door. According to Luiz Paracampo, 120 films (or simply 60mm in Russia) had only 6x9 markings up to 1950. That way, the earliest Komsomolets cameras had a left-sided red window, used for the counter start.
An earliest so far known serial number of "frame counter" Komsomolets is #460011 (LOMO archives), the latest one - #4725265 (SovietCams). In total, at least 1 Komsomolets version, 3 Komsomolets "Model-A" (without frame counter) and 1 Komsomolets "Model-B" (new shutter) versions with at least 18 types are known to exist nowadays. I'd like to say my special thanks to Yuri Boguslavsky - FEDKA and camera collector Enn Helemäe from Estonia in assisting me to create this initial classificator of Komsomolets camera ...
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Produced: 1946-1951
Name: „Комсомолец“
Producer: GOMZ
Frame size: 6x6 cm.
Lens: Triplet-21 6.3/80
Shutter ZT: 1/25, 1/50, 1/100 + B.
Quantity: 306.743 units.
Below you will find a classificator of Komsomolets cameras.
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| | PK1105 - Komsomolets #462111. |
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1st version | |
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PK1105. An earliest so far known version of Komsomolets camera. Released since September, 1946. Frame counter on the side plate. The red film window is left-sided, not centered as usual (see picture opposite). This particular type has 1st type of shutter design (see picture below). An earliest so far known camera has s/n #461975 (AB coll.). Appr. 3500 copies (PK1105+PK1110) released in 1946, though very few are known to survive.
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1st type of shutter design. | PK1105 - Komsomolets #462111. |
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PK1110. Camera identical to PK1105, but with different way of nameplate screws fastening (see picture below). An earliest so far known camera has s/n #463078 (E.Helemäe coll.).
PK1115. An early Komsomolets with new design of T-21 6.3/80mm lens (shortened). No otherwise different. Appr. 23.000 copies (PK1115+PK1120) released in 1947. An earliest so far known camera has s/n #472169 (SovietCams).
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| | PK1115 - Komsomolets #472169. |
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PK1120. Seems to be the latest type of frame-countered Komsomolets camera. The red film window is still left-sided. Though earliest Komsomolets cameras have special spring in filter compartment, the particular type comes with simple round retainer already. 2nd type of shutter design (see picture below). An earliest so far known camera has s/n #479208 (Enn Halemae coll.).
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2nd type of shutter design. | PK1120 - Komsomolets #4715891. |
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2nd version (Model-A) | |
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PK1125. The 2nd version of Komsomolets camera comes without frame counter already, but you can see the cut-outs for frame counter on early this versions cameras yet (see picture below). The red film window is centered already. 2nd type of shutter design. Aperture numbers from f/6.3 to f/22 as on 1st version cameras. An earliest so far known camera has s/n #4724641 (SovietCams).
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Cut-outs for frame counter. | PK1125 - Komsomolets #4724641. |
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PK1130. Camera identical to PK1125, but with simplified shutter release lever already (see picture below). Changed aperture numbers from f/6.3 to f/16 already. The particular camera #4767509 comes with special spring in filter compartment, though earlier camera #4724641 has round retainer already.
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2nd type of shutter design. | PK1130 - Komsomolets #4767509. |
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PK1135. Very interesting 2nd version camera, released in late 1947 - early 1948. Camera identical to PK1130, but with slightly changed shutter design (see picture opposite). The regular round retainer or even special spring in filter compartment. Very uncommon to find. An earliest so far known camera has s/n #4756160 (SovietCams).
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| PK1135 - Komsomolets #4756160. |
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3rd version (Model-A) | |
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PK1140. Camera identical to 2nd version, but with new shutter design again (see picture below). Though the particular shutter design was most popular on Komsomolets cameras, these very first cameras are quite rare to find. An earliest so far known camera has s/n #4774192 (SovietCams).
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3rd type of shutter design. | PK1140 - Komsomolets #4774192. |
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PK1145. Camera identical to PK1140, but with regular shutter design (not as fat, as on PK1140 camera, see comparison picture below). Still 6 screws on the side-plate. Rear door identical to 2nd version. The particular camera #4880451 still comes with special spring in filter compartment.
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| | PK1145 - Komsomolets #4880451. |
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PK1150. Slightly changed shutter design again (take a look at the dot - it's smaller size in comparison with regular 3rd version shutter). No otherwise different. The particular camera opposite has round retainer in filter compartment.
Camera opposite from Evgeniy Alexandrov (Russia) collection.
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| | PK1150 - Komsomolets #4895597. |
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PK1155. Very interesting an uncommon type of the particular camera. Though all Komsomolets starting from 2nd version were called as "Model-A" oficially (Model-A means camera without frame counter), only this type has additional "Model-A" markings on the waist finder. Released in 1948 only.
PK1160. Camera identical to PK1145, but with non-removable side-plate already (no more 6 screws on the side-plate). An earliest so far known camera has s/n #48112211 (Enn Halemae coll.) | 
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| | PK1160 - Komsomolets #4857551. |
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4th version (Model-A) | |
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PK1165. Camera identical to 3rd version, but with new T-22 6.3/75 lens already. Aperture numbers from f/6.3 to f/22 again. It's interesting to say, that the same year (1949) Gomz have released one more version of T-22 4.5/75 lens for new Lubitel .camera. The particular type still has removable side-plate.
PK1170. Camera identical to PK1165, but with non-removable side-plate already (no more 6 screws on the side-plate). Some cameras could be exported since fitted with nice non-soviet origin leather cases (see picture below). | 
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| | PK1165 - Komsomolets #4912583. |
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PK1170 - Komsomolets #4942051 with authentic ever-ready case. |
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PK1172. No more "Leningrad" markings on the front plate. Removable side-plate yet (6 screws on the side-plate). Rear door as on 2nd version yet. Known camera has s/n #4937378 (Aukro, 2010).
PK1175. No more "Leningrad" markings on the front plate (underneath the lens, see picture below). Non-removable side-plate. Rear door as on 2nd version yet.
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| | PK1175 - Komsomolets #4971319. |
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PK1180. Very interesting late 4th version camera. More advanced new rear door already with open/close function (see picture opposite). The particular camera #4968426 has very unusual "golden-black" shutter paintings (see picture below). No more "Leningrad" markings on body. No otherwise different from PK1175.
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| | PK1180 - Komsomolets #4968426. |
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5th version (Model-B) | |
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PK1185. New shutter speeds sequence 1/10s-1/200s + B and new type of shutter design again (see picture below). T-22 6.3/75mm lens. Aperture numbers from f/6.3 to f/22. No more "Leningrad" markings on the frontplate. Slightly changed form of waist lever finder. An earliest so far known camera has s/n #5000315 (SovietCams).
PK1190. Very few 5th version cameras can be found with old "Leningrad" markings on the frontplate yet. An earliest so far known camera has s/n #5008095 (Enn Halemae coll.)
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4th type of shutter design. | PK1185 - Komsomolets #5000315. |
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PK1192. Camera identical to it's predecessors, but with lower depht of filter's compartment already (see picture below). Different colour of the upper lens coating (totally white now). No otherwise different.
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| | PK1192 - Komsomolets #5032016. |
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PK1195. Very few of 5th version cameras can be found with plastic nameplate, instead of regular aluminium one. GOMZ's attempt to make the camera cheaper once again ...
Camera #5024285 from Alexey Nikitin (Russia) collection.
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| | PK1195 - Komsomolets #5024285. |
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Komsomolets-2 | |
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PK1200. Never seen before prototype version of Komsomolets-2 (or Komsomolets Model-2) camera. Announced in 1946, very few pilot samples released in 1947. The 1st attempt to create a TLR camera, since old Komsomolets had no possibility to measure the distance through the lens yet. Fitted with fast T-22 4.5/75 mm lens.
Sample opposite from LOMO (Russia) archives.
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| | PK1200 - Komsomolets prototype #470005. |
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