P3D Re: flash bulb units

["David W. Kesner" <drdave@xxxxxxxxxx>]

In p3d digest 3630 Charles Pflanze asks:

> I'm shopping for an old flash bulb unit for a Stereo Realist, it will
> be used in wet conditions hostile to electronic flash.  Must I
> purchase a flashbulb unit specific for the Realist or will any 50's
> vintage flash unit work on the Realist hot shoe?

I would suggest a Honeywell Tilt-O-Mite folding fan reflector flash 
unit. I have used them extensively underground with both flat and 
stereo cameras including a Realist.

These fold up into a nice small package and you only lose about 
one stop over a polished reflector of the same size (I have both a 5" 
and a 7"). You can use both M3B and 5B or Press 25B bulbs 
without any adaptors. You will need a hot shoe to PC adaptor as 
the flash only has a PC connect.

You may also have to replace the capacitor. They were made to 
use the old slip in battery type which, to my knowledge, are no 
longer available. I simply found a modern one with the same rating 
and soldered it in (I believe it was something like 200 microfareds 
and came out of a television set). The 15 or 22 volt square batteries 
are still available from Radio Shack.

There is now someone advertising gross lots of flash bulbs in the 
back of the NSS magazine for fairly reasonable prices.

If you have any other questions, just ask.

That's all for now,

David W. Kesner
Boise, Idaho, USA
drdave@xxxxxxxxxx