ZORKI
1941
1942
1948
1949
1951
1954
1955
1956
1958 - 1980
1990's
A workshop
is set up in Krasnogorsk, a suburb of Moscow, to manufacture optical equipment.
German forces invade the USSR and, in the face of advancing German forces,
the workshop is evacuated to Sverdlovsk in the Urals.
With the
threat to Moscow diminished, the workshop moves back to Krasnogorsk. Kranogorskii
Mekhanicheskii Zavod (Krasnogorsk Mechanical Works), or KMZ, is born. The
company spends the remaining war years manufacturing gun sights, binoculars
and other optical devices.
Production
of the first KMZ 35mm camera commences, with the assembly of parts supplied
by the FED factory. These are engraved with the FED logo, the KMZ trapezoid
and the year 1948. FED-Zorki production commences, and continues until 1949.
Cameras are engraved with 1948 or 1949, as appropriate. Around 5500 FED-Zorki's
are made.
Production
of the Zorki 1, a copy of the Leica ll, begins. This is destined to continue,
with some modifications along the way, until 1956, by which time over 800,000
cameras will have been made.
The
Zorki-3, with a higher top plate and removable back/base, is introduced.
This is followed by the 3M, in 1954.
The Zorki
2 (a Zorki 1 with a self timer) appears.
Introduction
of the Zorki C. This is similar to the last model of the Zorki 1, with a redesigned
top plate. This is followed by the 2-C, which is fitted with a self timer.
Detailed
information is available in the
book The Authentic Guide To Russian And Soviet Cameras - Jean Loup Princelle
- Hove Photo Books (ISBN: 1-874031-63-0 (English) / 1-874031-02-9 (French))
