No.2 Kodak Supermatic and Flash?

[Athiril]

Pictured is my new speed graphic.

The lens is a 127mm f/4.7 Ektar, in a No.2 Kodak Supermatic, that thing looks like a flash sync to me and comes with a cord with that comes off in two parallel prongs, i tried wiring it up to my flash sync cord direct to a flash, but it doesnt seem to even trip the flash at all.

I assumed it was a flash sync, am I wrong? I supposed I cant get X-sync without replacing the shutter?

[Vick Vickery]

Well, you're both right and wrong. What your cord is hooked up to appears to be a siloniod (spelling might be off) that is used to sync the old Graphic flash gun (with bulbs) when used to fire the shutter. In use the cord ran to the flash gun which had a "fire" button on it and a flash bulb in its top...when you pushed the button the flash fired and the shutter tripped some miliseconds later when the fired bulb had reached full power. Its been many years since I used one of those, but I think I got it right.

[BrianShaw]

Its been many years since I used one of those, but I think I got it right.

Other than the spelling of solenoid you've got it. Could have been either a Graflex or a Heiland flash handle, though.

[John Cahill]

Other than the spelling of solenoid you've got it. Could have been either a Graflex or a Heiland flash handle, though.

*******
Or a Kalart; or a Sun. If o.p. would like to see it work, rig up a coupla 1.5 v batteries, cock the shutter, then get some wire and touch it to the "household" plug. I'll bet that shutter fires.

[Athiril]

*******
Or a Kalart; or a Sun. If o.p. would like to see it work, rig up a coupla 1.5 v batteries, cock the shutter, then get some wire and touch it to the "household" plug. I'll bet that shutter fires.

Hrrm, sounds like it might be possible to make an x-sync from that if it does..

[Vick Vickery]

Told 'ya I couldn't spell!!! At least I've got a little of my memory left!

[Vick Vickery]

You'd have to figure out a way to make it fire the shutter and the strobe at the same time instead of delaying the flash as the SOLENOID is designed to do. Heh, Heh, Heh...spelled it right, didn't I!!!

[BrianShaw]

That might be tough -- since the delay is a function of the solenoid stroke length. I don't know if one could adjust the solenoid to such a small stroke length to correspond with the X delay. Never tried it... I prefer just using flash bulbs.

[Athiril]

You'd have to figure out a way to make it fire the shutter and the strobe at the same time instead of delaying the flash as the SOLENOID is designed to do. Heh, Heh, Heh...spelled it right, didn't I!!!

Maybe add a solenoid before the flash as well.

Or couldnt I open the solenoid and cut out the coils and just wire it straight up?

Well I think 210mm would be better for portraits, so I'll just make sure I get an x-sync 210.

[BrianShaw]

It seems from your post that you need a refresher course in what a solenoid is/does. In simplest terms a solenoid is a electromechanical device that creates a mechanical movement. The electro part is the coils, that acts by connection of a battery/switch (which it seems you don't have) and the mechanical part is the wire/hook that is connected to your shutter. It is an electromagnet.

Please re-read some of the earlier posts and conduct the "experiment" suggested by Anscojohn. You'll see a demonstration of what the solenoid/synchronizer does.

You cannot "cut the coils out" and get X-synch. You'll get... drum roll, please... a metal tube that is no longer a solenoid and no longer capable of tripping the shutter.