Extra Fitting on Early FED

[David Hughes]

I'd taken the bottom plate off for some reason and noticed a hole in the centre of the case edge under the lens. So I turned it over and saw this:-

It looked as though it took a countersunk screw and so I borrowed one from the front of the camera and tried it:-

I guess the early ones had this little bracket but it must have been dropped later on. (Mine probably dates to March 1936.)

So now I must find a very short screw and fit it permanently. I've plenty of time as the camera has gone away for a new set of blinds to be fitted.

What's odd is that I've not seen this mentioned anywhere.

Regards, David

 

[Dralowid]

Mine (8344 now sold) had that screw. It wasn't flush fitting countersunk. Sorry, can't find the pics. From memory it was similar to the two on the spring but a bit flatter. Might even have been original but who knows...

 

[David Hughes]

Thanks,

I'm fascinated by the number of people who seem to be photographers and therefore should have an interest in how things look but who just cannot see the difference between all the different screwheads, slots and even the length etc. I wonder if they know one end of a screwdriver from the other at times.

I've an elderly FED-1 (F) that I got dirt cheap thinking I could use the screws and found very few that were of any use. Mainly damaged by idiots...

I'd like to find a source for these screws at a price I can afford.

Regards, David

 

[B-9]

David, Are you in the states?

I can dig out some screws for you from my FED graveyard.

Never seen that plate before, wonder what it’s for?

Your “soft” body shell looks like it’s seen better days!

 

[David Hughes]

David, Are you in the states?

I can dig out some screws for you from my FED graveyard.

Never seen that plate before, wonder what it’s for?

Your “soft” body shell looks like it’s seen better days!

Many thanks for the offer but I'm in England and don't want to put you to all that bother. I need so many little screws that I'm hoping someone will come up with a source for new ones. The donor body had so much missing and wrong that I wonder why I bought it but you never know with old cameras. Luckily the lens on it was what I was after and so the body was really free.

As for the camera in the photo, I reckon it's from early 1936; so it now needs a little TLC that I hope it will get when the blinds are replaced.

Thanks again.

Regards, David

 

[greyelm]

Many thanks for the offer but I'm in England and don't want to put you to all that bother. I need so many little screws that I'm hoping someone will come up with a source for new ones.

There is currently a listing on ebay for a bag of camera screws which may be of interest. Just search for
500 screws for camera repairs etc.

 

[David Hughes]

Thanks, I've looked and am watching...

And as soon as I'd done that I remembered where I had an old APS plastic tub with a similar collection in it and so I'll be going through them soon.

The real problem with elderly cameras seems to be that the white metal doesn't like abuse and so the female threads fail. I can remember a resin Loc-Tite made to take up the slack and will have to do a search for some. I used to use it on trigger adjustment screws* when I was the other kind of serious shooter...

Regards, David


* The stuff was for locking adjustment screws so that vibrations didn't loosen them. It was a resin that hardened to hold them but could be broken with a firm hand on the screwdriver. Once in the air it softened...

 

[pippy]

Following on from what Michael said earlier I can say that my Fed 1(b) - (PEO190 ser. #15176) has a countersunk-but over-size-head screw in that location. Judging by the finish on both it and the surrounding metalwork it looks like it might well be the original.

Black screw on black plate on black base taken on a 'phone, I'm afraid, but if you need better pictures I will be snapping in the studio tomorrow and can take a few for reference. Just let me know!

Philip.

 

[David Hughes]

Thanks, that puts the icing on the cake, as we used to say... But don't worry about a posher photo as that gives me all I want.

(EDIT) the serial number suggests very late 1935 or else early 1936, lucky you.

Regards, David

 

[pippy]

Thanks, that puts the icing on the cake, as we used to say... But don't worry about a posher photo as that gives me all I want.

(EDIT) the serial number suggests very late 1935 or else early 1936, lucky you.

Regards, David

Happy to help, David.

Yes; the camera is a sweet thing. The PEO190 variant came in one of three finishes; black, brown or olive gray-green. Mine is one of the latter which is rather fun in an otherwise black'n'white'n'silver world. I also have another 'Kommuna'-era Fed 1(c) (PEO230 version) and the quality of the chrome-plating on the earlier camera is noticeably more matt, slightly rough to the touch and also in a slightly darker shade of silver than on the later one.

Out of interest what version is your camera in the OP? It seems likely that it would be very close to my own one pictured above. Indeed the covering looks remarkably similar!

Philip.

 

[David Hughes]

Hi,

Just going to look for a photo when duty called so I'll be back but it's dated to April 1936 so that ought to nail it down a bit and the lens and camera have very close (by FED standards) numbers.

I finally found a decent photo, it's a PE200, perhaps.

Regards, David

 

[pippy]

Thanks for posting the picture, David. Nice Matching Pair! Beautiful Fed!

Yes; either a 200 or possibly a 202 if the speed selector knob head is 15mm in diameter (as opposed to 13mm in which case it would possibly be a 205?). It's certainly got the finer grip-pattern on the wind/rewind knobs.

Nice Leica II too! 1935? You mentioned you also have a IIIc I believe?
I always used to prefer the 'split-top' Barnacks over the 'IIIc-and-everything-after' versions when I was younger but having bought a Shark-Skin IIIc I have to say nowadays I have no preference one way or the other. I love (almost) them all.

I've posted it before but just for fun here is me aged circa 4 with my father's IIIa with Summitar. My love of Barnacks goes back a VERY long way...

Philip.

 

[Dralowid]

This is the one I sold to someone in the Ukraine

IMG_2618 by dralowid, on Flickr

 

[Dralowid]

Sorry, should have added s/n 8344

 

[peterm1]

" I guess the early ones had this little bracket but it must have been dropped later on. (Mine probably dates to March 1936.)"

I am guessing that's where the Schmersh fitted the poisoned knife blade. 🙂

 

[pippy]

This is the one I sold to someone in the Ukraine...

Very nice, Michael.
So according to the Sovietcams site that was one from the very first batch which had the accessory shoe (PEO175). Only around 600 cameras in the batch so, pre-WWII Fed survival-rates taken into consideration, nowadays a very rare camera. Also the last version to have the Leica-style 'notched' viewfinder window and with brass rangefinder surrounds if I'm not mistaken. Lovely! Nice condition, too.
I'm sure the buyer appreciates their purchase!

As the OP has (probably) been answered and just for a bit of fun going tangential for a moment (Leicas have been both mentioned and featured so far) here's a snap which I have posted somewhere else here in the RFF (possibly because of the pair of Niccas?) but not in the FSU sub-forum because the only Soviet camera in the bunch is my fairly early Zorki 1 (ser. # 20166 PM1045) centre-left of image. The IIIc Shark-Skin mentioned a couple of posts ago is front-left.

Behind the pair of Niccas (a Nicca 'Original' in centre and a IIIs in front for those so inclined) is a Leotax K3 which I have to say is an utterly SUPERB camera in every respect. Redefines 'Silky-Smooth' into the bargain. A worthy candidate for 'Best Barnack Clone Ever' award in my opinion. Also even longer than a Leica M3 and every bit as heavy. The Leica M2 at the back is one I've had since I was a 19-y-o kid. It endured a very hard life in my student days and has been treated to new Vulcanite and a new-old-stock - as yet un-''serial-numbered' - top-plate as part of its ongoing rehabilitation...

Philip.

 

[David Hughes]

At last! A pair of Niccas...

 

[David Hughes]

Something no one ever seems to comment on is the different shutter button guards. On later FEDs the knurling is diagonal but on early ones, like Leica, it is vertical.

Here's a later FED to show it:-

Regards, David

 

[pippy]

Something no one ever seems to comment on is the different shutter button guards. On later FEDs the knurling is diagonal but on early ones, like Leica, it is vertical...

Yes; both my 'Kommuna'-era came with their original vertically-fluted guards. Unfortunately my 'Kombinat' had lost whatever guard it originally had fitted but in the Sovietcams site (for what it's worth) the first appearance of the diagonally knurled guard coincides with this change of name engraving.

Philip.

 

[Dralowid]

This thread is starting to make me regret selling that camera but funds were needed to keep the boating habit going in retirement. As the weather improves I'll be sitting out there in the wild blue yonder and all regrets and thought about cameras will be forgotten.

I'm starting to run out of cameras to fund mooring fees, perhaps putting one of my kidneys up on Ebay will help replenish the bank account!