A lot more complicated these days but two main tell features is a serial number under the shroud and/or a military serial number on the main body. But keep in mind that MPPs can have both or neither of these seriel numbers.
MPP flash: What's the going rate these days?
- Thread starter Tonnikan Jinn
- Start date
A lot more complicated these days but two main tell features is a serial number under the shroud and/or a military serial number on the main body. But keep in mind that MPPs can have both or neither of these seriel numbers.
Here is one with neither serial nor British MOD number:
As you can see this is one of the lopped top no-step (or so-called “single-step”) shroud versions. Also, the top of the bulb holder is flat. AND the nameplate is the third variant, although if I had to guess, by age I’d venture it may be the first or second to have come out.
As you can see this is one of the lopped top no-step (or so-called “single-step”) shroud versions. Also, the top of the bulb holder is flat. AND the nameplate is the third variant, although if I had to guess, by age I’d venture it may be the first or second to have come out.
intwenothor
Well-Known Member
Several MPP products are adorned with these numbers that denote they were MOD units; '14A/4768^' indicates that a flash unit was sold complete i.e. with both body and reflector present whereas '14A/4679^' would be found on the body of a flash sold to the MOD without a reflector and '14A/4680^' would be just the reflector alone...... all of which would have been for use with the MPP S92 Large format Camera which was itself a beefed up version of the MPP Mk VI Large format. I did research how many S92s the MOD bought but can't remember the exact number; it was four hundred and sixty something. 464 or 467 I think.
I am not certain. I can’t remember where the shroud went, but Art Andrews got the tube on this one. I’ve still got the guts.
The latest one I missed had the lopped shroud as well. Both this one and that one had the crinkle paint finish over the lopped edge so I am assuming it came from the factory that way. Don’t know if it was entirely by design or not.
I still have the tube. Waited for years to get one of those for my Fett rifle.
NickCline
Well-Known Member
Yeah, I bought one of my MPP’s with a cutoff single-step shroud. I had assumed it was done in factory, but wasn’t sure until now.
Luckily, I had a very generous fellow RPF member that reached out to me a few months ago and offered a to sell me a vintage non-cut replacement.
Here’s the cutoff shroud:
My vintage replacement:
Luckily, I had a very generous fellow RPF member that reached out to me a few months ago and offered a to sell me a vintage non-cut replacement.
Here’s the cutoff shroud:
My vintage replacement:
The last eBay sale was just over £5000. That was for the rare single step, silver bars and large B port variant. A couple of private sales have been a lot higher.
intwenothor
Well-Known Member
And another just went in the five grand region.
joberg
Legendary Member
I was at my local 2nd hand camera store and the owner asked me what's the price of a Graflex these days
I thought it was a strange question
and I didn't take the bait because he knows the market very well...My answer was that I wasn't into that kind of collectible (he knows I'm into model/prop building)
I'm sure these guys are very aware of the value of those (there are exceptions of course).
I thought it was a strange questionand I didn't take the bait because he knows the market very well...My answer was that I wasn't into that kind of collectible (he knows I'm into model/prop building)
I'm sure these guys are very aware of the value of those (there are exceptions of course).
I'm new to the forum and was just researching sale prices of MPP cameras when I came across this thread. I have the same model as the bottom one in the OP's photo. Looks like mine's the large B hole version. It came with my MPP MK VII camera outfit and has 1482 stamped on the tube under the shroud. I was told by the shop I bought it from it previously belonged to Guildford town council for survey work. Since it was of no use to my photography it's just been sitting in the original leather case the camera came in. I saw the flashes alone have gone for over £4k on places like Flints auctions. I'd be interested to know if this is a realistic price for these flashes now? If so I may have to re-think what camera I was going to replace the MPP with!
In my view, it’s probably worth half that now. There is one for auction on The Prop Store that’ll give the best guide. From memory there was a piece on eBay at £2.5k that struggled to sell recently. That had the box and all the accessories also.
I'm not sure Propstore will be a good guide of value in this case, they don't usually sell well at Propstore as it's not their main market, and they have the expensive additional fees. The market is a bit weird right now, a lot of people will say right now that things don't sell well, but at the same time, bigger, rarer items will still sell for good money, even privately and we might not know it. In any case, if you are determined to sell the MPP, you can always start at 3.5-4K and lower your price over time if it doesn't sell.
If I'm being honest, I think in a case like this, reputation will be important though, people will have a hard time here buying a 4k item from someone that just registered, they will have an easier time paying that much money to someone with a very well established reputation, which is completely normal of course. I guess in cases like this, this is where Propstore or other well established selling house come in handy.
If I'm being honest, I think in a case like this, reputation will be important though, people will have a hard time here buying a 4k item from someone that just registered, they will have an easier time paying that much money to someone with a very well established reputation, which is completely normal of course. I guess in cases like this, this is where Propstore or other well established selling house come in handy.
Could you elaborate on what you mean when you say the market is a bit weird right now and things aren't selling well? I really don't know this market.
I have a pretty decent eBay shop where I've sold a few high value photographic items, so it might go there, but as you said, buyer confidence may be the key, selling privately through a someone who only deals in film props might do better. It's all a bit new to me as I didn't realise what I had was so sort after.
An eBay shop with a good reputation is a good bet. Mpp flash sell well on eBay. From what I can tell, they sell better with a no reserve 1£ starting auction that a high buy now price though. And the auction can always be a surprise of course.
The market for most items is relatively low here these days. People seem to have less money available for hobbies and the Star Wars franchise seem to have seen better days, so interest is much lower than during covid when people were bored and prices got really high for everything. But, there is still money for high end and rare things.
Good luck with your sale. I'm also considering selling an MPP flash lately so this rings a bell.
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