FED. 1- 1936 The start of the Russian copies of leica

This is an early production number 28320 1936 Serial Numbeqrs 016001 - 031000 FED 1b 1935–1937 Serial Numbers 6000 – 55000 – Some with the NKVD engraving "Peoples Commissariat of Internal Affairs", which was the new name for Stalin's secret police.

Fed made over 400,000 cameras so this is a very early production copies of the Leica A, with an uncoupled rangefinder only as an accessory. The FED factory in Kharkov in Ukraine started production with a handful of cameras in 1934 and proper production started in 1935.

50 mm f/3.5 collapsible FED lens: Consists of 4 elements in three groups like the Zeiss Tessar 50 mm f/3.5 (the Leitz Elmar has the aperture located behind the first element, the Zeiss Tessar has it behind the second element).

Fantastic item for the collection it all seems to be working, focus is free and easy, aperture moves as it should, shutter speeds seem to be spot on, film advance works smoothly

A Fed 1 ,particularly an early one is a must for all collections. please see photos

It has being sitting on a shelf for a few years so has a bit of dust or tarnishing on it.

have a look at my other auctions, lots of cameras and old early NZ magic lantern slides etc