Pkka Fed1 ? ?

I don't think it's genuine but a make-over model, like them fake Nazi Leicas or the Desert Storm Fed that make the rounds on eBay. IMO it looks horrible.
 
Definitely a repaint and not anything genuine. The beat up case and the condition of the leatherette is a dead giveaway. Put a new leather skin from Aki or Camera Leather and it would make a good display camera or a decent user.
 
RML said:
I don't think it's genuine but a make-over model, like them fake Nazi Leicas or the Desert Storm Fed that make the rounds on eBay. IMO it looks horrible.
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I couldn't agree more. These faked-up cameras always reflect popular western expectations of Soviet iconography and design - not the often very different reality. The first question always has to be "Why?" - Why does it have a HSU star? That was not a symbol just thrown around for fun - and it is certainly not a presentation piece as there is no special engraving or dedication. No - just pointless kitsch.

Even the reference to the London dealer - although doubtless true - means nothing. Few people really knew much about Feds in 1992 - and fakes were already common.
 
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This may not necessarily be a fake, i'm actually pretty sure its not.
"PKKA" is in fact "RKKA" in russian, which stands for "workers and 'farmers' (dont know the exact word, basically 'serf') red army". It is probably a pre-war specimen. FED's were used during the war by front line photojournalists. This very well could be it.
 
grifon said:
This may not necessarily be a fake, i'm actually pretty sure its not.
"PKKA" is in fact "RKKA" in russian, which stands for "workers and 'farmers' (dont know the exact word, basically 'serf') red army". It is probably a pre-war specimen. FED's were used during the war by front line photojournalists. This very well could be it.
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I have to respectfully disagree. Such a inscription would presumably mean that the camera was army property. Bekesi and Toruk's "Soviet Uniforms and Militaria" shows stamps and badges from a multitude of different items from this period. All show a plain star or star/hammer and sickle. None resemble this - and none have the "RKKA" initials.


I'm also very dubious about the engraving. It is hard to make out detail, but the number seems very low - 5529 - indicating production in 34-5, yet the inscription appears to refer to the FED KOMBINAT - a name not used before 1939. The camera may be prewar, but I bet its a reworked postwar 1f.
 
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The seller describes it as having the serial number 0029 though its hard to really see in the pictures , In all honesty it was the very low number that led me to ask on here ,that and the obvious lack of brassing on the camera (assuming they where using brass top plates ?) which would seem to imply a make over .
 
I highly doubt they were using any kind of brass on russian rangefinders... it looks very "roughly" made (I can't find the correct english word, sorry). I'd stay away from it, except if you want something customized and fun. :)
 
Brass was used for production of pre-war FEDs, just as with original Leicas. Most brass components were changed to steel for the wartime period (FEDs were made in limited quantities at evacuated plant in Berdsk).

A FED with 50/3.5 was indeed the primary Soviet frontline PJ tool during the WWII, with some Leicas and Contaxes available for high-profile journalists of central papers. As a side note, there was a real shortage of tele lenses; many photographers deaths can be accounted on using a 50 where a longer focal would be proper.

However, the sample linked above is not one of those, nor the former army property. Those weren't normally finished in black, nor carried these huge cheesy stars. Could make a nice prop for a 1980's Hollywood flick about USSR, not much else.
 
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