TechFlashback: The Photo Flash Lamp

Put down your digital cameras, yes the one equipped with Artificial Intelligence, and take  a look at what you have to put up with if had you been born at the wrong time. The technology is called the Synchronizing Photo Flash Lamp With a Camera Shutter.

The “contrivance” is actually a flat type pocket flashlight battery mounted between two pieces of wood. A porcelain socket, which holds the photo flash lamp backed by an aluminum reflector, is fastened on top of it. Mounted on the base is a pair of contacts that are pushed together by a loading lever when the shutter clicks.

The flash lamp unit is secured to the head of the photographer by an elastic band, leaving the hands free to operate the camera, making the photographer look like he just had what Oprah Winfrey calls “a lightbulb moment”.
 
Now that we have described the “contrivance” we’ll tell you what it’s for. In the good old days, synchronizing the flare of a photo flash lamp with the click of the shutter was as easy as juggling three porcupines. It required rhythm and timing. This gadget took care of that. Synchronization is achieved by the simultaneous clicking of the shutter and the shutting of the photo flashlamp circuit through the silver contacts. So what’s your excuse for those crappy photos you keep taking?

Via Modern Mechanix

Put down your digital cameras, yes the one equipped with Artificial Intelligence, and take  a look at what you have to put up with if had you been born at the wrong time. The technology is called the Synchronizing Photo Flash Lamp With a Camera Shutter.

The “contrivance” is actually a flat type pocket flashlight battery mounted between two pieces of wood. A porcelain socket, which holds the photo flash lamp backed by an aluminum reflector, is fastened on top of it. Mounted on the base is a pair of contacts that are pushed together by a loading lever when the shutter clicks.

The flash lamp unit is secured to the head of the photographer by an elastic band, leaving the hands free to operate the camera, making the photographer look like he just had what Oprah Winfrey calls “a lightbulb moment”.
 
Now that we have described the “contrivance” we’ll tell you what it’s for. In the good old days, synchronizing the flare of a photo flash lamp with the click of the shutter was as easy as juggling three porcupines. It required rhythm and timing. This gadget took care of that. Synchronization is achieved by the simultaneous clicking of the shutter and the shutting of the photo flashlamp circuit through the silver contacts. So what’s your excuse for those crappy photos you keep taking?

Via Modern Mechanix