Magicubes

[Bill Mitchell]

Anybody know if Magicubes are available anywhere? I checked B&H and ebay. Lots of Flashcubes around, but i didn't see any magicubes.

 

[PHOTOTONE]

I don't think Magicubes, or any type of small "cube" or other small flashbulb has been made in quite a number of years. They can be found but not on a reliable basis. AFAIK the only flashbulb still made is a rather large one made in small quantities by a specialist company. There are a few vendors that sell NOS (New, old stock) flash bulbs and cubes. You can do a Goggle search and find these vendors.

 

[BrianShaw]

Aren't they the same thing, functionally? I always thought that MAGICUBE was the Kodak proprietary name and FLASHCUBE was the generic name. But it is interesting that you note, Bill, that there are lots of flashcubes available on eBay but not Magicubes... I never noticed that.

 

[BrianShaw]

Bill... and update.

I might be wrong about the Magicube name is an auction I just saw an auction that has a GE Magicube box depicted. Still, I believe they are all functionally the same. Not long ago I was buying flashbulbs and saw lots and lots of flashcubes, but not today. Maybe the market has changed and the "alternative users" are sucking it dry. It appears that they are used to make flash-bang grenades by paintballers. Also this, christmas tree ornaments made from flashcubes (fortunately they were old and previously used) -- Item number: 160122958863 -- http://cgi.ebay.com/5-altered-art-o...ryZ33844QQrdZ1QQssPageNameZWD1VQQcmdZViewItem

 

[dmr]

IIRC, Flashcubes were fired electrically, Magicubes were fired mechanically. I do clearly remember that they would not substitute for each other at all.

 

[BrianShaw]

I remember the mechanical firing devise -- it is permenantly imprinted on my retina. As a kid I was trying to figure out how they worked so I held one in my hand and pushed the "firing paddle" with a bent paper clip. The burns on my finger tips healed, but I still see that flash when I close my eyes.

I don't remember electrically fired cubes... but that might be my relative youth in photography (or just plain old ignorance). Forgive me if I posted wrong info above.

 

[BrianShaw]

IIRC...

I learned something new today... Thanks! Wikipedia supports your recollection: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flashcubes

 

[lens_hacker]

Just to back up what has been said:

1) Magicubes were mechanically initiated. They came out with the Pocket Instamatics and the 126 film X-Series Instamatics. You can see a little firing pin looking at the underside that was hit my a little trigger on the camera. Magicubes are about the same as an AG-1B flashbulb.

2) Flashcubes are electrically triggered. You can see the electrical contacts on the underside of the cube. These are essentially AG-1B flashbulbs.

3) High-Power Flashcubes are also electrically fired, and are based on the more powerful AG-3B flashbulb. Polaroid "Focus-Flash" 400 series cameras require them.

I'm out of Magicubes. Look for auctions on Kodak X-Series cameras, like the X15. Usually some are still in the case.

 

[Bill Mitchell]

Thanks, Guys. In case you were wondering why I might want Magicubes, a different post about Polaroid cameras (below) reminded me of how much fun I got out of a Polaroid "Big Shot," which needs Magicubes to work. I was wondering if they were even available before I might bid on a used Big Shot.

 

[srs5694]

My first camera (when I was about 8) was a 110 point-and-shoot that used flash cubes of some type. I don't recall if they were Magicubes or something else. I mention this because I eventually got an electronic flash unit for the camera. This flash was designed to plug into the flash cube socket on the camera, and of course it lasted for far more than the four flashes that a disposable flash cube would have. It's conceivable you could find something similar for your camera, so you might have a look on eBay or whatnot. (Sadly, I no longer have either that 110 camera or its flash unit.)

 

[DBP]

Aemrican Science and Surplus is selling Magicubes 3/$1. www.sciplus.com

 

[AgX]

See also http://www.flashbulbs.com/index.shtml

 

[Brac]

I seem to dimly recollect that somebody long ago sold various converters so you could substitute AG3 flashbulbs for flashcubes or maybe for magicubes. There used to be so many types and didn't Polaroid have some kind of vertical array of bulbs for their cheapie cameras?

 

[lens_hacker]

Polaroid had the Flashbar for the SX-70. I'm down to my last three. But on the other hand, I modified my SX-70 cameras to use 600 film.

And there was an adapter that let you plug either AG-1's or AG-3's into a holder that fit onto a Flashcube camera. Flashcubes and AG-1B's, I've got a good stock of.

 

[cmacd123]

Just to back up what has been said:

1) Magicubes were mechanically initiated. They came out with the Pocket Instamatics and the 126 film X-Series Instamatics. You can see a little firing pin looking at the underside that was hit my a little trigger on the camera. Magicubes are about the same as an AG-1B flashbulb.

2) Flashcubes are electrically triggered. You can see the electrical contacts on the underside of the cube. These are essentially AG-1B flashbulbs.

3) High-Power Flashcubes are also electrically fired, and are based on the more powerful AG-3B flashbulb. Polaroid "Focus-Flash" 400 series cameras require them.
.

JUst to add:

1) The high power cubes generaly came with a red base.

2)because the spring was released to fire a Magicube, the camera could in theory tell if you had a fresh cube. (I vaguely recall that feture in a top end camera - or I am dreaming)

3 Next generation were the Flashbar from Poloroid, and the Flip-Flash from Kodak. the flip flash was interesting as the four (later five) bulbs were all fired from teh same contacts, and once the bulb fired it re-worked the circuit for the next bulb! they also had a green dot to show that their was a bulb available.

Flipflash used a Piezo element to generate the power

4) LAST of the Intstamatic X-15 Cameras was the X-15F which used flip-flash.

5) when I worked in a camera store, GE let us use a certain percentage of cubes to demonstrate. Using a pen to fire off a cube off the camera was always a great demo to back the line "it does not need batteries" Even better than the "let me take your picture with this polaroid"

 

[vanspaendonck]

Aemrican Science and Surplus is selling Magicubes 3/$1. www.sciplus.com

This is the lowest price for magicubes anywhere. Cress Photo (www.flashbulbs.com) lists them at US$ 12 for three.
Too bad they only ship within the US, or I would have stocked up to keep my Polaroid Big Shot in business for the next ten years.

Come to think of it: Is there perhaps an APUG member in the US who is willing to buy some Magicubes on my behalf? I will pay for the purchase plus shipping through PayPal and I will also reimburse the PayPal fees of course. Check out my feedback at eBay (member: vanspaendonck) if you want to know if you can trust me on this. Send me a PM if you are willing to help.

 

[vanspaendonck]

Anthony Sansone (known to some of us as the expert on Mamiya Press and Polaroid 600 SE cameras) just bought 40 boxes of Magicubes for me, which he is going to send on.
That's 120 cubes or 480 flashes, so that should last me a while...