FOBA Baby FOBA

[FOBELIO]

Here are some very old FOBA adverts...probably from mid 50 when they introduced their first column stands and the combitube system... see their Wegweiser-logo!

They are single paper sheets presenting one product family and the price is listed...

I assume later with the success of the combitube they expanded their product range so much that a catalog was undoubtedly the way to go...


Here the sheet for the column stand...







here for the combitube system...






here for the F1000 lamp...




here for their drying cabinets...






here an other sheet from the 60ies







I have three catalogs from the 60ies...on first appearance they look the same until I notice their adress...they show the transition from Zurich to Wettswil... even the exact date is now reported, 1st of October 1969...


Greetings from Switzerland!

 

[cary]

Foba also had a watch, at one time I had all three Sinar, Foba and Broncolor. The Broncolor watch was given to me by the CEO. Back in the 90's I helped out at the Sinar Bron booth at the Photo West show in San Francisco. I was good friends and a large user of all their products. We had a very wealthy uncle who paid for everything, his name was Uncle Sam.

 

[Nokton48]

Hi Cary! Thanks for contributing

SONY DSC by Nokton48, on Flickr

I decided to stock up on FOBA pieces I didn't have and can use. The Counterweight is a rare FOBA piece and with Combitubes, will make a super heavyweight Boom, and will support a really heavy studio light.

 

[Nokton48]

Broncolor Fresnel FOBA Spotlights 1400J all working aok by Nokton48, on Flickr

Took these out of storage yesterday and they all fire up well, 1400J each. Broncolor (badged FOBA) Fresnel Spotlights, my plan is to install Grids and Barndoors on these units and use them for simulated sunlight. With a grid attached it tightens the beams up a lot, more useful for closer range light placement. These will also be great for Portraiture. Put each on a Manfrotto Light Stand, makes a fairly small footprint in the studio. Useful for product photography too.

 

[cary]

I was told by the head of the service department of Sinar Bron that Foba was owned by a husband and wife and was the smallest company compared to Sinar and Broncolor.

 

[Nokton48]

I'm putting together Combitubes of all sizes. I have an Olde square tubing FOBA Sweep Table, I have figured out that I can combine the square tubing DIMIL tubes, with steel round Combitubes. American 3/8 inch steel threaded rods, and 3/8" Nuts and Bolts from our local Lowes, makes it happen.

Olde FOBA Combitube Sweep Table by Nokton48, on Flickr

I think I have enough Combitubes and Angle pieces to build this as you see here. I measuring to add two sheets of tempered glass.

FOBA Combitube Connectors Threeeight Inch Tthreaded Bolts and Stuff by Nokton48, on Flickr

 

[Nokton48]

FOBA DIMIL Now Has Two Pieces Tempered Glass to Float Objects by Nokton48, on Flickr


This is resurrecting the Olde FOBA Shooting Table, using tempered glass to "float" objects. I want some Grey Background Paper "Studio Grey" to light evenly. Notice the new Hazylight (I leave this set up all the time). This one sat in a field in Florida for a good while, but it cleaned up nicely with a little work. The Broncolor 700J Tube Only (no modeling) sits awaiting me finding the proper connector somewhere in my parts boxes. This type is the precursor of the Acrylic FOBA Sweep Tables.

 

[Nokton48]

SONY DSC by Nokton48, on Flickr

I've had these two original FOBA Combitube Light Stands up for a while, now I've set the original other pieces to complete these two 1600J strobe spotlight units. Adding the counterweights make these a lot safer, now they won't tip over. I'm cutting down some Honeycomb Grids to fit the fronts of these. Repurpose what I already have. Anyway these are small footprint Retro Vibe Spots fully functional Broncolor workhorses.

 

[Nokton48]

Broncolor Fresnel Spotlight Test Simulated Sunlight by Nokton48, on Flickr

Testing the Broncolor FOBA 1600J Optical Spotlight. Simulated Sunlight, unit was about ten feet away. Shot on my new glass table. NexC3 50mm F1.5 16MP

 

[Nokton48]

All Cleaned Up New Glass Table Overhead 8x10 Norma by Nokton48, on Flickr

Went to MPEX and picked up Super White and Studio Black Seamless Paper 1/2 wide size, then cut it down with my Chop Saw in the garage. The paper burned and smoked quite a bit but got a nice clean cut, here the Super White is installed. Boxed up all the clutter and shelved it. On the right is my 8x10 Overhead Set 8x10 Sinar Norma, I've been shooting tabletop with this, and the 165mm and 121mm Super Angulons. A Friend wants to sell me his 210mm Super Angulon, I will get it eventually, that will complete my set. I'm enjoying shooting a lot of test film with my Minolta SRT's, testing the new lighting. A lot of fun. And I need a better way to hang the custom cut paper rolls, I have ideas on how to do it with stuff from Lowes.

 

[FOBELIO]

I found this on sale here in Switzerland...





This is the machine used by Foba for drilling a special thread in the raw Combitube. The cone also have one similar a screw.




here a picture of the tubes processed and unprocessed...




and here the cones with the special thread...


I have to add that older Combitubes didn't have this thread. I have some over abused Combitubes with a missing cone and the don't have this thread...

 

[Nokton48]

I have a few that have broken off threaded tips; and a few that have dents in the combitube itself. It would take a lot of pressure to dent a steel combitube! Must have lived very hard lives!

 

[FOBELIO]

Here some pictures of other tools from the FOBA factory before they closed...



this is the wooden mold (positive) for prepare the casting mold (negative)... I presume that they sent it to Von Roll foundry when stock went low...





this are other tools for punching metal sheets to a COKLO clamp...

 

[FOBELIO]

and here a ASABA E (electronic ⚡), I was told it was a prototype and I don't how much functional it was... sadly it got trashed... but I saved some parts...










I saved this touch screen (I assume there is a PC inside) with the small column... this could be a new project... perhaps as tether PC or preview screen... I don't know...







I saved also this box where I presume the controller and energy distribution to the motors are located. Even here I need an idea how to use it... but the FOBA logo is so cool...



here the horizontal arm... not saved..

 

[FOBELIO]

The C40 tripod came in two versions:
one with riser called ASMNO and one without it called ASNOO (in Spanish "ASNO" means donkey...😂🫏 )

and here one of my biggest FOBA treasure... instructions how to install the riser (called ASMIE) on a C40 tripod, in fact FOBA offered the service (called ASMOE) to convert an ASNOO to an ASMNO.
The technical drawings are from 1966... I LOVE IT 😍

 

[Nokton48]

I have two ASMNO tripods, and also one with the riser ASNOO. All of these have required some work to restore them to proper use. I also have the Small Baby FOBA tripod, which works well for me with short Combitubes, to extend the leg length. And finally, a more modern black FOBA model (AFLAO maybe?). This black one I intend to carry in the field with my 5x7 Normas. All of these are getting use here. BTW both ASMNO C40's have the Swiveling Foot, both of which came apart. I was able to completely disassemble them, bend and reform the heavy wire piece with large pliers, and then reassemble the pieces. Now they both work perfectly now.

 

[FOBELIO]

Yeah, some C40 tripods had some tough life and are well beaten... some parts are made of plastic and can be broken...

C40 is the name commonly used here in Switzerland referring to the ASMNO and ASNOO tripods but not for the ALFAE, which is more similar to a Gitzo tripod, or the ASNIO, the cool baby tripod.

I have three C40 at home, one was saved from the closure of the FOBA factory and I intend selling it, since I have to much stuff...saved stuff 😉 even some prototypes, technical drawings, photos...

My black well preserved ASMNO is by far my favorite tripod of all and it came with the original bag for just 80 Swiss francs... what a bargain.


Here in Switzerland somebody is selling a C40, which was repaired. The plastic parts are replaced with metal ones...
If you like to fix things a well used and abused C40 can be a nice project...

 

[FOBELIO]

and here my picks of last month 😌🤩

a Victorinox Swiss army knife with the FOBA logo...

and an old Broncolor catalog from the 70...

 

[FOBELIO]

I have two ASMNO tripods, and also one with the riser ASNOO. All of these have required some work to restore them to proper use. I also have the Small Baby FOBA tripod, which works well for me with short Combitubes, to extend the leg length. And finally, a more modern black FOBA model (AFLAO maybe?). This black one I intend to carry in the field with my 5x7 Normas. All of these are getting use here. BTW both ASMNO C40's have the Swiveling Foot, both of which came apart. I was able to completely disassemble them, bend and reform the heavy wire piece with large pliers, and then reassemble the pieces. Now they both work perfectly now.

the swiveling foot is RARE!

In the last three years I found only twice C40 with this type of foot on sale...
Lucky me last year somebody sold three of them in package of old screws and other photo accessories... I ended buying it just for the swiveling feet. 😁

 

[FOBELIO]

Here an old FOBA sign for celebrating the 100th post... 😁
also saved during the closure... probably used in fairs??