A What Is It Thread

[sun of sand]

This item came along with some things I purchased at auction and I have no idea what it actually is. The other camera guys at the aucton didn't either. Hopefully someone here can help
I'd post over on Apug as that would probably be better but too many choices on where to place the thread

So this is what I know
It's a mirror in a round aluminum casement
I think it's first surface on the "underside" but not on the "front"
there is felt around the inner lip of the aluminum on the bottom "underside" so I imagine it slips over something to hold it stationary
the only little scratches are on this inside/underside surface
On the plain box cover in which it came there is a sticker that reads 5x6 T-2
May have just been a conveniently sized box

I thought it may be a mirror for laser/holography
telescope


Been sitting around and figured I'd try and find out what it is

thanks for ALL the help

[sun of sand]

...

[dsphotog]

From.....Roswell,NM?

[Leigh]

It would help a whole lot if you gave its dimensions.

Is it 1/2" diameter or 2' in diameter?

It looks like a solar filter for a consumer-grade telescope.
That conjecture is supported by the felt ring around the inside.

A solar filter is used when viewing the sun through a telescope. It reduces the brightness so details can be seen on the solar surface, dim enough that it won't damage the viewer's eye.

It's not truly opaque as a mirror would be.
It's just a very very dense ND filter, like a pair of welding glasses.

Googling "telescope solar filter" gets 1,190,000 hits.

As a safety note, I would NEVER use one that was purchased used and of unknown condition.
Pinholes in the reflective surface can allow enough light through to injure the viewer.

Here's a guy mounting one on a telescope:

- Leigh

[sun of sand]

uh, yeah ..Galli got the lenses and I got this

[sun of sand]

Thanks, Leigh. Solved. I've heard of those filters and solar telescopes but never knew
interesting


I'll look it up



the box said 5x6 and it takes up the space so I thought it would be easy to see that it's no bigger than 6 inches diameter
filter is 5" with mounting area taking 1"

[Leigh]

I think it's first surface on the "underside" but not on the "front"

The filter coating is on the inner surface to protect it from damage.

A damaged solar filter is useless, worthless, and very dangerous.

filter is 5" with mounting area taking 1"

That makes sense. Many consumer-grade reflecting telescopes have 6" mirrors, with the outside diameter of the tube being slightly greater.

- Leigh

[Michael Graves]

Here's another one...This cord came along with some lighting equipment I purchased from the estate of a 60's era photographer. The best I can figure is that it is a remote trigger for a power pack. I works for that anyway. Is that what it is? You certainly can't synch the shutter using this thing.

[Leigh]

Yep. Manual trigger for a strobe.

Works fine with barrel lenses sans shutter, and appears to be many decades old.

- Leigh

[Michael Graves]

Yep. Manual trigger for a strobe.

Works fine with barrel lenses sans shutter, and appears to be many decades old.

- Leigh

Aha! Makes sense. I didn't think of that. After I posted, it occurred to me that it could be used for multiple pops when doing still life photography. So it may have some life left in it after all. It works great. Here is another oddball thing that I pulled out of that box. I didn't even know this devices was ever made. It is a flash synch that works like a cable release. It has a PC flash connector. When you push down on the plunger, the shutter fires and so does the flash. I tried it on my Speedotron pack and it actually works. I haven't experimented to see if it is in synch or not. But as a novelty, item, it's kind of cool.