You're unbeatable - Zorki Nostalgia

[zhang xk]

I agree. Marx wrote that the proletariat would have two allies in making the workers' revolution. The first was the "alienated intelligentsia" who were not necessarily from the working class, but who appreciated the injustices of capitalism and could provide the revolution's theoretical foundation (people like Marx himself; i.e., your "communist elite"). The proletariat had to be weaned from the "false consciousness" promoted by capitalism (and religions that supported capitalism) and taught a "revolutionary consciousness" that would give them a true understanding of how they were being exploited.

Another ally of the revolution would be the "lumpen proletariat" (or "lumpen"). Marx termed these people "the human garbage created by capitalism." This included the unemployed, the destitute, and "deviants" such as criminals and prostitutes - these were the "losers" that capitalist economies did not provide for. Such people were also alienated from normal capitalist society and would join the revolution.

I am very impressed of your knowledge of communist theory. Few high ranking Chinese officials read so much Marx and Lenin. I believe in Chinese the "lumpen proletariat" was translated to read like "rogue proletariat"(流氓无产阶级).
Now intellectuals are said to be members of the working class, and there was discussion about capitalist communist party members.

 

[zhang xk]

Sadly correct. And many other examples (the Soviet copy of Concorde) could spring to mind.


If the USSR had been able to get quality control, product development and marketing right (and these are alien concepts to the Soviet system of course) who knows what could have happened.

Hi Donald,

Some products made for military use with no regard to cost could be very good such as this 1000mm F8 mirror lens for MF cameras made by a Chinese manufacturer. It rivals my MTO 1000A 1100mm F10.5 for resolution, but it is for Hassyblad SLRs.

 

[netzspannung]

Hi,

Could you help with this inscription on my Zorki 5? A guy who knows Russian said it was not Russian. :bang:

Thanks

Zhang

Hey, of course!
It reads the following: To honored Zao (chinese name?) on the day of his dissertation presentation. IMET Laboratory co-workers, Moscow 1962

Sounds crap in English because I've tried staying close to the text. But you get the idea.

 

[zhang xk]

Hey, of course!
It reads the following: To honored Zao (chinese name?) on the day of his dissertation presentation. IMET Laboratory co-workers, Moscow 1962

Sounds crap in English because I've tried staying close to the text. But you get the idea.

Thank you very much, my comrade.

 

[lushd]

Hi Donald,

Some products made for military use with no regard to cost could be very good such as this 1000mm F8 mirror lens for MF cameras made by a Chinese manufacturer. It rivals my MTO 1000A 1100mm F10.5 for resolution, but it is for Hassyblad SLRs.

Hi Zhang - once again two very nice pictures. Thank you. I would be very complimentary about my Tair 3 300mm in M39 fit for the Zenit 3 etc. Very well made and very high quality.

 

[Iskra 2]

Colonel's Origin

Colonel's Origin

Iskra 2 ~ Schweeet looking Zorki.4. I assume the inscription says "Gift to Col. ..." C'mon, spill it. Where'd ya get it? I've seen occasional items in the Bay advertising "inscription on top/bottom/whatever." The lettering on yours looks quite nice.

Hi CVBLZ4, the Colonel's camera came from somewhere in the FSU (Ebabe) and then back to Oleg for a CLA. Neat camera, smooth operating and cheap.
Regards.

 

[reagan]

It reads: To colonel P.P. Cohan from the Glavkom of VVS, 1970
Glavkom VVS = Airforce Commander-in-chief

Sounds phony, to me, just who is that anonymous commander? But the llettering style itself looks very much authentic, also matches the year of production.. Don't know, really

Thanks netzspannung. Excuse my ignorance, but why does this sound phony? I'm just curious, of course. But here in the US, "higher-ups", shall we say, in business/government/military/etc. are always giving tokens to those "beneath them" as some sort of faux appreciation. These tokens are often scribed, engraved or signed in some way with very impersonal notations, since they are usually ... eh, hmmm... mass produced and sent out by someone's secretary.

I could easily see that being done in the FSU by some Glavkom VVS - or the office thereof, maybe even without his knowledge. HUH??!! -- Ah, hahhh!! I think I just answered my own question. "Phony Appreciation" = "sounds phony."

Okay, next question... So the inscription on Zhang's Zorki.5 IS Russian or no?

And one other side note as I ramble mindlessly into yet another thread hijacking. [sorry

] These inscriptions are said to hurt the value of cameras. I would agree, unless of course one of them was owned by me. Not because I'm greedy, but the fact is, part of the personal attraction of FSUs to me is their history, national, corporate and individual. And an inscription is the sign of another real human being who, for whatever reason, thought this particular photographic instrument to be something of value to be held or passed to another person that they valued. So Zhang, Iskra2 and others hold in their hands a small bit of the history of a mighty nation, an ingenious industry and... a fellow human being.

 

[lushd]

...hold in their hands a small bit of the history of a mighty nation, an ingenious industry and... a fellow human being...
__________________
Couldn't have put it better myself if I had tried for a month. Thanks Reagan!

 

[zhang xk]

And one other side note as I ramble mindlessly into yet another thread hijacking. [sorry

] These inscriptions are said to hurt the value of cameras. I would agree, unless of course one of them was owned by me. Not because I'm greedy, but the fact is, part of the personal attraction of FSUs to me is their history, national, corporate and individual. And an inscription is the sign of another real human being who, for whatever reason, thought this particular photographic instrument to be something of value to be held or passed to another person that they valued. So Zhang, Iskra2 and others hold in their hands a small bit of the history of a mighty nation, an ingenious industry and... a fellow human being.

Hi ,

Very well said! I don't understand why such a thing should be found on a second hand market. He could have given it to his family members, friends, relatives as a valuable gift if the owner for any reason wished to give it away.

 

[Iskra 2]

Darned FSU Quality

Darned FSU Quality

........ and I forgot to mention, the Colonel's camera takes pretty good pix using Leica film..... ahem... Kodachrome.

Regards.

 

[Evgeny S]

Thanks netzspannung. Excuse my ignorance, but why does this sound phony? I'm just curious, of course. But here in the US, "higher-ups", shall we say, in business/government/military/etc. are always giving tokens to those "beneath them" as some sort of faux appreciation. These tokens are often scribed, engraved or signed in some way with very impersonal notations, since they are usually ... eh, hmmm... mass produced and sent out by someone's secretary.

I could easily see that being done in the FSU by some Glavkom VVS - or the office thereof, maybe even without his knowledge. HUH??!! -- Ah, hahhh!! I think I just answered my own question. "Phony Appreciation" = "sounds phony."

Cameras were a sort of gifts, which could be get from the high command for the unexceptionable military/civil service. The other could be wrist-watches. The main difference was that such gifts were useable, comparing to the diplomas and "tokens", which are useless in the real life. On the whole a worker or military officer/NCO/private of the USSR army could be awarded for their work/service during the peace time with the following types of awards:
1. Commemorative order or medal (military officers only) or Labour Order/Medal (for civilians);
2. Valuable gift: photocamera or wrist-watches (military officers only and civilian workers);
3. Diploma (anybody);
4. Gratitude (anybody, but this was/is the most usual way to thank private for his service).
During my service in the Army, I've got two gratitudes from the higher command and I was (and still is) very proud of them.
But, the practice of awarding someone with valuable gifts was spread in 1950-1970es. I didn't see the egravins dated by the period of 1980-until end of the USSR.

 

[kiev4a]

Apparently using engraved cameras as rewards was popular in government circles in the '60s and early '70s. The Zorki 2C was especially popular. Several years ago on Ebay presentation cameras were fairly common. That was when folks were really struggling over there economically (still are in many areas). I thought it was rather sad that people were had to give of awards that probably had some sentimental value for a few bucks, probably just to put food on the table.

It was the system, not the workers that caused the quality problems. The book "The Russians" published in the 1970s explained how problems with getting materials to plants until the very last minute forced everyone to cut corners to make the monthly quotas. Products built from the first to the middle of the month usually were decent quality. Stuff made during the rush to meet quotas near the end of the month often was junk.

Just like to old saying about not buying an American vehicle rpoduced on a Friday or a Monday when subs replace a lot of the regular workworkers who call in "sick."

 

[lushd]

Comrades - I am very proud. This is the first thread I have started that has gained more than 1000 viewings. Can I have my engraved Zorki now?

 

[reagan]

Comrades - ... Can I have my engraved Zorki now?

Oh, we'll go one better than that. Here's yourrrrr BRAND NEW !!.........

Restored Leitz Leica Camera 3F w/ 50mm 3.5 Elmar lens!!

​

 

[lushd]

I'm thrilled! No, really.

 

[Oldprof]

Comrades - I am very proud. This is the first thread I have started that has gained more than 1000 viewings. Can I have my engraved Zorki now?

The Central Planning Office set your quota at 2000 viewings.

 

[lushd]

The Central Planning Office set your quota at 2000 viewings.

Comrade

Using my special double accounting procedure and taking into consideration that the counter is obviously faulty, I have exceeded my plan quota.

Whatever target is set by the committee I am sure I have already over-achieved it.

 

[comp_wiz101]

Should I just keep refreshing my browser so the counter is "accurate?"

 

[JimG]

Comrade

Using my special double accounting procedure and taking into consideration that the counter is obviously faulty, I have exceeded my plan quota.

Whatever target is set by the committee I am sure I have already over-achieved it.

Clearly comrade you are a victim of imperialist hegemony.

 

[reagan]

Yes, your thread REALLY DOES have over 2,000 views, and we all REALLY DO appreciate you... oh, and that REALLY IS a restored Leica... and we REALLY ARE sending it to you... with the Peoples' gratitude.