M3 Flash Bulb

Fantasyland!

D
Fantasyland!

  • 7
  • 1
  • 61
perfect cirkel

D
perfect cirkel

  • 2
  • 1
  • 111
Thomas J Walls cafe.

A
Thomas J Walls cafe.

  • 4
  • 5
  • 215

Recent Classifieds

Forum statistics

Threads
198,743
Messages
2,780,192
Members
99,691
Latest member
jorgewribeiro
Recent bookmarks
0

Alisha

Member
Joined
Jul 9, 2008
Messages
33
Location
Fresno, Cali
Format
35mm
Hi, I was wondering if anyone knew where I could get some M3 flash bulbs other then looking on Ebay?

I have a Polaroid 250 with a flash gun that uses the M3 flash bulb and I was lucky enough to get a box set of 12 of GE's M3 flash bulbs. The problem is, it had came with my Polaroid when I bought it and I just can't seem to get myself to use them. :sad: So I thought it'd be easier on me to buy another box set even though it's going to set me back some (quite a lot) bucks.

Whatever advise you can give me will be helpful. Thank you. :smile:
 

2F/2F

Member
Joined
Apr 29, 2008
Messages
8,031
Location
Los Angeles,
Format
Multi Format
I probably won't set you back any more than the instant film. I am thinking that midgets will be about 25 cents per bulb, perhaps as much as 50 cents if you are unlucky. I have several *large* plastic crates full of flashbulbs, and I think I spent about $200 total for at least 500 bulbs. Ge #5s, #11s, Sylvania #25s, etc. Quite a lot of huge ones as well...larger than a household tungsten bulb.

Unfortunately I got no midget bulbs, or I would give them to you!

But I would post a classified ad if I were you, or look on eBay. That's how I got mine.
 
OP
OP
Alisha

Alisha

Member
Joined
Jul 9, 2008
Messages
33
Location
Fresno, Cali
Format
35mm
Unfortunately I got no midget bulbs, or I would give them to you!
lol Thank you.

Okay, M3 flash bulbs don't look that much expensive on eBay anyway, or I can do some extra snooping around at garage sales and flea market/swap meets. That's how I found my Polaroid in the first place, so it wouldn't hurt to do it.
 

Terence

Member
Joined
Mar 9, 2005
Messages
1,407
Location
NYC
Format
Multi Format
I've gotten boxes of 144 on eBay for about $40 on average. Sometimes a lot less.
 

sun of sand

Member
Joined
Feb 8, 2007
Messages
601
Format
4x5 Format
They gotta be NOS! haha.

Don't forget about M2's. Local auctions are great for bulbs when they pop up. Whenever I go to the auction house there are always ..some. Nobody wants em. I got 100 5's just a few days ago for $1 and got a bunch of crap along with em


Use em if you got em
they're a lot of fun.
 

brofkand

Member
Joined
Aug 9, 2008
Messages
598
Location
North Carolina
Format
Digital
Go to estate sales in your area. There is a very good chance somebody in that house was using a Polaroid Land Camera like yourself and still has several boxes of bulbs somewhere. I got something like 100 bulbs for $10 at an estate sale. I mix up using a manual flash and my bulbs on my Polaroids.
 

AgX

Member
Joined
Apr 5, 2007
Messages
29,973
Location
Germany
Format
Multi Format
Alisha,

Be cautious with old flashbulbs. Be sure that they still yield vacuum.
It will be indicated by a safety dot on the inside of the glass. This should be blue. Don't use a bulb if its dot has turned pink.

To be even more on the safe side, it would be nice if the bulb had a strong varnish on the outer of the glass or would be used in a flashgun which would yield some protection against morsels of glass flying around.
 

macmiami

Member
Joined
Dec 12, 2010
Messages
1
Format
35mm
must sell ge m3 flashbulbs

Are you still looking for the ge m3 flasbulbs I have eight boxes with 12 packages inside with 12 in ea. package
 

Attachments

  • DSCF0002.JPG
    DSCF0002.JPG
    324.7 KB · Views: 125
  • DSCF0008.JPG
    DSCF0008.JPG
    327 KB · Views: 136
  • DSCF0009.JPG
    DSCF0009.JPG
    322.3 KB · Views: 134
  • DSCF0011.JPG
    DSCF0011.JPG
    341.8 KB · Views: 110
Last edited by a moderator:

Francis in VT

Member
Joined
Sep 27, 2006
Messages
123
Format
35mm
Alisha; Don't bother with M-2 bulbs for your Polaroid. The exposure system is based on M-3 bulbs. M-2 s are fine for other cameras.
The Polaroid 268 flash should come with a Blue shield for color film and also to prevent accidents due to broken bulbs
 

windly9

Member
Joined
Mar 31, 2011
Messages
7
Format
Medium Format
Same or not?

Hi, does anyone know if GE M3 is having same base as Sylvania M3 and are they same type of bulb?

I read somewhere online said that GE M3 is having Bayonet base while Sylvania M3 has Miniature Pinless for its base...

So are they same or not?

BTW, what does Bayonet and miniature pinless mean?

Thanks!
 

brianmquinn

Member
Joined
Aug 31, 2006
Messages
687
Location
Cincinnati O
Format
Medium Format
GE, Westinghouse and Sylvania all made M3 bulbs. The base is the same.

It was the GE 5 and GE 6 and the Sylvania Press 25 and 26 that had the Bayonet base with pins. Lots of companies made No. 5 bulbs. All of them have pins.
 

guitstik

Member
Joined
Jun 19, 2010
Messages
1,095
Location
Eads TN.
Format
Multi Format
I use a cheap flash with a PC cord plugged into the flash port. I got the idea from the Land list here Dead Link Removed
 

BarrNone

Member
Joined
Jun 4, 2011
Messages
1
Format
Instant Films
M3 Bulbs

Found my old polaroids and thought I'd start using them again now that I found out they started making film for them again. But I can't find the bulbs anywhere, not even on Ebay. Anyone know of any other options? Thanks.
 

nickrapak

Member
Joined
Jul 1, 2008
Messages
740
Location
Horsham, PA
Format
Multi Format
Photrio.com contains affiliate links to products. We may receive a commission for purchases made through these links.
To read our full affiliate disclosure statement please click Here.

PHOTRIO PARTNERS EQUALLY FUNDING OUR COMMUNITY:



Ilford ADOX Freestyle Photographic Stearman Press Weldon Color Lab Blue Moon Camera & Machine
Top Bottom