LEICA IIIA "MONTÉ EN SARRE"
Leica IIIa "Monté en Sarre" cameras were produced between 1949 and 1951 in the town of Sankt Ingbert326 located in Saarland67. The serial number range between 359001 - 359504126 or 359509210. The total number of units produced is 500326 or 509210.
Technical Specifications
After World War II, the importation of foreign cameras into France was limited and expensive. As a result, the firm Tiranty, the official representative of Leitz in Paris, ordered a small series of Leica camera bodies, along with spare parts, to be manufactured in the town of Sankt Ingbert326 located in Saarland67. Saar is a German state that had strong economic ties to France until 194967. At a time when the region was still annexed by France. They were manufactured in the factory of Dr. Wohler, Inc126. The Saroptico production facility in the town of Sankt Ingbert located in Saarland was managed by Walter Kluck, who later moved to Canada in 1952 as a sales manager to establish the Ernst Leitz branch in Midland, Ontario, alongside other colleagues326. The Leica IIIa "Monté en Sarre" bodies were available only in France until 195167. All of these cameras were sold to France or its colonies326.
In addition to the usual engraving on the rangefinder cover, the phrase "Monté en Sarre" is engraved directly beneath the word "Germany."67 "Monté en Sarre" translates to "assembled or manufactured in the Saarland."326 Pre-war Leicas featured the engraving "D.R.P." (Deutsches Reichspatent). This engraving can also be found on most Leica IIIa "Monté en Sarre" cameras. However, there are a few examples that already have the "D.B.P." engraving for the "Deutsches Bundes Patent," a designation first used with the IIIf in the early 1950s326.
Leica IIIa "Monté en Sarre" is code-named is LUOOB67.
The first 100 to 200 copies of the Leica IIIa "Monté en Sarre" feature a sharkskin67 vulcanite covering, similar to that found on the post-war Leica IIIc. However, conventional vulcanite was later reintroduced326.
Some Leica IIIa "Monté en Sarre" cameras have features from the IIIc and IIIf models, including drum type shutter brakes, and IIIf flash synchronization332. Notably, some of these units included elements from the Leica IIIf, which was not officially released until September 1950. The details observed on the Leica IIIa "Monté en Sarre" include the advance knob and flash synchronization. The advance knob feature appears to allow for the adjustment of film sensitivity; however, it is merely a memo disc that does not affect actual exposure control. Additionally, the camera typically did not come with flash synchronization like the IIIf, but there are instances where this feature was later installed by Leitz326.
The Leica IIIa "Monté en Sarre" features a top shutter speed of 1/1000 second. The available shutter speeds include: 1/1000, 1/500, 1/200, 1/100, 1/60, 1/40, 1/30, 1/20, 1 second, T, and Z. Notably, the top plate, which contains the rangefinder and viewfinder, is separate from the camera body—a design characteristic of pre-war Leica models. All cameras come with a chrome plating, consistent with the IIIa. The chrome plating on these early models, as well as on the contemporaneous Leica IIIc, may exhibit certain defects due to the scarcity of materials used in the plating process326.
Price
The price of a camera bought in France was nearly 50% lower than that of a Leica IIIf manufactured in Germany and imported into France due to high customs charges on imported cameras67.
Collector's Corner
Because of its limited production, the Leica IIIa "Monté en Sarre" is a rare and highly desired camera326.
Two Leica IIIa cameras, specifically "Monté en Sarre," deserve special mention. Camera No. 359504, which is authenticated by the accompanying sales receipt dated April 11, 1954, indicates that the original batch of five hundred (with the last camera numbered 359500) may have been exceeded. It is possible that a few additional cameras were assembled by Saroptico using leftover spare parts, a practice that has frequently occurred with Leicas360.
Camera with serial number 359000 is noteworthy due to its Leica IIIf rangefinder housing, flash synchronization, and the inscription (DBP/GMBH). It is difficult to determine whether this camera was sent for modification to Leitz or to Saroptico. However, if it was sent to Leitz, it would almost certainly have lost its 'Monté en Sarre' inscription360.