Vintage Stalinets Camera

This camera is a pandora's box of USSR relics and rumors. A few things are a fact: soviet renowned camera “fed” was a cleverly adapted (yes, stolen) Leica II. The rest is a convoluted set of interpretations. For instance, it was made up that fed cameras were given as a token of appreciation to those that achieved certain levels of success within the structures that were designed to keep the whole nation in fear: kgb (committee for state security) and NKVD (people's commissariat for internal affairs). And yes, the acronyms don’t match due to language discrepancies. As rumored by one online source, “the original idea and legend behind the "Stalinists" are that they were special fed cameras given by joseph Stalin to important communist officials, military generals, and other VIPs of the soviet union. The engraved and enameled 'star" motif is quite reminiscent of the authentic vs camera that was of high quality and was produced in very limited quantities. A lot of work and time went into this camera and the last photo shows it with several photographs of its' two namesakes ... Josef vissarionovich Stalin (in 1919) and Felix edmoundovitch Czerwinski (together with Stalin, circa 1925). "

Fact: original fed was produced around 1934–55. During the “perestroika” era, a lot of soviet relics were in demand, which bred a whole market of falsified relics. We did some research, and the culprit seems to be the modded bottom used to take a shot. Our cabinets look just like the original – could it be for real?! Still, can’t be sure either way.

Either way, it’s a beautiful part of history. Amazing conversation starter. Fall of an empire that was standing for something, but turned capitalist. The largest country in the world and what marked its most turbulent times.

35 mm film / coupled rangefinder ..... Lens: fed / 50 mm f.3.5

Unique body serial and matching lens – both #340