Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 1996/03/29

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To: leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us
Subject: Re: Russian Leica M
From: FortunkoC@aol.com
Date: Fri, 29 Mar 1996 20:56:33 -0500

Friends,

I agree with Marc James Small.

FED stands for Feliks Edmundowicz Dzierzynski who founded the Cheka, the
direct ancestor of the KGB. Feliks was a Polish nobleman, known for his love
of high-end stuff, including Rolls-Royces. I don't know if he had a Leica
since he died of almost natural causes in 1926. I am told that he was not
fond of eating mushrooms. First Leica copies were made in the USSR probably
for the use of the NKVD, the direct ancestor of the KGB. It is possible that
production equipment for this purpose was supplied by the Germans and paid
for by the Soviets. However, I am only guessing.

If it is true that none of the true Leica stuff was made east of the Elbe, it
is a fact that Max Berek came from Poland. However, I doubt that there were
any special communications between Feliks and Max. Most likely, Max is in
heaven. I don't know about the whereabout of Feliks, his noble Polish
countryman. I doubt that they have ever met. Max was fond of naming his
lenses after dogs. I don't think he named any after Feliks.

Best regards to All,

Chris