Serial number identification of Zorki

micromoogman

micromoogman

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I was just about to put up some of my not used stuff on ebay, among them a Zorki 1 and what I believe a model 1b. I have browsed around in order to figure out what year it might have been manufactured, but the serial number is not in the normal formula 52xxxx, the two first numbers indicating the year. This has a five digit serial# 16137. What gives? The lens has the serial stamped on the flange #5208995.
Can someone sort this out? Thanks in advance!

Check out the pic.

Thanks!
 

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I'm open to be corrected here but my understanding is that the 8-digit serial number, with the first two being a year, only started in 1955 or thereabouts. There do seem to be oddball numbers around in later years too. The lens suggests a '52 but it may, of course, not be the original.

If all else fails, try a PM to ZorkiKat, I'm willing to bet he'll shed light on it...

Nice camera, by the way - if it is a B model be careful, the bodies can be easily deformed.
 
micromoogman said:
I was just about to put up some of my not used stuff on ebay, among them a Zorki 1 and what I believe a model 1b. I have browsed around in order to figure out what year it might have been manufactured, but the serial number is not in the normal formula 52xxxx, the two first numbers indicating the year. This has a five digit serial# 16137. What gives? The lens has the serial stamped on the flange #5208995.
Can someone sort this out? Thanks in advance!

Check out the pic.

Thanks!
Click to expand...
It is a Zorki 1b - they were made only in 1950 and 1951. It is a 1b not a 1a because the release button has a threaded hole for a cable release; it is a ib and not a 1c because it doesn't have (at least I can't see) a reinforcing frame around the edges (later ones had one around the lens mount also).

Michael
 
It is not a 1a, as Michael notes, but it is a low serial number for a 1b...

They are usable cameras, if you are not the bionic man, and crush bodies, and their $ seems to be hardening at least in the UK...

Noel
 
micromoogman said:
So, is this the 16137th zorki?
Click to expand...
Not sure about it being the "16137th." I have a 1b as well that also has 5 digits, but mine is #33795 and is an export model.(?) It's just hard to say the rhyme or reason to serials before going to the dated ones. My understanding is that sections of serial numbers were given or assigned to individuals who assembled the cameras, so #16xxx might be produced the same week as #21xxx or #14xxx or whatever. But I would certainly at least feel confident it was an early number. Agreed, it's a nice looking example too. Others might be able to shed some better *numerical light.*
 
My 1b is 31xxx and also a Zorki Zorki (export model).
There were about 5000 Fed/Zorkis, never seen one of these, Unicorns...
My 1a is 062xx and about 1000 into the 1a production, dont when they changed over to 1b, and the change over may have been gradual, the shutter surround and lens lock being visible but they may have not been able to tolerate a Fed camera copy and started to deviate immediately on internals...
Noel
 
micromoogman said:
I was just about to put up some of my not used stuff on ebay, among them a Zorki 1 and what I believe a model 1b. I have browsed around in order to figure out what year it might have been manufactured, but the serial number is not in the normal formula 52xxxx, the two first numbers indicating the year. This has a five digit serial# 16137. What gives? The lens has the serial stamped on the flange #5208995.
Can someone sort this out? Thanks in advance!

Check out the pic.

Thanks!
Click to expand...

Hello,

I've found a list on the web a few years ago. According to that you have a Zorki from 1949.

1948: 500 - 2136
1949: 2137 - 17137
1950: 17138 - 55324
1951: 55325 - 125826
1952: 125827 - 254579
1953: 254580 - 406730
1954: 406731 - 667231
1955: 8 digits begins with year
1956: 8 digits begins with year

Ulrich
--
http://fotos.cconin.de/kameras
 
My Zorki, a 1C, is number 408465. Oleg Khalyavin estimated that it was either from late 1953 or from early the next year. As others have said, the camera in the picture is an earlier model.
 
Ulrich Witte said:
"I've found a list on the web a few years ago..."
Click to expand...
Thanks Ulrich. Certainly helpful.
icon14.gif
Hope you don't mind that I copied and pasted this list to a post in the "Selecting an FSU camera: Beginner's Guide" thread.
 
CVBLZ4 said:
Thanks Ulrich. Certainly helpful.
icon14.gif
Hope you don't mind that I copied and pasted this list to a post in the "Selecting an FSU camera: Beginner's Guide" thread.
Click to expand...

No problem, it's a good idea. I have some numbers of the FED 1. Not so fine granulated, but it's a good guess, I think. You can add them as well.

FED 1 SERIAL NUMBERS:
1934 SN 000031 - 004000
1935 SN 004001 - 016000
1936 SN 016001 - 031000
1937 SN 031001 - 053000
1938 SN 053001 - 082000
1939 SN 082001 - 116000
1940 SN 116001 - 148000
1941 SN 148001 - 175000
1942 - 45 (World War Two)
1946 SN 175001 - 176000
1947 SN 176001 - 186000
1948 SN 186001 - 203000
1949 SN 203001 - 221000
1950 SN 221001 - 248000
1951 SN 248001 - 289000
1952 SN 289001 - 341000
1953 SN 341001 - 424000
1954 SN 424001 - 560000
1955 SN 560001 - 700000

Ulrich
 
does anyone has a Zorki with red speeds?...No425145 is engraved at the back,no rim around the lens.
it is not only the colour of the speeds,but also the engrave which is different and the speeds themselves,are B,20,30,40,60,125,250,500
but on the other Zorki are Z,20,30,40,60,100,200,500.
any clue?
 

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I would also add that i picked up this Zorki with a rigid Jupiter-8 (1956) which i think is not the original lens.
this makes me suspicious about the speed dial,it might be and this also changed.
 
i have been looking in the net for some pictures of Leica copies,so i could compare the shutter speed dial,but so far no luck!
 
Here's some more data to add to the confusion. I had a Zorki 1c, circa 1952, that had been engraved with Leica markings on the body and the collapsible Industar 22 (re-labeled to Leitz Elmar). The speed dial had Z, 20, 30,40,60, 100, 200, 500 (all in black). The serial number was 17xxx. Model number and age verified by Yuri at Fedka.
 
BigOwl said:
Here's some more data to add to the confusion. I had a Zorki 1c, circa 1952, that had been engraved with Leica markings on the body and the collapsible Industar 22 (re-labeled to Leitz Elmar). The speed dial had Z, 20, 30,40,60, 100, 200, 500 (all in black). The serial number was 17xxx. Model number and age verified by Yuri at Fedka.
Click to expand...

Gentlemen,
here you have serial number/year correspondance. It is based upon observation of hundreds and hundreds models, with presence of passports or other circumstances giving dates.
Obiouvsly is not PERFECT, but so close. From FED-ZORKI to 1954/55 production, the serial number is progressive. From 1955 will be follow the Soviet rule of first two digit explaining the year of production.

FED-ZORKI 1948 = 100-5000
FED-ZORKI 1949 = 5000-5600
Zorki 1a1 1949-50= 5600-9000
Zorki 1a2 1950 =9000-25000
Zorki 1b 1951 =25000-138000
Zorki 1c 1951-53 =138000-400000
Zorki 1d1 1953 =400000-425000
Zorki 1d2 1954 =425000-470000
Zorki 1d3 1954 =470000-654000

From 1955:

Zorki 1d4 1955 =55000000-554xxxxx
Zorki 1e 1955-56 =554xxxxx-56xxxxxx

Best regards from Italy and Happy New Year 2009 to all.
Claudio
 
Happy New Year 2009 to all as well,
well thanks for the information about the serial numbers.
but what about the red numbers?do you have any Zorki with similar engraved speed numbers?
 
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