What is this?

jim10219 · Jan 21, 2018

I recently aquired some old photography gear, among them is this thing that has no markings. I've got a bet going with my girlfriend as to what it is. She thinks it might be a strobe head. I think it's a vintage NASA phaser gun like the ones used in the 1950's to rid Earth of all the Martians.

E. von Hoegh · Jan 21, 2018

Strobe head. See the tube?

macfred · Jan 21, 2018

Hooded hair-dryer ...

bdial · Jan 21, 2018

It most certainly is a phaser gun

But, yes, it's a strobe head, the empty socket in the middle is for a modeling light.

Ron789 · Jan 21, 2018

As always, your girlfriend is right.

E. von Hoegh · Jan 21, 2018

So, what was the bet?

jim10219 · Jan 21, 2018

Ha! You guys took me too seriously! Of course it's a strobe head. But what I really wanted to know was what kind was it. It won't plug into the Ascor or Novatron power pack that I got it with. I was hoping someone would recognize the plug or something and give me a little more insight into brand, or better yet, model.

And you're right. The girlfriend is always right. That's why I don't bet anything with her other than chores, cause Lord knows I'm doing them anyway.

Ian Grant · Jan 21, 2018

E. von Hoegh said:
Strobe head. See the tube?

I never used Strobe equipment, what makes you think they made this flash head ? I don't think Strobe ever exported to the US, someone near me took over the company or rather its rights but I think he was really only offering servicing, maybe some new equipment but it was always bespoke. They had a small place near Farringdon tube station in London in the 198's.

Ian

E. von Hoegh · Jan 21, 2018

Ian Grant said:
I never used Strobe equipment, what makes you think they made this flash head ? I don't think Strobe ever exported to the US, someone near me took over the company or rather its rights but I think he was really only offering servicing, maybe some new equipment but it was always bespoke. They had a small place near Farringdon tube station in London in the 198's.

Ian

"Strobe" as a noun, not as a maker's name or brand name.

E. von Hoegh · Jan 21, 2018

jim10219 said:
Ha! You guys took me too seriously! Of course it's a strobe head. But what I really wanted to know was what kind was it. It won't plug into the Ascor or Novatron power pack that I got it with. I was hoping someone would recognize the plug or something and give me a little more insight into brand, or better yet, model.

And you're right. The girlfriend is always right. That's why I don't bet anything with her other than chores, cause Lord knows I'm doing them anyway.

It fits the very rare Septatron powerpacks

Mr Bill · Jan 21, 2018

jim10219 said:
But what I really wanted to know was what kind was it. It won't plug into the Ascor or Novatron power pack that I got it with. I was hoping someone would recognize the plug or something and give me a little more insight into brand, or better yet, model.

Hi, 98% certain it's a Norman lighthead; don't know the model offhand, but it would be compatible with the old P-800 packs. You can probably look up the flashtube, if you want, by unplugging it and look for a number printed on the underside of the base.

Ian Grant · Jan 21, 2018

E. von Hoegh said:
"Strobe" as a noun, not as a maker's name or brand name.

Strobe is the US slang shortening of Stroboscope which isn't the same as a normal flash unit, it's what you have at discos etc, pulsed flashes at a variable rate.

Strobe was also the name of a very early British manufacturer of high quality Studio Flash units, amongst the first in the world, they were around until the 1990's.

Ian

E. von Hoegh · Jan 21, 2018

Ian Grant said:
Strobe is the US slang shortening of Stroboscope which isn't the same as a normal flash unit, it's what you have at discos etc, pulsed flashes at a variable rate.

Strobe was also the name of a very early British manufacturer of high quality Studio Flash units, amongst the first in the world, they were around until the 1990's.

Ian

"Strobe" is also U.S. slang for a xenon flash tube used in on camera and studio flashes, as in "studio strobes" rather than "photofloods".

gorbas · Jan 21, 2018

I agree with Mr Bill, Norman Head LH2400 for some strange reason painted in white. How much are you asking for it?

BrianShaw · Jan 21, 2018

It’s not a NASA phaser gun for use against Martians but a Martian laser gun for use against NASA (and other Earthlings). Any writings in an earthly language is mere trickery and disguise.

BrianShaw · Jan 21, 2018

Really... Mork and I both had one but I dropped mine in a NYC sewer and didn’t really want to recover it.

E. von Hoegh · Jan 21, 2018

BrianShaw said:
Really... Mork and I both had one but I dropped mine in a NYC sewer and didn’t really want to recover it.

Ah. The LAPD must be burning some marijuanha fields...

Sirius Glass · Jan 21, 2018

Ian Grant said:
Strobe is the US slang shortening of Stroboscope which isn't the same as a normal flash unit, it's what you have at discos etc, pulsed flashes at a variable rate.

Strobe was also the name of a very early British manufacturer of high quality Studio Flash units, amongst the first in the world, they were around until the 1990's.

Ian

-1, not common usage in photography.

E. von Hoegh said:
"Strobe" is also U.S. slang for a xenon flash tube used in on camera and studio flashes, as in "studio strobes" rather than "photofloods".

+1

BrianShaw · Jan 21, 2018

E. von Hoegh said:
Ah. The LAPD must be burning some marijuanha fields...

DEA, I believe.

E. von Hoegh · Jan 21, 2018

BrianShaw said:
DEA, I believe.

removed account4 · Jan 21, 2018

its a hose and attachment for a shop vac

Sirius Glass · Jan 21, 2018

E. von Hoegh said:
Ah. The LAPD must be burning some marijuanha fields...

No they are smoking them off duty.

Mr Bill · Jan 21, 2018

gorbas said:
Norman Head LH2400 for some strange reason painted in white.

Hi, I don't think a 2400, but perhaps LH2000 (I'm not certain, though). These white ones were used by a large US portrait chain (circa 1980ish?) to make them less obtrusive hanging out in front of a reflecting panel arrangement.

Prof_Pixel · Jan 21, 2018

Sirius Glass said:
-1, not common usage in photography.

+1

Actually, I believe the term 'strobe' DOES come from the stroboscope. Read about Harold Edgerton, and his highspeed photography work (starting with stroboscopes) at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harold_Eugene_Edgerton

Ian Grant · Jan 22, 2018

Prof_Pixel said:
Actually, I believe the term 'strobe' DOES come from the stroboscope. Read about Harold Edgerton, and his highspeed photography work (starting with stroboscopes) at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harold_Eugene_Edgerton

All Strobes /Stroboscopes can be used as a flash unit using a single or multiple pulses of light (of variable frequency), but no commercial flash unit can be used as a Stroboscope.

The only references to photographic use of Strobes is the work of Edgerton and others using the stroboscopic effect, so it's a misnomer to call a flash unit a Strobe.

Ian

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