Camera as a reward?

Tal Inbar · 09-20-2002, 09:37 AM

The sellers description:

"This camera has been made in a KGB Labor Camp Factory (that's what the sign on the top says) and named "FED" after Felix Dzerzhinsky, the first chief of the NKVD. In fact, it is a poorly-made copy of the "Leica" (well-known German camera) which technology Russians took from Germany as a trophy after WWII. What's more interesting is that this camera has been presented in 1964 to a KGB officer for exemplary service. That's what the award document and the sign on the bottom of the camera say."

otlichnik · 09-21-2002, 12:01 PM

Tal,

I have not seen this for a camera but I have seen it for watches and daggers. While the document is not fancy I believe that they are genuine. Local (raion) KGB commanders could give out their own awards. Stuff would be made locally and not match national standards.

There is so little of this stuff and the prices are generally reasonable so I doubt the are faked. The exception are some of the fancy daggers which are faked although real award dagers exist too.

However, this can not be confirmed 100%!!

Nota Bene · 09-21-2002, 03:21 PM

Tal,

I will have disagree - it's a very nicely made copy of Leika, as a matter of fact they have even improved on the original in some minor details.

The award card is perfectly genuine, but it was used in the 1950s and later, and I doubt I couldn have been given with a 1930s camera. This type of document with the same ink stamp but unissued can be purchased for $5. According to my supplier they come from some sort of archive in Lviv. I have couple of them somewhere, and will post a scan later if i can find them.

Alexei

Tal Inbar · 09-21-2002, 05:08 PM

Well, the experts are divided...

I forgot the second scan of the document:

Nota Bene · 09-21-2002, 06:21 PM

Tal,

Yeap, same signature. I really need to find those docs.

Alexei

medaldude · 09-22-2002, 08:18 AM

Hello All,

The FED-1 camera was produced until 1955. It was a copy of the Leica IIA. It was not a bad camera.

To read about Soviet cameras go to:

http://www.btinternet.com/~stowupland/index.htm

Click on the FED link for info on the FED camera.

Tom

Nota Bene · 09-22-2002, 02:48 PM

Tom,

Thank for the information. I thought FED-1 was dropped sometime in the 1930s, replaced with FED-2. I am not really a specialist in cameras. Still the document is dated 1964, and I doubt they would give somebody a 10-year old camera as an award.

Alexei

Nota Bene · 10-10-2002, 05:57 PM

Gentlemen,

Just found this on our favourite auction site. Looks familiar?

Alexei

Tal Inbar · 10-12-2002, 06:18 PM

That document...you can broad your sellings!;)

Nota Bene · 01-05-2003, 02:48 PM

Gentlemen,

I've found this one in my collection of fakes. just like the others posted here it's a genuine document with fake entries.

I believe the ink stamp is genuine:

Look at the sloppy signatures:

Alexei

09-22-2002, 08:18 AM	#6
medaldude Junior Member Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: La Porte, IN Age: 74 Posts: 46	FED-1 Camera Hello All, The FED-1 camera was produced until 1955. It was a copy of the Leica IIA. It was not a bad camera. To read about Soviet cameras go to: http://www.btinternet.com/~stowupland/index.htm Click on the FED link for info on the FED camera. Tom

10-12-2002, 06:18 PM	#9
Tal Inbar Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Israel Age: 55 Posts: 2,302	That document...you can broad your sellings!;) __________________ Under the banner of Marxism-Leninism, under the leadership of the Communist Party--forward to new victories in the construction of communism!

09-21-2002, 12:01 PM	#2
otlichnik Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Canada Age: 56 Posts: 547	Tal, I have not seen this for a camera but I have seen it for watches and daggers. While the document is not fancy I believe that they are genuine. Local (raion) KGB commanders could give out their own awards. Stuff would be made locally and not match national standards. There is so little of this stuff and the prices are generally reasonable so I doubt the are faked. The exception are some of the fancy daggers which are faked although real award dagers exist too. However, this can not be confirmed 100%!!

09-21-2002, 03:21 PM	#3
Nota Bene Senior Member Join Date: May 2002 Location: New York USA Posts: 2,296	Tal, I will have disagree - it's a very nicely made copy of Leika, as a matter of fact they have even improved on the original in some minor details. The award card is perfectly genuine, but it was used in the 1950s and later, and I doubt I couldn have been given with a 1930s camera. This type of document with the same ink stamp but unissued can be purchased for $5. According to my supplier they come from some sort of archive in Lviv. I have couple of them somewhere, and will post a scan later if i can find them. Alexei

09-21-2002, 06:21 PM	#5
Nota Bene Senior Member Join Date: May 2002 Location: New York USA Posts: 2,296	Tal, Yeap, same signature. I really need to find those docs. Alexei

09-22-2002, 02:48 PM	#7
Nota Bene Senior Member Join Date: May 2002 Location: New York USA Posts: 2,296	Tom, Thank for the information. I thought FED-1 was dropped sometime in the 1930s, replaced with FED-2. I am not really a specialist in cameras. Still the document is dated 1964, and I doubt they would give somebody a 10-year old camera as an award. Alexei

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