The VOOMP II Pioneer is one of the first Leica II copies made in the Soviet Union. It was made by the Union of Optico-Mechanical Companies (V.O.O.M.P) in Leningrad. This factory became GOMZ in 1932, which eventually became LOMO. There are several versions of this camera, with different engravings on the top.
Less than 1,200 VOOMP cameras were made between 1933 and 1937. The FAG Geodesiya and FED were also working on the project to create and produce a "Soviet Leica" during this period, and eventually FED became the factory that ended up as the major producer, possibly for political reasons (source: Bill Parkinson). The VOOMP cameras are all dated and numbered and they are a very rare and historic Soviet camera. This example is the 35th camera ever made (!!!) and has its original VOOMP lens and authentic lens cap with PIONEER engraved. |