Graflex.org

[Canuckle_Head]

I know this is difficult but, I am looking for a vintage 37 3-Cell flashing unit (not 2773).

I am a private collector not a "dork" and am seeking an alternative to battling on Ebay with the hordes.

Much appreciated

[RichS]

Ads (want or sail) are really not permitted here.

And I hope you understand that feeling about this kind of request are generally not appreciated here and are highly suspect...

No matter...

You really only have two choices. Go to ebay, or to http://www.mpex.com/ and buy a brand new one! The new one will be much cheaper than an old one that probably wouldn't work anyway...

[Canuckle_Head]

I understand the frustration and do apologize for the request. I know how difficult it is.

Treat me as suspect if you will, I know that I would.

[t.r.sanford]

You might also try Cress Photo, which specializes in finding batches of old flashbulbs and other stuff. He says he has flashguns, too, and I suppose he does:

http://www.flashbulbs.com

[Les]

With a wink and a nod I'm going to assume that Canuckle_Head knew that a Graflex flash a la SW wouldn't be correct (they came out later, around 1940) and he is asking what BRAND flash would have been around in 1937, which is perfectly acceptable.

Jacobson, Abbey, Mendelson, and Heiland were around although I believe the it was SOL Heiland at the time. Mendelson will be the most reliable, tied with Heiland. Abbey flashes have a nice look. Jacobson flashes were nothing more than modified Everready flash lights are the hardest to find and harder still to find in good condition.

I think you'll find a copy of Morgan and Lester's "Synchroflash Photography" (1939) to be most enlightening (hey I coulda said "Illuminating" but I thought that was pushing it)

Les
(moderator)

[ This Message was edited by: Les on 2005-06-16 20:11 ]

[MikeS]

On the subject of buying new flash units...

I've often wondered, I've seen lots of repro Graflex flash units on ebay, and I've often wondered how well they would work as a real flash unit? Obviously some are junk, but a few I've seen look really good, and supposedly are 100% repros and they say they could work as a flash, but I wonder about that. Has anyone here ever actually used a new repro flash as a flash?

_________________
-Mike

[Jack5541]

Hi Mike,
A couple of months ago I posed this same question to Bill Cress, who I had called about a different matter. He has actually had a few of the repros on THAT auction site so I thought he would be ideal to ask since he would certainly be familiar enough with them to be able to speak with authority on their alleged functionality as working flashes.

Bill told me that out of a batch of 100 or so, about maybe 60% actually fired a bulb when the red button was pressed. He hadn't tried to fire a bulb from a shutter using the round plugs, nor had he tried tripping a solenoid with one. He hadn't ever really had an inclination to try either, for lack of the correct cords, and also for lack of anticipated consumer demand to actually use it as a working flash.

So this is kinda non-answer answer. You might get lucky with one that will do all that it's supposed to. Bill said as advertised they were designed & manufactured in China to exacting specs drawn from an actual flash provided by some prop maker. So it might be hit or miss getting one to do all it should do.


[ This Message was edited by: Jack5541 on 2005-06-18 15:49 ]

[RichS]

Midewest does sell them for a reasonable price, and I'm sure Jim will guarantee their function. Although I never asked...

[disemjg]

RITZCAM has a couple of real ones; I think a two cell and a three cell. While not as expensive as some I have seen, they are still not cheap. But then again, they're real.

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