Using a Fed 1D Leica Copy

<p>Thanks, I appreciate the information.</p>

<p>By the way, a little film history relating to the NKVD in the film <em>Inner Circle ( http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0103838/ ).</em></p>

<p>I am no fan of FSU cameras but you seem to have pulled some nice results with yours, John. Snappy images!</p>

<p>I have restored several of these Fed 1 and Zorki 1 cameras with retractable lenses. Some of the lenses came with the RED P coating indicator. These cameras are pocketable and delightful to use. Your pictures speak for themselves. Thanks for the post. sp.</p>

<p>Of course, the poor workers in the Soviet paradise had to grovel mightily to such a killer, but I want to know whether Dzerzhinsky actually had any interest in photography and optics or was it purely a chance they picked Comrade D to honor?</p>

<p>If I remember well, workshops where FED cameras were built were under the NKVD responsability.</p>

<p>Good job getting the Fed up and running John. And nice pictures too. I really liked the first shot. Thanks for sharing.</p>

<p>Dzerzhinsky died several years before any FEDs were made, though the commune named in his honour that produced the cameras was indeed administered by the NKVD. Some fascinating history here: http://www.fedka.com/Useful_info/Commune_by_Fricke/commune_A.htm<br /> </p>

<p>The pre-war Feds are good value for money at around 60 GBP. The mechanisms are not as smooth as a Leica but for that cash you have a nice looking usable camera. They also made a version with 1000th top speed and an F2 lens which is supposed to be a copy of the Leitz Summar. Here is my one with case,</p><div></div>

<p>Interesting post, John! I've got a slightly earlier FED-1 than yours, acquired here in Australia but which I believe had come via Poland. Felix Djerjinsky was also reputably originally from Poland, but as others have correctly posted, his 'FED' connection with the small factory was purely an administrative one, via the NKVD. Many thanks to <strong>Richard W. </strong>for posting that link to Oscar Fricke's extensive article on the history of the FED-1 camera and its manufacture, because I'd read it some years ago after I acquired my FED-1 but couldn't find it again to post. Thanks also to <strong>James S. </strong>for posting that photo of his more upmarket version of the FED-1, with 1/1,000th sec top speed and F2 lens. My 1937 FED-1 has just the usual 1/500 sec top speed and F3.5 version of the Leitz Elmar.</p>

<p>However, I once spend some time looking at it very closely with a 15X magnifier, and I'd recommend anybody with one of these early FEDs to do the same. You'll be amazed that when you look really closely at any of the markings, whether they be the historical spiel on the top-plate, shutter speeds, focussing distances or whatever, that EVERYTHING has been engraved - not stamped! Those characteristic rotary whorls are unmistakable under a 15X magnifier. So the next question is why take such labour-extensive steps, when a stamping machine could have done the same in no time. The answer has to be there surely in Fricke's article. These FED cameras weren't produced on a purely commercial costing basis, but to teach the young former streetkids now employed as 'communards', to learn engineering skills.</p>

<p>So any prewar FED is quite a unique animal for a collector! Post WW2 when production of the FED-1 was resumed (and also started on the similar Zorki-1), those former labour-intensive procedures disappeared in favour of standard factory production methods, with costs the main factor and to hell with education and training of former street urchins, and other ethical issues. Now meeting the weekly production quota was the only thing that mattered, Comrades! ................... (Pete In Perth)</p>

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<p>Further to that last post of mine, I wrote up a while ago on my 1937 FED-1 and 1955 Zorki-1 Leica 2 copy 'bookends', in my Flickr Pages here:</p>

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<p>I had been fortunate enough to get the 1955 Zorki-1 complete with all that original 'fruit' we collectors love, like cardboard box, leather case and even owner's manual (in Cyrillic) from a guy in Finland, but the 1937 FED-1 came just 'as is'. It didn't even have a lens cap, but JS came to the rescue on that later in exchange for a Leica one. (Pete In Perth) </p>

<p>Peter that's interesting about the engraving. I did wonder whether the engraving on the lens in particular was hand done, as it looks a little "rough". I have to confess that I've now sold the Fed 1 after using it - I'm trying to thin down my collection - but immediately came upon a really nice Fed 3 in a charity shop for ten quid. So here we go again.</p>

<p>Yes, John, the engraving markings around the lens do seem to be especially crude, in contrast to the Cyrillic script on the top cover which looks to be very well done. I'm attaching a photo of the top cover of my '17,331' FED-1 to show what I mean. According to a lady formerly from the Ukraine whom I met in an antique shop here in Perth, it translates as something like 'To The Memory Of Felix Edouard Djerjinsky'. I wanted to ask her some more details but she was so close to tears after doing the translating, I just thanked her and beat a hasty retreat. Clearly the current troubles between the Ukraine and Russia are nothing new ................. ! (Pete In Perth)</p><div></div>

Revived this to ask if anyone can identify the cause of two white dots lower center from my FED NKVD 151XXX?

It is otherwise worth restoring but new curtains would be too expensive, thanks.

Alan, these white spots on prints can be caused by pinholes in a curtain, Sometimes leaving the camera in the sun causes it, as there's no SLR mirror to prevent the lens focusing the sun on the curtain. You should be able to see them with the lens removed. The curtains don't necessarily have to be replaced, various methods of patching or plugging the pinholes have been suggested but I have no specific knowledge.

 

You may get more information if you start a new thread in the Classic Manual Cameras forum, or if you are feeling brave, the Leica and Rangefinders forum.

Revived this to ask if anyone can identify the cause of two white dots lower center from my FED NKVD 151XXX?

It is otherwise worth restoring but new curtains would be too expensive, thanks.

 

Alan, as John mentioned you can check for pinholes with the lens off, holding a strong penlight up to the front of the curtain in a darkened room. Be sure to wind and check both curtains. If the white dots are at the bottom center of the image, check the top center of the curtain.

 

Pinholes can be patched up with liquid electrical tape or matte black acrylic craft paint, using an artist's brush. The curtains should be usable unless the rubberized coating is flaking off badly. From what I've seen in general, shutter curtains in the Soviet cameras seem to hold up pretty well, though.

Edited December 16, 2021 by m42dave

Thanks John and Dave, now I know what to look for my new winter project can be started.

btw, this guy recons the lens on this camera is great for making pics reminiscent of the 30's.

It is the second one he discusses, at 5min 28:

Edited December 16, 2021 by Alan Johnson