Leica Luftwaffe Serial Numbers
PM1015 - FED-Zorki #00691. Disclaimer: All the ZORKI Serial Number Ranges are approximate! FED (KMZ) 1948 The first 39mm Leica-thread bodies assembled in MOscow are FED cameras. They are built in late '47/early '48 in collaboration with engineers sent from the FED works. In those years, according to the Soviet photographic mentality, the home-built version of the Leica is called the FED; therefore when the FED name was engraved over the KMZ logo this was not intentionally done with the idea of usurping the name.
Just checked Rogliatti's list of all the Leica serial numbers, and 364474 is listed as a IIIc, and as we can see from the OP's photos, it is a IIIc stepper. And from the looks of things in Jim's book, it seems that IIIb's were last delivered to the Luftwaffe on 17/6/40, so I don't know about Luigi's assertion that it. Nov 5, 2010 - If they had a special shutter with ball bearings for more robustness especially in the Eastern Front, they were usually labeled with a K by the serial number, and or a K on the shutter curtain itself. The IIIc with a step by the rewind switch w as the version made during the war. Since I love both Leica cameras.
Free Serial Numbers
The Gavrilov team rapidly develops the design. Starting in early 1948 the engraving is embellished with the name 'ZORKI', the Russian word for 'a piercing regard'. A new, great Leica copy was born. FED-KMZ (1948) No. Preseries of the FED-ZORKI. First FED's assembled in Krasnogorsk. The shutter goes to 1/1000s.
Exceptionally rare, this is a key piece for a collector of Leica copies or Russian cameras. (source: J.L.Princelle 'The Authentic Guide to Russian and Soviet Cameras', 2nd edition 2004). Serial Number Range: #00001-#00100. Quantity: appr. 100 units, but only very few are known to survive. Camera bellow from Ilya Stolyar (USA) collection. This ultra rare camera is covered in 'paper' looking leatherette, joined from 5 separate patterns.
Very thin and bad chrome. Metal plaque with markings 'FED' screwed on the camera's back (see picture below). Very small-sized shutter speeds engraved on the speeds knob. An earliest so far known camera has s/n #00063 (A.Berry coll.). PM1005 - Fed (KMZ) #00070. FED-ZOrki (1948-1949) Further evolution of the particular camera. Under name 'FED-Zorki' engraved on the top plate already. A limited quantity released in 1948-1949 only (the year of manufacture is also shown on the top plate, either 1948 or 1949).
Almost half of 'FED-Zorki' (1948) cameras come with 1/1000s shutter speed, which was replaced by regular 1/500s shutter speed in 1948. Serial Number Range: #00100-#05.750. Quantity: less than 5.700 units. Seems to be an earliest version of 'FED-Zorki' camera. Body still covered in 'Zeiss Contax' origin black leather, joined from 5 separate patterns.
The chrome is better quality in comparison with PM1005. New design of metal plaque with markings 'FED' screwed on the camera's back (see picture below). An earliest so far known camera has s/n #00121 (on manual guide). PM1025 - Fed-Zorki #04813.
Zorki-1 (a) 1949 Camera identical to Fed-Zorki, but with single 'ZORKI' name already, engraved on the top plate. Shutter release is not threaded yet to accept a cable release.
Very few Zorki type-A cameras can be found with 1/1000s added (unconfirmed). Serial Number Range #05.750-#08.500.
Quantity: less than 3.000 units. Identical to the Fed-Zorki. The collar around the shutter release can no longer be removed (unconfirmed). On the top plate is a new Zorki logo in cursive Cyrillic characters above the new KMZ logo („tomb“ is now crossed by an arrow). Delivered with early type of the Industar-22 'Zorki' lens (see diaphragm control). Rare to find nowadays. An earliest so far known camera has serial number #05784 (Bill Parkinson coll.).
Camera opposite from E.Tutkus coll. PM1035 - Zorki #09314.
Luftwaffe Leica Serial Numbers
Zorki-1 (B) 1949-1951 The collar around the shutter release is threaded to accept a cable release already. Still three screws in the back of the top plate (starting from type-C all cameras come with two screws only).
Larger figures engraved on shutter speed knob. Serial number range estimated to begin with #8000. An earliest type-B cameras still have engravings on an accessory shoe. Serial Numbers Range: #8.000-#115.000. Quantity: appr. 110.000 units. PM1040. The collar around the shutter release now is threaded to accept a cable release (see picture below).
Coarser gripping surface on film rewind knob. Delivered with late type of the Industar-22 'Zorki' lens (see diaphragm control on picture opposite). An earliest so far known camera has s/n #08.068 (private coll.).
Camera opposite from Ilya Stolyar (USA) coll. Identical to PM1060, but with bilingual export markings. An earliest so far known camera has s/n #69204 (M.Muda coll.). PM1060 - Zorki #72272.
Experimental version of the particular camera. Probably the 1st KMZ's attempt to improve the shutter of Zorki-1 camera (c.1951). This improvement allows to change the shutter speeds in both advanced or released shutter conditions.
Despite the fact, that experiment was successful enough, this system was implemented in Zorki-2 camera only (c. Camera opposite from Ilya Stolyar (USA) coll. PM1070 - Zorki #110660. Zorki-1 (c) 1951-1953 Identical to the Zorki type-B, but henceforth using injection molded parts for the shutter assembly casing and the camera chassis. Chrome camera parts outlined by a decorative rim. Index mark on the release collar. The accessory shoe loses its engravings 3.
Very few type-C prototypes are known with strap lugs and slow speeds disk on the frontplate. These cameras are fitted with fast Jupiter-8 2/50 lenses. Serial Numbers Range: #115.000-#470.000. Quantity: appr. 350.000 units.
Quite common camera to find. Two screws on the rear plate already. The change to two screws appears to coincide with the introduction of a stronger alloy body shell that made the middle screw unneccessary. Serial number engraved on the top plate yet.
An earliest so far known camera has s/n #106.182 (eBay 2009). Since 1952 some cameras were originally fitted with fast Jupiter-8 2/50mm lens (see picture opposite). These cameras have special leather case. An earliest so far known camera has #174537 (SovietCams), the latest one - #179539 (eBay 2008).
PM1075 - Zorki #174537. Camera identical to PM1075, but with bilingual export markings on the top plate (see picture below). PM1100 - Zorki #443050 with Jupiter-17 2/50 lens. Zorki-1 (d) 1953-1955 Identical to the Zorki (type-C), but the rim is extended around the lens mount. This decorative element is part of the casting and cannot be removed from the body. Serial Numbers Range: #470.000-#55 45.000. Quantity: appr.
250.000 units. PM1105. Identical to type-C cameras, but with the rim extended around the lensmount. Single name markings stamped on the top plate. An earliest so far known camera has serial number #470.751 (Kalle Salonen coll.). Camera identical to PM1105, but with bilingual export markings on the top plate.
Very uncommon to find. An earliest so far known camera has s/n #539436 (I.Stolyar coll.). Very uncommon to find camera.
Identical to PM1110, but with date prefix in serial number already. Camera opposite from Ilya Stolyar (USA) coll. PM1120 - Zorki #5550101. Zorki-1 (e) 1955-1956 Identical to the Zorki-1 (D), but with the new international shutter speed's sequence: 1/25s, 1/50s, 1/100s, 1/250s, 1/500s + B. 6 shutter speeds instead of 8 speeds on previous versions. Serial Numbers Range: #55 45.000-#56 35.000. Quantity: appr.
240.000 units. Identical to PM1115, but with the new international shutter speed sequence B; 1/25s – 1/500s. An earliest so far known camera has s/n #55 11938 (eBay 2008). Identical to PM1125, but with bilingual export markings.
Investigated camera has s/n #5571157 (I.Stolyar coll.). An earliest known camera has s/n #5508730 (S.Kochergin coll.). PM1140 - Zorki #55165242. Very rare donative version again. Covered in black synthetic leather with authentic strap lugs on body. Possible variations without strup lugs on body or with bilingual export markings. Very rare to find nowadays. Camera opposite from Ilya Stolyar (USA) coll.
Camera identical to PM1140, but covered in blue synthetic leather. No strap lugs on body. Possible variations with strup lugs on body or with bilingual export markings. Very rare to find nowadays. PM1145 - Zorki #56018897.
Image by image by image by image by The Leica IIIc is a 35mm rangefinder camera introduced by in 1940. It was made of aluminum, with chrome-plated brass top plate, base plate and knobs. Some had grey paint finish due to the lack of chrome during the war. The Leica IIIc was built from 1940 to 1951 (serial numbers 360,101-525,001), with approx. 131,000 units produced. The (1948-1951, 440,001-451,000) was a IIIc without the slow speeds dial.
The (1949-1951, 455,001-562,800) was also based on the IIIc chassis, without the rangefinder and the slow speeds dial. As an upgrade of the, the Leica IIIc had important changes:. One piece die-cast body, instead of an assembly of small parts. The cover of the rangefinder is no longer a separate piece.
Improved internal mechanism. 3mm longer than the previous cameras. Larger release button. New exposure counter mechanism. Variants 1945 IIIc showing step under the rewind lever image by.
Black and red shutter curtains (362,401-379,226). Military engravings in some cameras produced during the war, such as 'Luftwaffen-Eigentum' (Luftwaffe property), 'Heer' (Army), 'W.H.' (Wehrmacht Heer) or 'M' (Marine). Naval Leicas are the only type that may have had the Reichsadler (swastika and eagle). Blind rollers with ball bearings on cameras with the letter K next to the serial number (for Kugellaler, ball bearings). Postwar Leica IIIc (serial number over 400,000): no step under the reverse lever, no knob in the focusing lever for the rangefinder.
Links In English:., at. by luis triguez In French:. Lionel's overview at 35mm-compact.com. at., on by Sylvain Halgand b o d i e s (at) (de) Leica IIIc (ja) (uk) (ussr) l e n s e s (de) (ja) (fr) (uk) (it) (nl) (us).