Some rare stuff (TSVVS &c) from the USSR

[David Hughes]

Hi,


The title says it all and the prices are, well, what can I say? Anyway, look for yourself:-


https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/FED-Acce...332182?hash=item3b21372396:g:YqwAAOSwtcRb2yCx


https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/FED-TSVVS-1950-No-401/222901394204?hash=item33e5f55b1c:g:FTYAAOSwxyJauyph


Why is it I never have a winning lottery ticket when I need one?


Regards, David

 

[santino]

The tsvvs is so nice! Leica shutter and Contax lenses, the best of bothl worlds combined in one camera.

 

[Dawid]

It's a really handsome piece of equipment. I would gladly get my hands on this camera.

 

[xayraa33]

There are also known fake FED TSVVS cameras.

These are mentioned on a thread in the USSR Camera. com Forum.

http://ussrphoto.com/Forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=2094

 

[Dawid]

The one from the link posted by David looks genuine and it seems fakes are fairly easy to recognise. The viewfinder window size, the shape of the rangefinder windows rings, even the look of the arrows engraved on the advance and rewind knobs - all of those details are clearly different from what can be found on the random models of Zorki or FED.

 

[xayraa33]

The one from the link posted by David looks genuine and it seems fakes are fairly easy to recognise. The viewfinder window size, the shape of the rangefinder windows rings, even the look of the arrows engraved on the advance and rewind knobs - all of those details are clearly different from what can be found on the random models of Zorki or FED.

I am not saying the camera in the OP's example is fake, I am alluding to that fake examples do exist of this rarely seen camera.

I beg to differ that fake examples are easy to spot, compared to fake Leicas and ridiculous looking engraved so called WW 2 models, made from Zorki 1 and Fed 1 cameras that we know so well and laugh at on this forum.

The TSVVS model can be very cleverly faked and with a lot of care given to its mock up as a fake.

 

[Dawid]

The TSVVS model can be very cleverly faked and with a lot of care given to its mock up as a fake.

Of course, it's possible. However, all the fakes are built from parts of existing cameras and knowledgeable collectors know what to pay attention to while "hunting". Personally, I believe fake TSVVSes are just as rare as the original ones. The fake makers can count as well and, IMHO, it's more cost-effective to convert Feds and Zorkis into Gold-Limited-Luftwaffe-1936-Berlin-Olympiade-Something-Something-Leicas and sell it for $200 a piece, than to invest time and money in making a good copy of TSVVS that serious collectors won't buy anyway. Because, honestly, before spending $5000 on a FSU camera I would hire a medium to contact the spirit of dr. Mikhail Dmitrievich Maltsev in order to ask him if the camera I'm after is genuine.

 

[xayraa33]

Of course, it's possible. However, all the fakes are built from parts of existing cameras and knowledgeable collectors know what to pay attention to while "hunting". Personally, I believe fake TSVVSes are just as rare as the original ones. The fake makers can count as well and, IMHO, it's more cost-effective to convert Feds and Zorkis into Gold-Limited-Luftwaffe-1936-Berlin-Olympiade-Something-Something-Leicas and sell it for $200 a piece, than to invest time and money in making a good copy of TSVVS that serious collectors won't buy anyway. Because, honestly, before spending $5000 on a FSU camera I would hire a medium to contact the spirit of dr. Mikhail Dmitrievich Maltsev in order to ask him if the camera I'm after is genuine.

No need to bother the spirit of Dr. Mikhail Dmitrievich Maltsev, leave that nonsense to Steve Huff and his mini amp and radio signal scanner contraption.

There are plenty of living people who are on that USSR camera forum that I provided a hyper link to in my previous post that have collected several Fed TSVVS cameras and are somewhat of experts in sussing out real TSVVS cameras from fake ones.

Since both Gold-Limited-Luftwaffe-1936-Gold-Limited-Luftwaffe-1936-Berlin-Olympiade-Something-Something-Leicas and the FED TSVVS cameras have been faked more than once or twice by unscrupulous camera surgeons then they both have a market to naive camera collectors or to not so naive camera collectors.

As to whether one can sell 100 of the Gold-Limited-Luftwaffe-1936-Berlin-Olympiade-Something-Something-Leicas or four fake FED TSVVS cameras for 5 grand a pop , it still amounts to the same take on false pretences to the unaware.

 

[Dralowid]

As a matter of interest, just why is the viewfinder window so small?

 

[David Hughes]

I think the VF is small because they bodies are converted to take the standard CZ lenses and CZ Contax lenses have larger focussing scales etc than Leicas/FEDs. Interesting that there's no picture of the body with the lens removed...

I imagine there are a few forgeries about but can't see it as profitable.

BTW I found the bits and pieces more interesting as you seldom see them for sale.

Regards, David

 

[Out to Lunch]

Is this 'collector' value? I am surprised that a 1950 USSR camera would cost that much. Just curious.