Very rare ROBOT Motor Recorder 36 BE (24x36) 35mm film camera in grey hammertone finish, serial number 187450, with 38mm f2.8 Xenar lens, serial number 3896204, lens cap, electric drive, an optical mirror system (further explained), and a 10m magazine (by Arriflex) with one spool.
Short backgournd
The Robot was created in 1934 by Otto Berning & Co..
Founded on a design of a skillful watch maker, Heinz Kilfitt, it originally specialized in military instruments and later also for surveillance, traffic and reconnaissance.
Considered by many a true work of art, this ingenious camera had impressive characteristics.
The Robot mechanical models were powered by a spring-motor film advance, capable in certain models (Star 50) of shooting 50 frames with a single charge!
Silk-smooth shutter release, with a very distinctive sound.
It used 35mm film in different formats: 24x24, 18x24, 6x24, 12x24, 16x6 and standard 24x36.
Metal behind-the-lens rotating shutter by Gauthier.
Zeiss or Schneider stainless steel lenses.
The Robot Motor Recorder 36 BE.
Serial numbers: 187044-202544.
Series BE.
Finish: grey hammertone.
No viewfinder and no rewinding capability.
In 1967 Robot introduced a new series of Recorders that broke away from the traditional spring mechanism.
There was now a 12 or 24 volt electric motor in the enlarged bottom part, which took over the work of film transport and shutter winding.
With the subsequent model Series D, the Gauthier shutter was replaced by one manufactured by Robot itself, designed for the rotor disc to rotate in one direction, thus omitting the cover blades. That made shutter speeds of 1/1000s possible, and on top, flash synchronized!
In this BE model, the letter B represents the standard model, and the letter "E" ("Einspiegelung") an optical mirror system for simultaneous recording of secondary objects or data. The secondary object to be recorded is captured by the 8.0-20mm mirror-integrated lens via a mirror attachment that appears in a 8x8mm field (see photo #12) in the main image.
The exposure of both image fields takes place simultaneously, controlled by the camera shutter.
Camera is beautiful.
Shutter has not been tested.
The lens barrel is very clean and glass is clear with no issues.
This is a very unique camera, very rare to come by and extremely collectable.
Thank you.