Deal of the year

[Mark1972]

i have just received a cool deal for 2 flash guns.

I have just got 2 flash tube that were used as sabers.
(One Graflex and one Heiland)
The person that I got them from told me that he was working for a cable
company in the 80s. He was running cable at ILM and he said that a employee
gave them to him. He said that over the years all he has done with them was
display them. It looks like to me that they wear used for parts they are in bad
shape. The Heiland has tape places were the grips and camera holder was and it
has the round head. The Graflex one is more complete it is missing the bubble, a screw
and the center piece was drilled. From the looks they are older then the hills.
It also has things that no one has talk about on any videos. I am trying to figure out
what was all done to the tubes to be come the saber for TNH. (all the little stuff)


I would like to find a complete bakelight piece and the screw.

Please if anybody can help?????

http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/640x480q90/922/J1lVk9.jpg

http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/640x480q90/924/icibzc.jpg

http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/640x480q90/922/J1lVk9.jpg

http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/640x480q90/922/WvDeO2.jpg

http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/640x480q90/922/vNatMs.jpg

http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/640x480q90/923/CXEXG4.jpg

http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/640x480q90/921/DmUzWy.jpg

[darth_chasm]

Cool find.

What do you mean used as sabers? As in actual movie props? I'd be very cautious in accepting that backstory.

I'm pretty sure that the Vader saber prop was an MPP flash handle which was an English knock-off of the Heiland Synchronar. A lot of people use Heilands for replicas because they are much more common than the MPP.

The TFA Graflex is a mix of elements from ANH and ESB. Im sure a little searching here and there will turn up some details. I believe I even posted a Wired article a while back on TFA props that had a few pics of the Graflex.

[Mark1972]

I don't think they were used in the movie, i think that they were junk pieces that were used for practice the Graflex had the center drilled out.
that's if the story is true.
From what i can see they were built at least 20 yrs ago considering the materials that were used on it.
It is a original graflex and i any got it for a $100 so i think thats a great deal.
just would like to find the parts to restore it.

[darth_chasm]

Hah considering I got mine for almost 5x that I'd say yeah, awesome deal :)

[Noyl Wendor]

Its possible they were used at ILM. Remember lots of those flashes were scooped up by Lucas's prop guys to build several versions for the movies. I got My Graflex when I was really young. I got my second, third and fourth when I was in my late 20's, mid 30's. All the ones I grabbed when I was older had their price. But no serious backstory like that.
If some one is saying they were used in the movie they may be a bit off. Most of those props are well guarded even today. That of course does not mean they were not part of the stockpile that was scooped up by ILM.
I'll just say from what I've seen of the pics, it looks so far like you did get yourself a vintage graflex 3 cell. Maybe put up some more pics of the inside, the bottom (patent #?) and some pics of the guts that are currently in the flash.

[Mark1972]

i have been afraid to check the patent # it is covered by a very old sticker if i can find out that it is a ILM i don't want to do anything
if i cant i want to restore it.
http://imageshack.com/a/img922/9126/99Jrqs.jpg
the inside is corroded.
http://imageshack.com/a/img924/3109/Ce88IG.jpg
the grips are glued on but they are starting to come off they are also straight not cut edges.
it has strate pins
13438
it has the mid-late vintage button
13439
mid-late site glass
And you can see the outline of the sticker that was on the clamp.