Leitz "Vacu" flash synchronizer

[Dralowid]

In the Laney book on P365 there is more...

CAVOO comes in versions A/B/C/D/E/F

COOIF is a spare synchroniser for CAVOO engraved on the rear edge with a symbol rather than Vacu.

CMVOO are spare 'cam' shutter speed dials for various cameras.

I have come across (and replaced) these cam dials in the past but never realised they were Leitz. Always assumed they were after-market.

Michael

 

[Luddite Frank]

On a trip to Denmark the other year, I picked-up two Leica III-c cameras, one a beautiful conversion to -f Black Dial + Self-Timer, and the other, a stepper that had been painted black, which has a CMVOO sync dial.

🙂

 

[iphoenix]

In the Laney book on P365 there is more...

CAVOO comes in versions A/B/C/D/E/F

Thanks for the information Michael.

Page 114 of 41st edition of Focal Press's "Leica Guide" gives information about the various speed dials and their application to screw mount body s/nos.:

Dial A: For s/nos. 215651 to 226000 (earlier s/nos. can be done with adjustment).

Dial B: For s/nos. 226001 to 360000

Dial C: 440001 to 460000

Dial D: 360001 to 392600

Dial E: 392601 to 397000

Dial F: 397001 to 440000 plus 460001 to 520000.

Regards,
David

 

[David Hughes]

This thread is going to prove expensive, isn't it?

Regards, David

 

[Dralowid]

This thread is going to prove expensive, isn't it?

Regards, David

Not at all, I hate flash even though I have an M6TTL (whose SF whatsit I have now sold)!

 

[Luddite Frank]

LOL... I prefer existing light or studio lighting, but there's something about flashbulbs and flashguns that really hooked me as a kid...

And I also have a weakness for convoluted contraptions, so things like the Leitz Vacu are right up my alley...

🙄

 

[David Hughes]

Hi,

Oh dear, I agree with both of you. I couldn't afford flash bulbs very often when I was at school and so never really got into the habit. Later on in life I could afford old, interesting second hand cameras and so got into the habit of buying them and their gizmos.

In the late 50's or very early 60's I managed to afford one of the early electronic flashes (designed and sold from 1952 or '53) but sold it years later and am now looking for one...

Regards, David

 

[Dralowid]

I know I have a box somewhere of bulbs, flash guns and even electronic devices that came with various things that I have bought over the years. All junk I should imagine but I did like the reflectors that open out like a flower...

 

[Luddite Frank]

Flash gear ( and other ancillary gear ) can be just as addictive as Leicas themselves. 😱

When I was born (late 1960's), my Dad bought himself a second-hand Nikon S. Somewhere along the way, he also acquired an Acura "Bouncemaster" flash gun, of 1960's vintage. It had one of those fan-flash reflectors, which fascinated little me to no end. 😉

Interestingly, that flash only had a coax PC connection, and Dads' Nikon had the early Nikon bi-post connector, so the flash was no useless with Dad's camera. It still provided hours of entertainment for me. 😛

About 10 years ago, I happened to win a big box-lot of assorted Leica flash and other stuff from KEH, who I guess was cleaning house of some oddball "junque" that just wouldn't move. It came cheap.

Contained maybe half a dozen CHICOs and CEYOOs, plus sync cords, etc.

This is where my 1930's "Blitzlichthalter" came from ( in its red Leitz box! ).

Lots of goodies in there... 😉


My "grail" items of flash equipment, besides a complete Vacu synchronizer, are any powder flash-guns from the pre-bulb era.

I also got hooked on early electronic flashes... one favorite are the early Braun "Hobbyflash" outfits, with their black battery-pack on a shoulder strap, and "gun" type flashholder that looks very much like a 1950's bulb-flash. I have three or four of these, all work on line-current, but I can't get the vibrator circuit going to charge off dry-cells.

Also have a couple Heiland / Honeywell "potato masher" Strobanar units from the early 1960's...

I'm a veritable magpie for oddball camera gear... 😀

 

[Dralowid]

For the latent arsonists amongst us, this is fun...mind you I never dared light it and didn't like the idea of magnesium in my pocket!

IMG_2551 by dralowid, on Flickr

IMG_2547 by dralowid, on Flickr

It came in a box with an early Leica I and some other interesting bits and pieces most long since sold.

 

[David Hughes]

Hi,

I inherited some flash paper but didn't know what it was until I started collecting and read about it in a magazine. It does what it says on the tin.

EDIT: OMG, we've formed an arsonists' sub-group...

Regards, David

 

[Luddite Frank]

That's pretty darned nifty ! Never imagined something in such an elegant little package.

I would not want to tote it about on my person... 😱

For the latent arsonists amongst us, this is fun...mind you I never dared light it and didn't like the idea of magnesium in my pocket!

IMG_2551 by dralowid, on Flickr

IMG_2547 by dralowid, on Flickr

It came in a box with an early Leica I and some other interesting bits and pieces most long since sold.

 

[Dralowid]

I thought it might be fun trying to explain it to security at an airport, but maybe not.

PS. Just found one single flash cube, where on earth have I put the rest of the flash junk? Maybe my cupboard has become similar to the one in Narnia and there is now a snow covered glade somewhere full of mysteriously shaped rotting batteries, mouldy camera cases and filters that will never ever fit anything.