Dead (old age) flash head

[paul williams]

Well as detailed in this thread went to check over my multiblitz units prior to using them to find one of the three wasn't 'flashing', popped off the cover but nothing looked amiss so thought it was just the tube giving up after 25 years. However rather than just order a new one I spent three hours this evening stripping down this head and another, unsoldered the 'bad' tube and soldered in the 'good' one from the other head - still didn't work - so left it where it was and soldered the 'bad' tube into the head that was working and it still works. So nothing to do with the tube, checked over some of the major internal components & nothing seems amiss, I'll strip it down further at the weekend for a more in-depth look but guess it's going to be consigned to the parts box. Over the years I've invested quite a bit in Multiblitz P mount accessories but a new head is way beyond what I'd want to pay now, but I do like to have three heads, so better hit eBay and look for something SH.

Paul

 

[classcams]

If your hair starts smoking, say to yourself ,"am I getting to involved". There are lethal voltages in a flash.

 

[paul williams]

If your hair starts smoking, say to yourself ,"am I getting to involved". There are lethal voltages in a flash.

Agreed you can get a significant jolt from the capacitors, even when the unit is switched off, until they've 'bled' down (first thing to be checked). As to getting "..to involved..." I am well aware of my limitations and of the potential dangers involved.

Last refurbishment job I had to do was on one of these;

which last saw service in the Korean War. Still looking for a few of the more obscure parts but generally, works as new.

Paul

 

[classcams]

I would bin it. Definately govt surplus. I like the two tubes, one has a cv number. Keep up with the times man.

 

[paul williams]

I would bin it. Definately govt surplus. I like the two tubes, one has a cv number. Keep up with the times man.

Noooooo... it works a treat and is a valued bit of test equipment - I could replace it with something new but the would be £2k(ish). I replaced the large mercury vapour valve with a solid-state version, but the other valve should be good for the next 20 years or so.

Paul

 

[classcams]

Noooooo... it works a treat and is a valued bit of test equipment - I could replace it with something new but the would be £2k(ish). I replaced the large mercury vapour valve with a solid-state version, but the other valve should be good for the next 20 years or so.

Paul

Who are you trying to kid? Its a load of govt surplus American junk. It has about as much use as a flash as my ass.

 

[paul williams]

Who are you trying to kid? Its a load of govt surplus American junk. It has about as much use as a flash as my ass.

Govt' surplus yes, American yes, junk absolutely not and it's stuff like this that I invariably end up taking pictures of

This load of govt surplus American junk actually gets used far more than my photographic kit, but I feel the need to move more into well conceived shots (can't really bring myself to call them photograph) than the snaps I've drifted into taking most of the time.

Paul

 

[paul williams]

Stripped the head right down and found a burnt out section of circuit board and a couple of dead components - so defiantly consigned to the parts box!

Paul.

 

[classcams]

Stripped the head right down and found a burnt out section of circuit board and a couple of dead components - so defiantly consigned to the parts box!

Paul.

As the components were dead would not a cemetary be a better place?

 

[paul williams]

As the components were dead would not a cemetary be a better place?

Actually many of the parts would be OK to transfer over to another head if that had problems, the flash tube itself costs more than I suspect the head is worth these days. The case is excellent so if I can pick up a tatty SH one, I can make it look as new. Finally, the unit could be repairable given enough time and effort - neither of which I'm willing to commit too, many other project on the go

Paul

 

[classcams]

No offence mate, but I think you are living in cloud cuckoo land.

 

[paul williams]

No offence mate, but I think you are living in cloud cuckoo land.

Generally when people start a sentence with "No offence.." they usually are going to give offence and know it - if you intended no offence the easiest course of action would have been not to reply. However, if you wish to clarify why you feel I'm "..living in cloud cuckoo land." I'm happy for you to try. Or perhaps you are just trying to increase your post count by submitting one liners :shrug:

For me, I like to buy things which have absolute reliability and an extended life span if at all possible. These Multiblitz heads started production in 1981, I've been using mine for the past 25 years and they are probably the most common model which appears second hand (2 sets on eBay.de and one on eBay.fr at the moment). Over the years I've invested quite heavily in 'P' mount accessories so I'm rather locked into this set-up but have always been more than happy with the performance of Multiblitz heads. I also like to whenever possible re-use or adapt parts rather than just become a disposable man in a disposable age - obviously your views differ.

Paul

 

[classcams]

Generally when people start a sentence with "No offence.." they usually are going to give offence and know it - if you intended no offence the easiest course of action would have been not to reply. However, if you wish to clarify why you feel I'm "..living in cloud cuckoo land." I'm happy for you to try. Or perhaps you are just trying to increase your post count by submitting one liners :shrug:

For me, I like to buy things which have absolute reliability and an extended life span if at all possible. These Multiblitz heads started production in 1981, I've been using mine for the past 25 years and they are probably the most common model which appears second hand (2 sets on eBay.de and one on eBay.fr at the moment). Over the years I've invested quite heavily in 'P' mount accessories so I'm rather locked into this set-up but have always been more than happy with the performance of Multiblitz heads. I also like to whenever possible re-use or adapt parts rather than just become a disposable man in a disposable age - obviously your views differ.

Paul

The photo you submitted shows color coded capacitors that are from WW2 not 1981. I do not think it has anything connected to flash. Have you been conned into buying it ? Seriously I do not mean any offence.

 

[paul williams]

Ah, now it all becomes a bit clearer

You are right in that the photo on the third post has absolutely nothing to do with flash photography - I was merely using it as an example of some of the complex stuff I delve into and work on from time to time. Also that these are the kind of items I invariably end up taking pictures of. WWII capacitors, well not any more all changed and I did say it last saw action in the Korean war. How about a pic of the top.

Also, as stated I got into the habit of just recording this stuff with a quick snap, but want to get back into the habit of doing far better and more detailed shots.

I will start doing some studio shots soon - got to try those techniques for mirror finished items.

Paul

 

[classcams]

looks like an old valve(tube) tester. Strange why they marlked the heater volts as F must be filament. I have an old AVO tester in the loft.

 

[paul williams]

It is indeed, got it especially to measure older designed valves like the 2A3's used here. For 'modern' valves I have another tester. AVO's are really sought after and fetch very good prices on eBay or specialist sites these days, given the cost of newly produced testers. Perhaps it should come out of the loft and be converted into a usable resource?

Paul

 

[classcams]

It is indeed, got it especially to measure older designed valves like the 2A3's used here. For 'modern' valves I have another tester. AVO's are really sought after and fetch very good prices on eBay or specialist sites these days, given the cost of newly produced testers. Perhaps it should come out of the loft and be converted into a usable resource?

Paul

Now I will tell you a very sad tale. When I first started electronics the tube was the king. Making everything from amplifiers to oscilloscopes. Then came solid state. In a state of shock I threw three large cases of new boxed govt surplus tubes onto the local tip. Then tubes made a comeback for hi-fi amplifiers. They were like gold. Ah well we live and learn.:bang:

 

[paul williams]

Now I will tell you a very sad tale. When I first started electronics the tube was the king. Making everything from amplifiers to oscilloscopes. Then came solid state. In a state of shock I threw three large cases of new boxed govt surplus tubes onto the local tip. Then tubes made a comeback for hi-fi amplifiers. They were like gold. Ah well we live and learn.:bang:

Indeed, but we've all done things like that. For some of us tubes were always king and never needed to make a comeback. It's true to say that for me I've probably taken more pictures of valves and valve related product in the past 10 years than all other subjects combined. This is the reason I've joined this forum as looking back over the images they range from good to very poor and I need some discipline, to move up-to 'good to great'. This is irrespective whether or not its for my own personal record of for forum classified adds. But I suspect pictures like these;

will be of little interest on here - so I may have to branch out

Paul