Robot Royal 36/SAWIR Motor

[hilltime]

I have recently purchased the SAWIR spring motor for my Robot Royal 36. It is really cool but getting it to work has been a problem. The spring mechanism winds and is strong but when mounted to the bottom of the camera, nothing happens. Obviously it is not making contact with whatever is needed to advance the shutter to the next frame. Without any documentation or manual to suggest how to couple this, I am assuming the winding handle on the camera must have to engage the gearing of the SAWIR as I don't find any other contact points to make it work. I am usually very good in figuring out these puzzles with older cameras, but this one has me stumped. Any Robot users out there who may have these or anyone with any manual or advice on how to couple these two? It seems Robot information is hard to come by, other than mid to late 60's price lists, with either very few users or those knowledgeable about the cameras. I have the lenses, accessories, case, manual, (doesn't mention SAWIR) for this Robot and have for about 15 yrs. It is one of my favorite collectibles and just to hold one is an experience. Nothing like a solid piece of metal which is marvelously engineered and works like a charm, other than this experience.
Any help would be appreciated or if you know of a Robot collector or user, I would appreciate the contact. I love these early motor drive cameras and reminds me of my Praktina with spring motor, my Auto Terras, and the cool little Ricoh Auto Shot.
Thanks for looking,
Gary

 

[Wesley Snaps]

Nice! I have a Robot collection, including the SAWIR, though I've unfortunately never attempted it's use. They are quite extraordinary chunks of German engineering. This is my grampa's collection, and I can't claim to have made many photos with my Robot Royal 36. It was his collection, rather. I have spent time getting to know its basic operation. I can tell you there are no light leaks. I'm interested to talk about your experience of the system. I would love to find use cases that suit it, or even think of situations that the robot royal is completely inappropriate to shoot with, for irony's sake. Grammar would appreciate that.

It would be really cool to adapt the lenses to a digital body. What lens do you have?

 

[Retro-Grouch]

I have nothing to offer in solution to your problem, unfortunately. But you have a remarkable camera there! Many years ago, there was a review of the Royal 36 in Shutterbug, by the late and much-missed Roger Hicks if I'm not mistaken. He stated that the Robot's construction and engineering put Leica to shame; some time later, I had the pleasure of handling one briefly, and I would have to agree!

 

[nhchen]

Maybe I’m a little stupid but why would you need an additional motor on the robot Royal when it comes with a motor built into it?

 

[hilltime]

Nice! I have a Robot collection, including the SAWIR, though I've unfortunately never attempted it's use. They are quite extraordinary chunks of German engineering. This is my grampa's collection, and I can't claim to have made many photos with my Robot Royal 36. It was his collection, rather. I have spent time getting to know its basic operation. I can tell you there are no light leaks. I'm interested to talk about your experience of the system. I would love to find use cases that suit it, or even think of situations that the robot royal is completely inappropriate to shoot with, for irony's sake. Grammar would appreciate that.

It would be really cool to adapt the lenses to a digital body. What lens do you have?

I have 35/2.8 Xenogon, 50/2 Carl Zeiss Sonnar, 75/3.8 Tele-Xenar, and the 30/3.5 Xenogon, which is really made for the Royal 24, but I have used on this 24x36 format, which does vignette quite a bit. I have collected this assortment over the last 15 yrs and have used sparingly, but it is one of my favorite RF cameras, I think just because of it’s sheer quality of manufacturing. I felt the same way when I first held an M3 in my hands for the first time. I thought, “Now I get why this camera is so well regarded”.
Wish you could try mounting the Sawir on your camera and see if you can figure out how it should operate?
Thanks,

 

[hilltime]

Maybe I’m a little stupid but why would you need an additional motor on the robot Royal when it comes with a motor built into it?

This spring motor has a very strong winding mechanism, and I would assume it would allow many more shots than the built in winding motor? I have an Auto Terra Super which has a built in spring motor also, and I was extremely lucky enough to acquire an extended wind spring motor made for it, which does extend the amount of shots you can take without having to wind the internal motor.
I have always loved motor drives and the first time I attached a MD-12 to my FE-2, I was in heaven. It was in the days when it was said, “film is cheap” so fire away. Got to be somewhat impractical after awhile, but it sure made you feel good! Guess that’s the desire for machine guns, by the way, which I don’t own!! Cameras are expensive enough!

 

[hilltime]

I have nothing to offer in solution to your problem, unfortunately. But you have a remarkable camera there! Many years ago, there was a review of the Royal 36 in Shutterbug, by the late and much-missed Roger Hicks if I'm not mistaken. He stated that the Robot's construction and engineering put Leica to shame; some time later, I had the pleasure of handling one briefly, and I would have to agree!

You are so correct. This is a marvelous machine and would have to say, one of the greatest industrial camera creations. By the way, the lenses are no slouch either. Thank you for your comment.