How to remotely flash a flashbulb?

4 years 2 months ago #677048 by jimvulcan
Does anyone know if flashbulbs were still available in stores in 1988 1989
and whether they could be flashed from the distance , as in not attached to any camera
just using wires?
Also , could flashbulbs cause fire if the bulb flashed being close to some textile?


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4 years 2 months ago #677084 by effron
I haven't seen flash bulbs in years. Remote fire, I doubt it and I don't think they could easily cause a fire.
Why not pick up a speedlight? 

Why so serious?
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4 years 2 months ago #677092 by Nikon Shooter

jimvulcan wrote: Does anyone know if flashbulbs were still available in stores in 1988 1989

Antique shops maybe? :P

jimvulcan wrote: and whether they could be flashed from the distance , as in not attached to any camera just using wires?

This is so old… I do believe technologies were available then.



jimvulcan wrote: Also , could flashbulbs cause fire if the bulb flashed being close to some textile?

In terms of "magi cubes, that was safe since it was a consumer product
but I would not be so sure about the bulbs used on Graflex cameras.

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Light is free… capturing it is not!
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4 years 2 months ago #677097 by fmw
Sorry, you will need a cord.


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4 years 2 months ago #677113 by CharleyL
I have no idea what your application for this might be. If it's for taking a photo, you will need to sync the flash to your camera somehow. Old flashguns for professional cameras had connectors/cables for attaching to a sync connector on the camera. You could/can buy sync cables for moving the flashgun away from the camera and still fire it when the picture was taken. Don't connect these old style flash units to the sync connectors of new cameras. They are not voltage compatible and you will likely damage the camera.

If not for photography and you just want to make a flash for studio effect, Halloween prank, etc. You might be able to locate an old Magic Cube flash bulb. It was actually 4 flash bulbs in one cube container that the camera rotated after each photo was taken. These didn't use electricity to set the flash off. There was a Piezo-Electric crystal attached to each bulb that generated the electrical pulse needed to cause the bulb to flash. The camera had a small hammer/plunger that would strike this crystal as it took the picture, so no batteries were necessary. Just dropping a Magic Cube would sometimes cause one or more bulbs to flash.

If you don't find a Magic Cube, but do find a regular flash bulb, an old push button igniter from a defunct gas grill connected to the bulb will cause it to flash when the button is pushed. Again without batteries or camera.

A little more information from you might get the help you need.

Charley


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