Can anyone help me identify what the attachment is on Manfrotto tripod?

peterm1

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I found the Manfrotto tripod pictured in the attachment in a weekend market for a knock down price. Cosmetically "well used" but otherwise in good order.

It does not have a head attached but instead has this weird pillar fixed on the mounting plate. I have no idea what it is for (perhaps a TV camera attachment or maybe for a telescope? Medieval torture device?? ) Another camera "gear-head" present at the time I was there had no idea either. We thought it may be a custom made attachment not a normal Manfrotto accessory???? The legs themselves are the quite heavy pro models (maybe a model 055 - I did not make a note).

The real point though, is not what the pillar is (although I am curious to know) but rather, how to get it off. It looks as if it might screw into a 3/8 inch thread male attachment on the mounting plate but I could not get it to rotate / unscrew which leaves me wondering. I do not even know if that type of centrally located threaded mounting was normal for Manfrotto - I gather Manfrotto mounting plates and heads typically use three small screws mounted around the rim of the plate (not one larger centrally placed thread). The threaded holes for these are present around the rim. Does anyone know if this type of plate also has the centre bolt as well? (If it does it suggests this pillar may just be screwed on. If not it could be epoxied or otherwise mounted permanently into place and not worth the bother of buying the legs.

So I am trying to work out if its worth getting. At the asking price even considering I need to find a ball head it could be worth it but of course, not if the current attachment cannot be removed.

Any ideas, thoughts / experience can use as a guide?

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I'll take a guess that it's a piece of surveyors equipment- could do double duty as a sight- point and a quick release mounting head for a viewing scope. Note the depression on the side which looks like a locating point for a ball bearing lock. Anyway, it must thread off like any other attachment (it even looks like you can see the plate where it attaches) so I think you should have no trouble using the tripod normally.
 
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