The earliest Kiev 111

[BrianT]

Perhaps, I don't know, might be, there again it might be a load of rubbish.

Kiev 111 No A 48096 with ZK 50mm F1.5 Rigid lens. Lovely condition everything including the meter works. The chrome finish is slightly smoother as is the leather coverings to the normal Kiev. The film speed is indicated in Gost, I would have thought it more likely to have been DIN but I have several early 111s and they don't seem to run in any pattern. There again I suppose the original might have been changed. It's a clue which makes me think this camera could be genuine, anyone trying to forge a 1948 and even go to the trouble with the lens ( which is genuine as far as I can tell) would surely have swapped the dials over, even I have a spare one.

I don't know what the 'A' denotes but I have several such examples and a couple with upper / lower case 'B's.


http://usera.imagecave.com/Annie135/L1050353_edited-1.jpg
Brian

 

[Jocko]

Perhaps, I don't know, might be, there again it might be a load of rubbish.

I don't know what the 'A' denotes but I have several such examples and a couple with upper / lower case 'B's.


http://usera.imagecave.com/Annie135/L1050353_edited-1.jpg
Brian

Hi Brian - Zhang has suggested that the "A" is a (top) quality classification. He points out that a similar system was used in China, and given the influence of Soviet industrial methods in the early days of the PRC, it would seem very likely that such a practice derived from the USSR.

The beautiful order of your camera also suggests this!

Cheers, Ian

 

[Xmas]

Initially they had a line in Dresden and two in Kiev, and they may have interchanged parts. My two IIIs have GOST and DIN the later one DIN...

Noel

 

[BrianT]

I think the film speed dial has been replaced at some time. Should I leave it as part of the camera's history or change it, what do others think?

I have just checked my other 111s and discovered.

Gost 1948,1954,1955.

DIN 1949, 1950, 1951, 1952, 1952, 1953, 1954, 1954.

So it looks as though the definitive year is probaly 1955 and then Gost only with the introduction of the 111a.

Interesting re the 'A' perhaps as suggested 'A' class, 'B' class and the rest for the workers.

In fact I have been told that factory workers liberated many of these cameras and at one time they were almost used as 'currency' for barter..

Brian.