Tripod Adapter unlike any I have seen before.

[Ron G]

I picked up a pretty nice tripod but the adapter on top of the ball is just a tapered spline about three inches long.I have searched the net but cannot find anything like it nor any clues what might fit on it.
I am running out of ideas,what was it made for.It is of chinese origin but what isn't these days?Thanks for any help.I can provide pics to help with identification.Ron G

 

[Roger Hicks]

I picked up a pretty nice tripod but the adapter on top of the ball is just a tapered spline about three inches long.I have searched the net but cannot find anything like it nor any clues what might fit on it.
I am running out of ideas,what was it made for.It is of chinese origin but what isn't these days?Thanks for any help.I can provide pics to help with identification.Ron G

Dear Ron,

Gitzo... Manfrotto... Gandolfi... Benbo... Berlebach... Cullmann

It sounds like you have only part of the head. Frances covers tripods for Shutterbug and can't think of anything with a tapered spline.

Cheers,

R.

 

[Ron G]

Thank you Roger.I will post a pic or two soon and see where that takes me.Good luck with your new venture.Ron G

 

[Ron G]

Here are some pics of the rascal.I hope someone has seen it before.Thanks,Ron G

 

[Roger Hicks]

Dear Ron,

Have you tried unscrewing the tapered bit? This looks like something threaded onto a standard ball.

Cheers,

R.

 

[Proteus617]

Don't know about the tripod head, but those are nice Bessamatics in the background!

 

[sevo]

That looks like some older, larger cine or stage lighting spigot type - there were plenty of competing standards for these. No good for a camera, but it will be easy to remove, as it obviously is not permanently attached but screwed onto a standard (presumably 3/8") thread. If it is secured with thread fastener, warm it a little bit.

 

[Ron G]

I had considered either lighting or sound.The tapered piece appears to be part of the ball but I will take it apart one day to see how it was made.
I will post a couple of pics of the cameras for you tomorrow.Thanks for the input.Ron G

 

[Ron G]

Here are some lowres shots of the background.Ron G

 

[Ron G]

I took the head apart and it is just as it appears in the pics,the ball and the taper are all cast as one unit.The only way to modify it would be to replace the ball with another with a different fitting on it.I looked at some tripods for musicians thinking that it might be an accessory for a drummer but cannot find anything that resembles it.Thanks,Ron G

 

[Roger Hicks]

Dear Ron,

Thanks for the follow up. Some form of lighting stand seems to be the front runner, then?

Cheers,

R.

 

[Ron G]

Something does not set well with me about that as I see it.You would not have a tapered shank on something that has the ability to tip over sideways with the possibility of falling off.
I agree that you could lock whatever it is to the shank but it seems like there should be a better way of doing it.That shank and ball all chromed up there is not cheap to manufacture.
There is something missing in my diagnosis,something pretty obvious I bet once I find out what it was really made to do.Time will tell.Ron G

 

[Roger Hicks]

Something does not set well with me about that as I see it.You would not have a tapered shank on something that has the ability to tip over sideways with the possibility of falling off.
I agree that you could lock whatever it is to the shank but it seems like there should be a better way of doing it.That shank and ball all chromed up there is not cheap to manufacture.
There is something missing in my diagnosis,something pretty obvious I bet once I find out what it was really made to do.Time will tell.Ron G

Dear Ron,

Quite possibly so. On the other hand, do you REALLY believe that lighting stand manufacturers (or indeed, any others) are always rational...?

Cheers,

R.

 

[Nikon Bob]

That almost looks like a large Slik ballhead and what you describe as a spline looks more like handle from another tripod. Does the spline/handle part unscrew from the shank? Sure is a puzzle isn't it.

Bob

 

[Ron G]

If anybody would know what it is it would be you,Bob.The spline and ball are cast together and chrome plated,as I said,not cheap to make.The rest of the tripod is fairly good quality but there is no name on it,almost like it was part of a package and dedicated to whatever it was made for.All I can do is keep my eyes open.I google it and find myself very quickly wasting my time.
I have used tripods quite a lot over the years in my line of work and have never seen anything like this,of course in my case the tripods were just made for leveling a transit or rotating laser beam so there would be no need to adjust the mount because the object would be to level the device attached to it.
Someday someone will see this and voila I will have my answer.Thanks for the input everyone.Ron G

 

[Nikon Bob]

Naw, just taking a stab like everyone else. From the photos I took the spline to be black not chrome. Anyway, you still got your puzzle piece.

Bob

 

[Rayt]

Here are some lowres shots of the background.Ron G

Don't know about the Bessamatics but those are really nice lighthouses in the background 😀

 

[Ron G]

Thanks Ray.I use that as a backgound in most of my closeup shots to cover up the clutter on my desk here.It also gives the articles that I list for sale some identity,hopefully over time the association with that backgound might comfort potential buyers as to the character of the seller.
I should have taken the time to size the pics for better quality,those cameras deserve a better likeness when on display like that.
That camera on the right has had a complete CLA and the shutter speeds are factory spec.The one on the left is the camera that I carry for the time being,it is one of the few cameras that could be used the way that I recieved it from the seller.It will get a service when I have the time but is useable the way it is.
Thanks for the comments.Ron G

 

[Phil_F_NM]

Something tells me that the spline would be locked onto the whatever with a spring loaded or cammed fork which would pull the whatever down onto the spline tighter through spring/cam action. I've seen something like this before but it wasn't on a ball head. Similar spline though and a fork locked to the bottom. Is there a trace of a scratch or grime which would suggest a locking fork thing touching the bottom of the spline?

Phil Forrest

 

[Ron G]

No Phil,the only residue is just what ever may have been used for lubrication around the ball in the socket area.That seemed to be graphite based what little there was of it.Thanks for posting.Ron G