Modified FED-1

removedacct2 · Mar 29, 2023

I found a FED Trudkommuna from 1938 near Białystok and received it today.
Particularity is: added straps lugs, and a PC socket. Tested with a flash at all speeds but doesn't work. I could disassemble and check the contacts if I have time to waste. I will need to check it anyway, RF patch missing.
Wondering if these modifications are frequent:

4season · Mar 29, 2023

Isaac Maizenberg’s book includes information on how to add (bulb?) flash synchronization to a FED-1.

removedacct2 · Mar 29, 2023

4season said:
Isaac Maizenberg’s book includes information on how to add (bulb?) flash synchronization to a FED-1.

thanks! I forgot of the Maizenberg. Will have a look.

Alan Johnson · Apr 4, 2023

Mine has the flash sync connection on the top. It does fire electronic flash but dates from the flashbulb era, IDK if it fires at the right time.
Yours is only the second one I have seen apart from mine with flash sync and the sync connections were all in different places.
They seem quite rare so modified.

henryvk · Apr 5, 2023

I've recently seen two of these being offered by a German eBay-seller. Never noticed one with flash-sync before, even though I frequently browse so I'd say they can't be very common. Afaik these mods are a DIY thing, hence the varying placement.

removedacct2 · Apr 5, 2023

Alan Johnson said:
Mine has the flash sync connection on the top. It does fire electronic flash but dates from the flashbulb era, IDK if it fires at the right time.
Yours is only the second one I have seen apart from mine with flash sync and the sync connections were all in different places.
They seem quite rare so modified.

I remember vaguely some Zorki with flash sync on top but FED never, nor on top nor on body shell. Nor strap lugs.

4season said:
Isaac Maizenberg’s book includes information on how to add (bulb?) flash synchronization to a FED-1.

on the 1964 edition, pp. 172-175, indeed, and as it is on mine fig 142:

and the contact:

removedacct2 · Apr 5, 2023

henryvk said:
Afaik these mods are a DIY thing, hence the varying placement.

the instructions in Maizenberg are fun, page 172 (on previous comment): "Фотомастерские получают штепсельные гнезда на заводах. Фотолюбители могут сделать их сами следующим образом: вытачивают цилиндрическую латунную трубку— (рис. 141)"

simple, grab a piece of brass pipe and make your own socket, etc.

Minox · Apr 7, 2023

Mine is a Zorki, not FED, a 1955 camera. It does have a flash sync socket installed on the top plate, in the flash shoe. Obviously, a custom thing. The camera has been fully refurbished in Russia, some 10 or 12 yrs ago, complete with as-new patch and also leather instead of the vulcanite.

No strap lugs though.

georg16nik · May 27, 2023

The body shell – vulcanite with black metal rim – is from Zorki I type c with added straps lugs, and a PC socket.
The FED I body shell vulcanite never had metal rim – just like Leica II.

The addition of straps lugs, and a PC socket are some of the usual customization of the day for early FED, Zorkis

Minox · May 27, 2023

antonio_b said:
the instructions in Maizenberg are fun, page 172 (on previous comment): "Фотомастерские получают штепсельные гнезда на заводах. Фотолюбители могут сделать их сами следующим образом: вытачивают цилиндрическую латунную трубку— (рис. 141)"

simple, grab a piece of brass pipe and make your own socket, etc.

How does one make and attach the strap lugs this way?

removedacct2 · May 27, 2023

Minox said:
How does one make and attach the strap lugs this way?

well that quote of Maizenberg book is not about strap lugs, but about DIY PC socket...

strap lugs I do add not on FED bodies but on Zenit-V by carefully boring holes and then inserting lugs from some salvaged camera, with strong epoxy. That's a simple way to do it.

Minox · May 28, 2023

Thank you, Antonio_b !

Modified FED-1

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