My 'Vintage Found-Parts' Lightsaber: Opinions wanted!

[JamesSamuel]

I guess It's a Model X according to @AnubisGuard - I haven't a clue - it was just sitting in a pile of Junk at a flea Market and I went "THAT!" I've been on the hunt for one of these since I was a kid and it finally paid off.

You might be able to just buy the bottom of an old graflex to extend it right

Haha nice! Wish I had the same luck at the antique & second hand fairs I go too!

It should say by the way, on the clamp section unless it's tarnished off, Canon Model "?" - Made in Japan usually.

I thought about that, but the Graflex has a different kind of connector, kind of like a Bayonet-Plug light bulb. There is another Canon Flash Handle on eBay, entitled "Canon Model B", which looks like it has an 2-cell extension tube, thinking of buying it too, just worried that it might make mine too long haha.

Really looks like brass, IMO. Steel would be hard to cut and you can't plate aluminum. The fact that there's visible brassy pitting seals it as far as I'm concerned.

I think you might be right there, looking at the pictures again it definitely seems to have a brassy colour showing through, at first I thought it looked like rust, but if it was easy to cut like Mooniteman said, then it could only be Brass or Aluminium, and the latter doesn't tarnish like that and can't be plated either like you said.

 

[tingjunkie]

It looks like we had a lot of the same ideas btw! The "Emitter shroud" (top piece thingy) that you take off the actual flash hood bowl....thing. No way to describe that. And then the inside emitter (you put springs on your though) I really like that piece! It looks great! The actual guts of the flash and pieces it come with are really great for Frankensteining something together! Awesome to see another build from that same piece!

Yes, it's really enjoyable to see your take on cobbling a saber from most of the same parts! Pretty neat how different personalities will shine through even given the same starting point. I really like where your saber is at now after the latest additions. Congrats!

 

[AnubisGuard]

Got my model Y today.

• It's definitely plated brass.
• The walls of the flash tube are very thin, much thinner than the walls of a Graflex or Heiland.
• The plating is also thin; I tested giving it a brushed finish with 400 grit sandpaper and almost immediately brass began peeking through. I would not recommend sanding/polishing/brushing the flash body.
• The flash tube seems to be a hair smaller than 1.5" OD as none of the other flash bodies or tubes I own will fit into the bottom of the clamp. (The nubs that lock the factory endcap in place are about 1/8" up, so they should side in at least a little.)

Here's some info about the model Y I ran across while doing some research:

Following is an extract from what I have written about the Flash Unit Y for my accessory book ...if I get around to it as the financial climate now makes it unviable. In addition, there are two Battery Extension Cases, Type A and Type B. Type A accepted THREE D size batteries or additional Capacitors while Type B accepts TWO D batteries or two capacitors. These Additional Cases very rarely appear on eBay.



"In September 1952 the new Canon Flash Unit model Y was introduced into the market to replace the older Model X and deluxe X flash outfits. Similar in style to the model X unit, the model Y had some notable improvements over its predecessor. The removable 5” Adapter head was now fixed to the main flash body by four screws and the socket at the back of the head that once accepted the 5” and 7” reflector was missing. The bulb eject button was now recessed further into the head of the unit to prevent accidental ejection of the bulb. A permanent Micro-Sync dial was now incorporated within the body of the model Y unit and occupied the position of the now defunct adapter head eject button and micro-sync sockets.

...................

When initially released onto the market, there were two versions of the Flash Unit Y available. Physically there was no difference between the two types, except for the power sources, contained within the outfits. The Flash Unit Y outfits, consisted of Main Unit housing, 5” reflector and a Capacitor Cell with 22.5V battery, were sold as the Flash Model YK outfit. Replacing the Capacitor with a Penlight Battery Cartridge, it was then sold as a Flash Model YL outfit.

....................


This flash Unit Y outfit was very popular, and can be found quite often on the open marketplace. It ceased production in 1956 with the introduction of the new Canon Model VT and its plethora of new accessories. A bayonet type PC connection on the right hand side of the new camera replaced the older flash side rails that had been prominent since late 1950."

 

[PoopaPapaPalps]

I blame this thread for putting the bug in me. I just dropped some dough on the 'Bay so that I might make a few of these vintage flash-sabers!:lol

 

[AnubisGuard]

That was fun. It just needs grips and then I think I'l call it done.

I'm not 100% happy with the chrome donut inside the emitter, but I only thought of a better idea after all the epoxy had set and everything had been drilled and riveted together.

The finish on the Canon body and the Heiland flash I used for the bottom don't match perfectly, but it's pretty close. Overall I'm happy with it.

 

[JamesSamuel]

Nice one Anubis!

Mine just came in the post today. Interestingly enough, the top part of mine is larger in diameter than both of yours and does not fit into the handle as you can see...



In every other respect it looks exactly like yours Anubis.



One question though, how did you manage to separate the metal part below from the plastic? I've undone the screws, but it just won't come apart.

 

[bwize]

Wow! Love your custom saber. It looks sooo original trilogy. All the attention to detail is fabulous. I would love to have this in my collection. Thanks for sharing.

 

[AnubisGuard]

One question though, how did you manage to separate the metal part below from the plastic? I've undone the screws, but it just won't come apart.

Once both screws were removed, it slipped right off. There might be glue under yours. I'd suggest applying heat to soften it up.

 

[JamesSamuel]

Once both screws were removed, it slipped right off. There might be glue under yours. I'd suggest applying heat to soften it up.

Will give it a try thanks! Now I just wonder why the bit that connects to the Flash's Reflector is larger in diameter than yours.

 

[JamesSamuel]

Will give it a try thanks! Now I just wonder why the bit that connects to the Flash's Reflector is larger in diameter than yours.

Nope... heated it up enough to cook an egg on it... nothing, tried putting it in a vice and pulling.... nothing.

Something is definitely holding this motherf**ker in!

 

[AnubisGuard]

Got my Model Y saber finished up. Pics are over in the Custom Saber thread.

 

[JamesSamuel]

Got my Model Y saber finished up. Pics are over in the Custom Saber thread.

Nice! That looks sweet as man, I'm debating whether to go for the notched t tracks or straight ones ala ANH.

By the way I managed to get that ******* piece of metal off the plastic. There was no glue, just a really REALLY tight push-fit. A bigger vice + Duct Tape for grip did the job. I tell ya they don't make things like this anymore!

 

[tingjunkie]

Lovely, AnubisGuard! Really dig the emitter and the couple bolted on metal plates.