Anyone See This Before? Kalart Flash Synchronizing System For Any Shutter

[chstrumpetdude]

I stumbled upon this in a purchase of my first view camera, a Gundlach Korona with a 203mm f/7.7 Kodak Flash Supermatic. Here is the patent diagram.

https://www.google.com/patents/US22...ved=0CDUQ6AEwA2oVChMI_4e78r6VxwIVy4sNCh2rFAVp

It was made by Kalart and screws into the universal shutter release cable slot on a shutter. It uses the mechanism in firing the lever on the shutter to push a pin to complete the connection for it to flash. It allows the older folders like my Kodak No. 1 Junior Autographic or any ancient shutter mech with the threaded pin cable release.

My question is: Could it be feasible to splice a PC lash cable to this system and proceed to attach it to this Kalart switch? Similarly like is done in this with a bipost?

http://polatype.com/homemade-bipost-to-pc-sync-cord/

This is what mine basically looks like

Unfortunately the electrical cord is crispy, but it is possible to open it up and I believe to solder in a new cord like one with a PC connection. It seems crazy to have the possibility to have a Wollensak Optimo shutter with a flash. Opinions?

 

[chstrumpetdude]

I figure this would come especially in handy for those using the Graphlex and don't have a shutter with any flash connections

 

[bdial]

If you aren't using flashbulbs, it would probably trigger the flash too soon.
The soldering a new cord part should be easy enough, but tweaking the contacts to get a proper sync for electronic flash might be challenging.
It does look like a handy device though.

 

[chstrumpetdude]

It has a built in adjustment I guess for just that. It is similar to a motorcycle/bicycle cable to adjust the degree of distance between the two contact points. I will try it and see how it works out. I ordered a PC cable from Amazon. I will post to the results. I will first point the flash at the lens and see how well it works. Then I will connect it to the bellows on my DSLR set to bulb and use the Supermatic shutter with the flash wired to the old lens

 

[rjbuzzclick]

It's probably mechanically similar to the Kalart Speed Flash Synchronizer:

https://c2.staticflickr.com/6/5443/9313418067_293869e906_b.jpg

I use one of these occasionally on my Speed Graphic with a Kalart flash unit. On mine, adjusting is done so that the shutter fires at the very bottom of the plunger travel. The flash contacts are closed at a set depth of the plunger. It works surprisingly well with flash bulbs.

I suspect that what you'll be adjusting is the point at which the shutter is fired (depth that the plunger goes into the shutter) in relation to the flash contacts closing, not the distance of the flash contacts in the unit. Whether the mechanism as enough adjustment to trigger both simultaneously on your unit will depend on the range of adjustment it has, and how much plunger depth you have to work with on whatever cable release you use.