No flash sync?

[cyrus]

Ok seriously now, there's no flash sync on this camera? I have no idea what that thing is sticking out next to the lens! How do you connect a flash to this?

[Marc B.]

Maybe you don't have a flash sync on that lens, because it looks like a lens in barrel, not a lens in shutter. Does the camera have a Packard shutter? If it does have a Packard, that pin might be to change to the other shutter speed.

[cyrus]

Maybe you don't have a flash sync on that lens, because it looks like a lens in barrel, not a lens in shutter. Does the camera have a Packard shutter?

No shutter; the single speed shutter is in the body of the camera, sort of like a focal plane shutter. I thought little that post sticking out next to the lens was some sort of ancient flash connection. I still have no idea what that is and I've stumped the folks at Adorama too

Gowland's own description of the camera suggests there is a flash connection somewhere: "During this 1/50th part of a second, flash contact is made, center shutter part moves to the right, closing the opening."

[Sevo]

Something there must be the sync contact - unfortunately US makers had a tendency to use rather odd ones rather than the internationally standard PC socket. Are there two adjacent slots that look like an archaic wall socket anywhere on the camera? Or holes that might fit a banana or phone jack?

[cyrus]

Yes! On the side there is something that looks like a banana jack plug

[Leigh]

Yes! On the side there is something that looks like a banana jack plug

That looks like a socket for an "RCA Phono Plug".

Those connectors were quite popular in the 1950's and 1960's, being used primarily for audio cabling. They're still used for that purpose.

They're very inexpensive, and can handle reasonably high voltage as would be needed for flash systems of that vintage.

It would be nice to use an adapter cable with a male RCA plug on one end and a female PC connector on the other. This would leave the camera unchanged.

Any camera repair shop could make one. Buy a PC extension cord (male on one end female on the other) and have them change the male to the RCA plug.

- Leigh

[cyrus]

So you think that's the flash socket? Hmm. then what's the thing sticking out in the front of the camera? If I can't figure out what it is I may just use it to hang a lens shade

[Leigh]

then what's the thing sticking out in the front of the camera?

The object on the front would have only a single contact (if it had an electrical function at all). A flash sync requires two contacts.

Does the thing on the front move? I would suspect it's the shutter release.

No advantage to putting a flash sync connector on the front of the camera.

- Leigh

[Marc B.]

Is the post on the front of the camera removable; Does it pull straight out?
If so, that may change the speed on a Packard Shutter.

A couple of links that may be of help.
http://mysite.verizon.net/fowler/photo/packard3.htm
http://www.petergowland.com/camera/orderinfo/

[Frank Petronio]

A lot of flashes use Monosync connectors, there is probably a Paramount cord ready made for it.

You could always look inside the camera, look for wires....