And what country can preserve its liberties if their rulers are not warned from time to time that their people preserve the spirit of resistance? Let them take arms. The remedy is to set them right as to facts, pardon and pacify them. What signify a few lives lost in a century or two? The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants.
Wednesday, February 4, 2026
Might be able to scare up one or two if I wanted to search
No, no, no Not a flash cube 2nd generation Magicube Flash cubes required a battery in the camera to fire the cube Magicubes had a tiny little explosive charge at the base of each bulb. I pin in the camera would pop up releasing a spring that would strike the charge HIGH TECH STUFF!
The older kind of flashbulbs were a better source of nichrome wire. This was what we used to ensure instant ignition with model rocket engines. If you were very careful you could wire up a couple dozen for simultaneous ignition in one rather fat rocket. It was an awesome thing to see.
Yes, Kodak created a totally POS camera called the "Instamatic" that used flash cubes. Unfortunately, most participants in the Vietnam War used that POS camera to take photos and those out-of-focus, dark and unrecognizable photos are what we have left to remember.
Whenever I found one of these baby's, I looked for an easy mark and explain how they worked. Then I would hand them my multi-meter and tell them to find positive and negative while I got some wire or whatever and put some distance between me and the inevitable "flash". Good times... irontomflint
Anyone recall what a 6 pack of those cost back in ‘72?
ReplyDeleteFlash cube for a hand-held camera. I think the Polaroid Instamatics had a flash built into them, so this would have been for a non-Instamatic camera.
ReplyDeleteIED initiator, perimeter alert and a few other non-advertized uses.
ReplyDeleteOh, and it doubled as a flash cube when necessary.
No, no, no
ReplyDeleteNot a flash cube
2nd generation Magicube
Flash cubes required a battery in the camera to fire the cube
Magicubes had a tiny little explosive charge at the base of each bulb. I pin in the camera would pop up releasing a spring that would strike the charge
HIGH TECH STUFF!
Or using Pops small flat-blade screwdriver..... which ALWAYS resulted in an ass-whupping .....
DeleteFor using the Screwdriver or wasting the Bulb?
DeleteThe last thing you recognize, before something awful happened to you... involving water, a punch, tackle...
ReplyDeleteThe older kind of flashbulbs were a better source of nichrome wire. This was what we used to ensure instant ignition with model rocket engines. If you were very careful you could wire up a couple dozen for simultaneous ignition in one rather fat rocket. It was an awesome thing to see.
ReplyDeleteLike a silent flash bang when thrown against hard surface.
ReplyDeleteYes, Kodak created a totally POS camera called the "Instamatic" that used flash cubes. Unfortunately, most participants in the Vietnam War used that POS camera to take photos and those out-of-focus, dark and unrecognizable photos are what we have left to remember.
ReplyDeleteWhenever I found one of these baby's, I looked for an easy mark and explain how they worked. Then I would hand them my multi-meter and tell them to find positive and negative while I got some wire or whatever and put some distance between me and the inevitable "flash". Good times...
ReplyDeleteirontomflint
I still have some around here somewhere. They go with the flash attachment for my Minox B.
ReplyDeleteWe’re sold in 3 cube packs for under a USD.
ReplyDeleteThey would burn your fingers if you remove it too soon.
ReplyDelete