Tell me what this is for someone??

[Katie]

I have been sent this picture and asked what it is. It came in an old camera bag with a Minolta XG-1, and since I shoot one, they thought I would know.

THANKS!

 

[JMC1969]

Looks like a timer that you screw into the shutter button. It has the same thread works as the end of a shutter release cable. Of course your XG-1 probably has a timer on it and this will not be much use, but on older model cameras (pre-timer) it could be fun.

 

[jeffreyg]

A self-timer. It should screw into the shutter release button. Set by rotating the dial or a lever that may not show in this picture and push a button. It can come in very handy if the camera does not have a built-in self-timer. I have one that looks somewhat similar that I use with a Hasselblad and on large format lenses that it will fit.

http://www.jeffreyglasser.com/

 

[Aron]

Yes, it's a neat little mechanical self timer.

 

[Rick A]

It's a neat little mechanical self timer. Time was when cameras didn't come with them built in. Is it for sale, I'll take it.

 

[Katie]

So the thread mount fits Hasselblad? Hmmm, I will tell them it's junk and keep it for myself!

 

[Sirius Glass]

So the thread mount fits Hasselblad? Hmmm, I will tell them it's junk and keep it for myself!

Now she is one of us!

 

[pbromaghin]

Timer...

Would that be a delay timer, or a shutter timer for long exposures?

 

[M.A.Longmore]

So the thread mount fits Hasselblad? Hmmm, I will tell them it's junk and keep it for myself!

.
Yeah, looks like rubbish to me ...

Ron
.

 

[spacer]

It's a doohickey. Sort of like a thingamabob but with the timer attachment.

 

[holmburgers]

Very useful for taking large-format group portraits of your family & friends when you'd like to be in the picture! The sprint from camera to group position usually always makes for smiles all around.

 

[Les Sarile]

I use one for my timerless bodies like the K1000, original Asahi Pentax and Mamiya RZ67 Pro II.

 

[Ralph Javins]

Good morning;

The one Les has is even easier to see when it is about to reach the shutter release point.

And, as others have observed, the scampering of the photographer to get into the picture does guarantee that the smiles in the photograph will be natural.

 

[onepuff]

This looks like one of the Japanese self-timers which were a popular accessory in the 1950s and 60s.

 

[Les Sarile]

Good morning;
The one Les has is even easier to see when it is about to reach the shutter release point.

That's because mine is "The Most Advanced Self Timer in Photographic History" . . .

 

[tomalophicon]

I had one and always regret selling it.

 

[Ken Nadvornick]

It's when I see things like this that I mourn the replacement of mechanical engineering by digital engineering as the predominent form of design and maufacturing. These sorts of ingenious little devices were just wonderful to behold.

I'll get in line to buy it, Katie, should you change your mind...



Ken

 

[John Koehrer]

Delay timer, not exposure. and with the Hasselblad you may need an angled release extension thingy or a flexible. Some of the timers cant be installed because of interference with the lens.

 

[Jeff Kubach]

I would love to have one myself!

Jeff

 

[benjiboy]

We used to call these M.R.M s, (Mouse Raping Mechanisms) in the trade

 

[Katie]

It's when I see things like this that I mourn the replacement of mechanical engineering by digital engineering as the predominent form of design and maufacturing. These sorts of ingenious little devices were just wonderful to behold.

WELL SAID!!! I feel the same way.


I'll get in line to buy it, Katie, should you change your mind...



Ken

I'll keep you guys in mind, should I decide to sell any of my wonderful treasures!

 

[John Hermanson]

I have been sent this picture and asked what it is. It came in an old camera bag with a Minolta XG-1, and since I shoot one, they thought I would know.

THANKS!

A wind-up-add-on self timer, screws into the cable release socket. John

 

[bblhed]

I have always loved the look of that type of timer, that is a nice one, in fact all the timers shown in this thread are nice. These little clockwork bits are just another reminder of how cool some old tech was.

I have looked at several of those types of timers and always go back to my old Kodak timers that only work on Kodak cable releases. My Kodak cable releases work on all my cameras that take cable releases, and the ones that don't take cables have timers or remotes, but I do have a Zeiss folder that has a timer and takes a cable.

 

[tomalophicon]

We used to call these M.R.M s, (Mouse Raping Mechanisms) in the trade

Bahaha that's awesome.

 

[Sirius Glass]

The OP reminded me that I might still have one. When I was back in Los Angeles, I found it. Now it will hang out with my Pacemaker Speed Graphic since the smaller format cameras have the self timers built in. Thanks to the OP!