Urban Legend?

Plain Nev

Plain Nev

Vincent Furnier
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I have heard it said that the importers of Russian cameras had to rebuild them in this country to ensure they were up to scratch. I don't know if this is true, or not. Or even if it would be at all practical. It would seem a little unlikely that they would dismantle every one. So, what is the truth of it? And is it just another urban myth?
 
No, it's not a myth, Technical & Optical Equipment Ltd in London were the only authorized British importers of Soviet cameras. they gained a reputation as responsible sellers, because they took apart every camera in their own repair facilities for calibration and repair before feeding them to the market.

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Wow! That's remarkable. It must have been quite an operation.
 
I've got 5 Zorki cameras, the 4K in the photo is a UK import, the other Zorki 4's I imported from Ukraine, which were CLA'd before I received them, I've got another 4K I'm planning on putting a roll of film through it, as long as there looked after there pretty bullet proof, as long as you don't set the shutter speed before cocking the shutter.20250328_230123.jpg
 
I have a 4k myself, and am looking forward to giving it a go. Fortunately I had mine CLA'd by Roger Lean. So I know it's in the ballpark, so to speak.
 
Nikon photographer said:
No, it's not a myth, Technical & Optical Equipment Ltd in London were the only authorized British importers of Soviet cameras. they gained a reputation as responsible sellers, because they took apart every camera in their own repair facilities for calibration and repair before feeding them to the market.
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I got a slightly different story from my school friend, who spent his last school summer break working there.

In the middle of the 1960s, he had six weeks of unpacking crates, taking out the cameras and presenting them to the guys who tested them. Those that worked then went to the packing department, the rest went to the mechanics, who decided if they could be salvaged or not. This seems reasonable to me, because I had spent the previous summer holiday doing much the same thing at a warehouse in Holborn, which was the main importer for Soviet clocks and watches. They too had to triage the products and there were large trays in the watchmakers department, into which the "iffy" products were dumped.

The good news is that we both ended up with respectable amounts of cash for our drudgery! ;)
 
AndrewFlannigan said:
I got a slightly different story from my school friend, who spent his last school summer break working there.

In the middle of the 1960s, he had six weeks of unpacking crates, taking out the cameras and presenting them to the guys who tested them. Those that worked then went to the packing department, the rest went to the mechanics, who decided if they could be salvaged or not. This seems reasonable to me, because I had spent the previous summer holiday doing much the same thing at a warehouse in Holborn, which was the main importer for Soviet clocks and watches. They too had to triage the products and there were large trays in the watchmakers department, into which the "iffy" products were dumped.

The good news is that we both ended up with respectable amounts of cash for our drudgery! ;)
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That would make sense. Whatever the case it seems that they came out of the factories with little, or no QC involved. I recently had a friend look at a FED 3 for me, and it was full of swarf and poorly made parts.
 
AndrewFlannigan said:
I got a slightly different story from my school friend, who spent his last school summer break working there.

In the middle of the 1960s, he had six weeks of unpacking crates, taking out the cameras and presenting them to the guys who tested them. Those that worked then went to the packing department, the rest went to the mechanics, who decided if they could be salvaged or not. This seems reasonable to me, because I had spent the previous summer holiday doing much the same thing at a warehouse in Holborn, which was the main importer for Soviet clocks and watches. They too had to triage the products and there were large trays in the watchmakers department, into which the "iffy" products were dumped.

The good news is that we both ended up with respectable amounts of cash for our drudgery! ;)
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They must have been importing them at lower than rock bottom prices to make even remotely viable.
 
MrDrizz said:
They must have been importing them at lower than rock bottom prices to make even remotely viable.
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There was certainly a big markup on anything from the Soviet Union in those days.

A Kiev 4 retailed for £48 or thereabouts, which is something like £750 in today's money. My friend claimed that a Kiev cost TOE (the importer) something like £15 landed at Tilbury Docks (about £240) and he reckoned the trade price was around £35 (£560). That would have given the importers well north of 100% profit to play with. Neither the camera importers, nor the watch place I'd worked at were short of money, so far as either of us could see. I was paid £5 a week and I think my friend got much the same, which was pretty good money for a holiday job in those days.
 
MrDrizz said:
They must have been importing them at lower than rock bottom prices to make even remotely viable.
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Back then Russia desperately needed western currency to buy things. The country who we were told were so technically advanced they were a credible threat to western security sold us the best technology that they had; Zenith & Zorki cameras, Moskvitch & Lada cars all sold for less than it cost to make them. There was a company exporting second hand Ladas back to Russia and making a profit on them. No wonder the western countries were terrified of Russia's superiority!
 
Their customer service was excellent.
In the early 70s my mother brought me back a new 4K to SA on a UK trip to see her parents.

Arrivals from two international lights at Durban were all going through one standard door because of building work, and it go knocked off her shoulder.
Unfortunately the rangefinder prism separated.

After a lot of phoning around and finding nobody could do anything, my father booked me a phone call to Technical & Optical Equipment Ltd in London. I told the receptionist where I was calling from and asked for the workshops, she in an instant put me through to some one in charge, who quickly confirmed nothing could be done, and asked "Sir, if you had a prism, could you install and calibrate it?" and when I said yes, took my name and address and said he would send me one. It arrived about 10 days later!
All done in probably less than a minute.

Something I will always remember.
 
I bought a Kiev 4 from the Technical & Optical shop in Holborn in the early 80s. Both the store and the Kiev have long gone: I can't remember what I did with the camera. It was a marvellous thing. Its price certainly wasn't exorbitant (see post #10): in fact, I think it was cheaper than any decent camera, SLR or rangefinder, then available.
 
I think if you have a good one, or one that's been serviced, they have stood the test of time very well.
 
Plain Nev said:
I think if you have a good one, or one that's been serviced, they have stood the test of time very well.
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I just had a look at mine and the shutter will wind but won't latch... :(
 
I sent mone to Roger Lean for a service. He specialises in Russian cameras.
 
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