Mystery FED piece

[rxmd]

Hi,

some days ago I visited a friend here who collects cameras and deals in some of them and we talked for a couple of hours over some pots of tea. He had recently inherited the collection of a collector friend of his (who had been murdered inside his house under rather gruesome circumstances) and together with it some strange pieces such as this FED top plate.

58073
(Top view, "FED" and prism logos, 1948 year mark, 00071 serial number mark)

58074
(Front view)

58075
(Bottom view)

It is supposed to look like a piece from a 1948 FED with the prism logo of the Krasnogorsk plant, an early FED/Zorki crossover so to speak, hackneyed together with some chrome pieces. However, we were both doubtful that this is genuine, given the brass look and the fact that the "FED" logo, the year and serial number are engraved while the "B" and arrow near the rewind lever are stamped. I've never seen a genuine Krasnogorsk FED, so I can't say if this is indicative of anything. What are your theories on this? I should add that my friend had no intention of selling this (to me, anyway).

Oh, and I walked out with a good-looking Zorki-1 for a friend and a gift for myself (the nicest FED-2 I've ever seen). I still don't see myself as a a collector, but I've apparently reached the state when FSU cameras multiply in my home without me actually having to do (or pay) anything. :o

Philipp

[wolves3012]

Interesting part. The milled-edge shutter release collar looks more like a Zorki. The RF sensor is FED not Zorki, however (unless it's very early). Could it be a very early Zorki-made FED? I make no claims to be expert here but did Zorki not make FED-marked models at the very start? Jay Javier (Zorkikat on here) would probably shed more light on this. Could also be a part-finished fake of some sort too...

[Arvay]

Judging buy the nuber it's very early FED

HEre is a link to Russian cams' history. It's quite unique as there is English text as well. Maybe you'll find answers there:
http://www.rus-camera.com/history.php?history=fed_hist_01_fed_original_rus

[89rzweig]

This is undoubtedly one of the first Zorkis made in Krasnogorsk from FED parts, even before the marketing invented the name 'Zorkiy' for these KMZ cameras. If you're into collecting FSU cameras or are just interested, you should buy this book:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Authentic-Guide-Russian-Soviet-Cameras/dp/2952252114/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1208005957&sr=1-2

It is not 100 per cent accurate, but there is a lot of information put together and it is an interesting reading.

[rxmd]

Anyway Philipp, from the background, it looks like you had a jolly civilised tea and biscuits..:)
We did :) I used to visit him to trade cameras, now I visit him largely to have a good chat.

Anyway I've just come back to Germany and taken a good look at Princelle. On p. 126 he has a photo of a KMZ FED from 1948 with the serial number №00070 that has the KMZ logo and year engraving exactly like the example here. That would be exactly 1 camera ahead of the piece here, and it looks quite a bit like it, except that the one in Princelle has the old-style shutter button release (which is a chrome part here that may have come from another camera).

I'm still quite doubtful that this is genuine, though, partly because the difference of exactly 1 is a bit too close, partly because the arrow and "B" on the top plate are stamped (rather crudely, actually).

Philipp