Flash for Crown Graphic

I want to mount the 2 or 3 cell flash unit to use as support handle and want to mount a small electronic flash on top. Has anyone done this or have suggestions so it's secure and doesn't wobble?

A handle mount flash might be easier, then you use the round clamps off the graflex-type flash to attach it to the camera.
Assuming you can find one with a close-enough handle diameter. An old Honeywell Strobinar would work well, if you could find one. A Metz 45 is a bit chunky, but might work, and would give you more control.

Otherwise, if your flash uses screw base bulbs, it probably wouldn't be too hard to cobble up a way to mount a shoe adaptor into the bulb socket.
If it uses a bayonet socket, I think a wooden dowel that's the diameter of the bulb base might work to mount a shoe adaptor on. That might be a bit dodgy for a heavy flash, but a little one would work ok, I think.

Hi Campy... I've doenit (sort of). Too bad you didn't ask your question yesterday because I was digging through old flash equipment and found my makeshift rig. But it is packed away again so it might take me a few hours to dig it out again. I remember posting it in a thread here or at the Large Format Photography Forum; I can't find nor can I recall which forum. I'll dig it out and photograph it for you as soon as I can; hopefully, later today.

Basically, I mounted a Vivitar 285 on top of a 3-cell Graflite for use on a 4x5 Anniversary Speed Graphic using a homebrew adapter comprised of fender washers, rubber washers, and a screw and nuts. To that was mounted a hotshoe adapter. It worked but not a perfect solution. It was a bit wiggly because of the height and weight distribution of the flash on the holder so caution when using was required. Plus it was rather high making the flash coverage a bit challenging. I used 2 cords, one to trigger the solenoid and the second for strobe synch. That rig worked but felt like a spider web when shooting handheld. But it worked.

The improvements I anticipated but never got around to doing was to use a 2-cell Graflite to mitigate the height issue, and a Graflex accessory I found that is a rubber cap with stud that fits on top of the Graflite. Apparently this notion was somewhat known by Graflex and they had something to sell to facilitate the idea. But since I never tried it I don't know if it works better or not.

In the end, I went back to using flash bulbs. I've been thinking of trying to restore a vintage Strobonar and still need to research if that is a feasible concept, and procure a specimen. If not, some other potato masher strobe. Both alternatives, however, will negate the use of the Graflite trigger to activate the shutter-release solenoid; that might be the deal-breaker for me.

Which camera and lens are you planning to use? Good luck with your experimentation with this idea!

I have heard people sourcing a wood dowel and mounting a cold shoe on it to hold the flash.

I have a 285 and a 45 CL3 for flashes.

I use a round battery tube for the classical press camera flash gun. It serves as a handle and improves the holdability.

Campy, Here's what I made.



I called them washers in my earlier post, but the plug I made was actually made with rubber grommets that protect electrical wires from rubbing on the hole they go through. That just pushes into the top of the Graflite. So there are still batteries to trigger the solenoid. One of the reasons it is a bit wiggly is because of the grommets being perhaps too soft fro this application.

Looking at the picture, though, I'd really have to pull it back out of storage to verify how I have it configured. My recollection was one cable to the solenoid to actuate the Graphex shutter and a second cable to the bipost terminals on the shutter. But that's not what's shown in the picture and I can't recall if I found another way to reduce the cable complexity.



And later I found these, but as you can see I haven't tried either of them yet. Apparently we aren't the first to conceive this notion.

BrianShaw said:

Campy, Here's what I made.

View attachment 321251

I called them washers in my earlier post, but the plug I made was actually made with rubber grommets that protect electrical wires from rubbing on the hole they go through. That just pushes into the top of the Graflite. So there are still batteries to trigger the solenoid. One of the reasons it is a bit wiggly is because of the grommets being perhaps too soft fro this application.

Looking at the picture, though, I'd really have to pull it back out of storage to verify how I have it configured. My recollection was one cable to the solenoid to actuate the Graphex shutter and a second cable to the bipost terminals on the shutter. But that's not what's shown in the picture and I can't recall if I found another way to reduce the cable complexity.

View attachment 321252

And later I found these, but as you can see I haven't tried either of them yet. Apparently we aren't the first to conceive this notion.

View attachment 321253

Click to expand...

But does the flash make everyone in the room see colorful after images when it goes off? There is nothing like a 5 or 22 flash bulb to put stars in peoples' eyes.

fyi - the older, shinier 3 cell unit was used the light saber handle in original star wars movies... awhile ago they were selling for over $1300 US. very collectible!

I bolted a cold shoe on to what I think is a plumbing cap which fits over the battery case. I don’t ever carry the whole weight of the camera by the battery handle. It can slip out the quick releases, and an old pro who shot countless weddings with a Speed Graphic advised me not to use the battery holder like a grip.

Frankenflash by Howard Sandler, on Flickr

Sirius Glass said:

But does the flash make everyone in the room see colorful after images when it goes off? There is nothing like a 5 or 22 flash bulb to put stars in peoples' eyes.

Click to expand...

A 3B at a family party really gets the attention of the group fast. everybody seeing red dots for a while.

It looks like it can be done without too much investment in time and money. Anyone have a flash they might sell? I am eyeing one on ebay for $15 but needs a cable.