MOTORIZED ACCESSORIES FOR BAYONET MOUNT LEICAS
In 1960, a New York camera craftsman named Norman Goldberg designed an electric motor for the Leica M1 and M2 cameras360. The device consisted of a highly modified Leicavit MP baseplate, fitted with an electric motor and a hand grip equipped with a trigger360. The early models featured an external trip switch, similar to those used in the early clockwork motors for screw-mounted Leicas360. Later, more advanced models included an internal switching mechanism360.
In 1965, Leitz New York acquired all of Goldberg's motor components, along with the associated patents and rights360. By the next year, they began producing an electric motor for the M2360. Initially, this early model could not be controlled from the camera, but by 1967, improvements allowed the motor to be controlled through the camera, enabling the use of its full range of speeds without the risk of jamming the shutter360.
Pictured below is the aforementioned electric motor for the Leica M2, attached to the camera:
Originally, these motorized cameras were simply modified M2s without any special engravings on the top plate360. However, in 1966, Leitz Wetzlar produced a small batch of the motorized M2, now designated as the Leica M2-M360. The following year, motorized versions of the MP2 and M4 were introduced, with the M4 initially marked as M4M and later rebranded as M4MOT360.
Pictured below are cameras engraved with M2-M, M4M and M4MOT:
Note the motor-coupling facilities for a Leica M4MOT, pictured below:
The motors in the M2 and M4 differ from that of the MP2 in several ways360. While only the intermediate gear in the MP2 motor is made of hardened steel, all gears in the M2M and M4 motors are crafted from this material360. Additionally, the M2 and M4 motors connect to the camera at the spool axis, similar to the Leicavit, rather than at the intermediate gear of the shutter winding device360. The motor release button is located on the front of the motor and lacks a locking mechanism for continuous shooting360.
Another distinction between the M4M and the MMOT is that the M4M's take-up spool spindle is of the non-rapid-loading type, similar to that of the M2360. The battery pack for the M2 and M4, which attaches to the base of the motor, holds eight 1.5-volt batteries360. This pack features a switch with three settings: OFF (which cuts battery power from the circuit), H (which allows three frames per second from 1/50 sec to 1/1000 sec), and L (which allows one frame per second from 1 sec to 1/100 sec)360. There is also an option for remote control operation and a direct battery supply of 6 to 14 volts360.
An example of M4 M Black Paint 'Fundus Camera' is pictured below:
Additionally, it's important to mention the motorized Leica MDa (the MDa MOT) and the blitz cameras that were ordered by Zeiss, branded as the Fundus model360. These cameras are essentially M4MOTs and MDa MOTs with the motor coupling removed360. The MOT engraving on the top plate was milled out in a circular design360.
An example for Leica MDa MOT is pictured below:
Please note that the list of serial numbers for the motorized M models provided here is incomplete, as it does not account for the MP2 model or individual modifications of the MDa MOT model360:
- 275 Leica M2M cameras, with serial numbers ranging from 1163771 through 1164046, were manufactured in 1966360
- 150 Leica M4M cameras, with serial numbers ranging from 1185001 through 1185150, were manufactured in 1968360
- 154 Leica M4MOT cameras, with serial numbers ranging from 1206737 through 1206891, were manufactured in 1969360
- 100 Leica M4MOT cameras, with serial numbers ranging from 1248101 through 1248200, were manufactured in 1969360
- 400 Leica M4MOT cameras, with serial numbers ranging from 1267101 through 1267500, were manufactured in 1970360
- 100 Leica M4MOT cameras, with serial numbers ranging from 1274001 through 1274100, were manufactured in 1970360