Dave's Flashbulb Collection
THIS PAGE IS (hopefully)
ALWAYS
As an outgrowth of the need to find flashbulbs to put in the flash holders for my display cameras, I began a collection of flashbulbs. I am also researching the history of flashbulbs.
The flashbulb was invented in 1928, in Holland, by the Philips Glolamp Works. The first American made flashbulb appeared in 1930. It was about the size of a household lightbulb, had the same medium screw type base, but was filled with very thin sheets of magnesium foil. Flashbulbs were popular until the 1980's, when the popularity, and the resulting low price, of electronic flash made it unprofitable to produce them. We are aware of only one company that still produces flashbulbs: Meggaflash, in Ireland. There are a few sources of flashbulbs (see links below), but they consist of individuals who buy old inventory and market them to the few users who require them for specialized photography (i.e., spelunkers), and to motion picture companies that need them for use in movies.
| This is what a studio flash setup used to look like: |  ...maybe! |
The following is a list of known flashbulb models by brand. There are links to photographs of many of the flashbulbs in my collection; just click on the name of the model. If you are aware of additional brands and models that I do not have listed here, please e-mail me at brittain@bright.net and let me know.
| General Electric | |||||
| Model | Type | Base | Qty. | Rare? |
Notes |
| AG1 | Zirconium Foil (Wire) | Glass baseless | (1958) | ||
| AG1B | Zirconium Foil (Wire) | Glass baseless | 24 | (1958) | |
| AG3B | Wire | Glass baseless | 12 | (1965) | |
| M2 | (1953) | ||||
| M2 Powermite | Wire | 12 | (1956) Higher power | ||
| M2B Powermite | (1956) Higher power | ||||
| M3 | Shredded Zirconium Foil | Bayonet | 14 | (1958) | |
| M3B-Canada | Shredded Zirconium Foil | Bayonet | 12 | Canada | |
| M3B | Shredded Zirconium Foil | Bayonet | 11 | ||
| 5 | Wire | Bayonet | 154 | (1939) | |
| Synchro-Press 5 | Wire | Bayonet | 1 3/8"Dia., 2 1/2" OAL | ||
| 5B | Wire | Bayonet | 141 | (1942) | |
| 5R | Shredded Foil | Bayonet | 12 | (1942) Infrared bulbs. Black infrared coating. | |
| M5 | Shredded Zirconium Foil | Bayonet | 12 | (1958) | |
| M5B | Shredded Zirconium Foil | Bayonet | (1958) | ||
| 6 | Shredded Foil | Bayonet | 6 | For focal plane cameras (1939) 1 3/8" Dia., 2 5/8" OAL | |
| 6B | Wire | Bayonet | 12 | 1 3/8" Dia., 2 5/8"OAL | |
| 6FP | Wire | Bayonet | 8 | Focal Plane Type, 1 3/8"Dia., 2 5/8"OAL | |
| 7 | "Alco", Foil/Wire | (1937-1941) | |||
| Synchro-Press 7 | Wire | Medium Screw | (1939) 1 7/8" Dia., 3 15/16" OAL | ||
| 8 | Wire | Bayonet | 8 | (1953) 1" Dia., 2 7/16"Oal | |
| 10 | Foil | Medium Screw | (1932-1941) | ||
| Flash Bar 10 | Wire | Array | For Polaroid SX-70 | ||
| 11 | "Alco", Foil/Wire | Medium Screw | 2 | (1939) 1 7/8" Dia., 4"OAL | |
| 11A | Foil | (1939) 1 7/8" Dia., 4"OAL | |||
| 11B (Also PH 11B) | Wire | Medium Screw | 6 | (1952-?) | |
| S11 | Foil | (1937) | |||
| Synchro-Press 11 | Treated Foil | Medium Screw | 1 7/8" Dia., 4" OAL | ||
| Synchro-Press 15 | Treated Foil | Medium Screw | (1938) 2 3/8" Dia., 5" OAL | ||
| 16 | "Alco", Foil/Wire | (?-1941) | |||
| 16A | Wire | (1939) | |||
| 16A | Shredded Foil | (1940) | |||
| Synchro-Press 16 | Wire | Medium Screw | (1939) 2 1/8"Dia., 4 1/4"OAL | ||
| Synchro-Press 16A | Wire | Medium Screw | 2 1/8"Dia., 4 1/4"Oal | ||
| 20 | Foil | FIRST BULB, (1930-1941) | |||
| 20B | Foil | (1934) | |||
| Synchro-Press 21 | Treated Foil | Medium Screw | 5 | 2 3/8" Dia., 5" OAL | |
| Synchro-Press 21B | Foil | Medium Screw | |||
| 21B | Foil | (1940) | |||
| 22 | Wire | Medium Screw | (1942) 2 3/8"Dia., 4 1/4"OAL | ||
| 22B | Wire | Medium Screw | 7 | (1946) 2 3/8"Dia., 4 1/4"OAL | |
| 22R (Blackout) | Shredded Foil | Medium Screw | 6 | (1942) | |
| 25B | Shredded Zirconium Foil | ||||
| M25B | Shredded Zirconium Foil | Miniature Pinless | 11 | (1958) | |
| 30 | Wire | (1939) | |||
| Focal Plane 30 | Wire | Medium Screw | 2 1/8" Dia., 4 1/4" OAL (1939-1941) | ||
| Focal Plane 31 | Wire | Medium Screw | 6 | 2 5/8" Dia., 5 3/8" OAL (1939-?) | |
| 31 | Wire | Medium Screw | (1939) 2 5/8"Dia., 5 3/8"OAL | ||
| 31B | Wire | Medium Screw | (1952-?) 2 5/8"Dia., 5 3/8"OAL | ||
| 50 | Shredded Foil (Wire) | Medium Screw | 1 | (1941) 2 5/8"Dia., 5 3/8"OAL (also 4 7/8"OAL) | |
| 50B | Shredded Foil (Wire) | Medium Screw | 1 | (1946) 2 5/8"Dia., 5 3/8"OAL (also 4 7/8"OAL) | |
| Synchro-Press 75 | Foil | Medium Screw | 4 3/8" Dia., 8 5/16" OAL (1933-1941) | ||
| GE 600 | Wire | Array | 1 Bar | (1982) | |
| Flashcube | Wire | Cube | 6 Cubes | (1965) | |
| Flashbar | Wire | Cube | (1972) | ||
| Flashbar II | Wire | Array | 3 Bars | (1978) | |
| FlipFlash | Wire | Array | (1975) | ||
| FlipFlash II | Wire | Array | 3 Bars | (1978) | |
| High Power Cubes | Wire | Cube | 2 Cubes | (1971) | |
| Magicube | Wire | Cube | 10 Cubes | (1970) Self Powered | |
| PH8 | Shredded Foil | (1953) | |||
| PH11B | Wire | Medium Screw | 6 | (1952-?) | |
| SM (Speed Midget) | Priming Compound* | Bayonet | * Zirconium Metal Powder (1941) Redesigned in 1952 1 3/8"Dia., 2 1/2" (2 5/8")OAL | ||
| Supercubes | Wire | Cube | 3 Cubes | ||
| Mazda (GE) | |||||
| Model | Type | Base | Qty. | Rare? | Notes |
| 1 | Medium Screw | ||||
| 2A | Medium Screw | ||||
| 7 | Wire/Foil | Medium Screw | 1 | ||
| 10 | Foil | Medium Screw | 1 | ||
| 11A | Foil | Medium Screw | |||
| 11B | Foil | Medium Screw | |||
| 15 | Foil | Medium Screw | |||
| 16A Synchro Press | Wire | Medium Screw | |||
| 20 | Foil | Medium Screw | |||
| 21 | Foil | Medium Screw | 1 | ||
| 21B | Foil | Medium Screw | 4 | ||
| 31 Focal Plane | Wire | Medium Screw | |||
| 50 | Wire | Medium Screw | |||
| 75 | Foil | Medium Screw | 1 | Largest bulb made | |
| Westinghouse | |||||
| Model | Type | Base | Qty. | Rare? | Notes |
| AG1 | Wire | Glass Baseless | |||
| AG1B | Wire | Glass Baseless | 6 | ||
| 5 | Wire | 3 | |||
| 5B | Wire | 5 | |||
| 11 | Wire | Medium Screw | 1 | ||
| Foil | Medium Screw | 1 | Large Bulb | ||
| Flashcubes | Wire | Cube | 2 Cubes | ||
| Magicube | Wire | Cube | 2 Cubes | ||
| Mazda/Westinghouse | |||||
| Model | Type | Base | Qty. | Rare? | Notes |
| 20 | Foil | Medium Screw | 1 | ||
| ?? (Slightly Larger than #20) | Foil | Medium Screw | 2 | ||
| Wabash Superflash | |||||
| Model | Type | Base | Qty. | Rare? | Notes |
| 0 | Wire | Medium Screw | 1 | 3 13/16"OAL | |
| 0B | Medium Screw | ||||
| 2 | Wire | Medium Screw | 1 | 4 3/4"OAL | |
| 2A | Wire | Medium Screw | 2 | 5 3/8"OAL | |
| 2B | Wire | Medium Screw | 2 | ||
| 3 | Wire | Medium Screw | 6 5/8"OAL | ||
| 3B | |||||
| 3X | Medium Screw | 5 3/8"OAL | |||
| 20 | Foil | ||||
| Press 25 | Wire | Bayonet | 3 15/16"OAL | ||
| Press 40 | Wire | Medium Screw | 3 | 3 15/16"OAL | |
| 40 | Red package | ||||
| 40B | |||||
| Press 50 | Wire | Medium Screw | 6 | 4 1/16"OAL | |
| Blackout Superflash | Hydronalium Wire | Medium Screw | Infrared bulb 4 3/4"OAL | ||
| Sylvania | |||||
| Model | Type | Base | Qty. | Rare? | Notes |
| 0 | Wire | Medium Screw | 2 | ||
| AG1 | Zirconium Wire | Glass Baseless | 15 | ||
| AG1B | Zirconium Wire | Glass Baseless | 6 | ||
| 2 | Wire | Medium Screw | 6 | ||
| 2A Focal Plane | Wire | Medium Screw | |||
| 2B | Wire | Medium Screw | |||
| Blackout 2 | Infrared bulb | ||||
| M2 (6 shot rotary pack) | Wire | Miniature Pinless | 12 | Yes | 6 Shot rotary package |
| M2 | Wire | Miniature Pinless | |||
| M2B | Wire | Miniature Pinless | |||
| 2B | Wire | Medium Screw | 14 | Package says "Formerly Wabash" | |
| 3 | Wire | Medium Screw | 1 | Most powerful flashbulb made | |
| 3B | Wire | Medium Screw | 1 | Most powerful blue flashbulb made | |
| 3X | |||||
| M3 | Wire | Miniature Pinless | 54 | ||
| M3B | Zirconium Wire | Miniature Pinless | 10 | ||
| M5 | Zirconium Wire | Miniature Pinless | |||
| M5B | Zirconium Wire | Miniature Pinless | |||
| 8 Bantam | Wire | Bayonet | 12 | ||
| Blackout 25 | Infrared bulb | ||||
| M25 | Zirconium Wire | Miniature Pinless | 12 | (1957) | |
| M25B | Zirconium Wire | Miniature Pinless | (1957) | ||
| P25B | Wire | Bayonet | 3 | ||
| P25 | Wire | Bayonet | 2 | ||
| P25 | Gas Filled/Primer | Bayonet | 3 | No logo, but in Sylvania sleeve | |
| Press 25 Clear | Bayonet | ||||
| Press 25 | Wire | Bayonet | 12 | ||
| Press 25B | Wire | Bayonet | 24 | ||
| 25C Colorite | Wire | Bayonet | 10 | Pinkish color | |
| FP26 | Wire | Bayonet | 12 | ||
| FP26B | Wire | Bayonet | 12 | ||
| FF33 | Metal | Medium Screw | 1 | 1.75 Sec. flash duration; used for high speed motion picture photography. | |
| Press 40 (Clear) | Wire | Medium Screw | |||
| Press 40B (Clear) | Wire | Medium Screw | |||
| 40B | Wire | Medium Screw | |||
| Flash Bar | Wire | Array | 1 Bar | ||
| Flash Bar II | |||||
| Flash 600 | Wire | Array | 1 Bar | ||
| Flashcube | Wire | Cube | 23 Cubes | ||
| FlipFlash
Super 10 and TwinPack |
Wire | Array | 2 Bars (17) | ||
| High Power FlashCubes | Wire | Cube | 4 Cubes | ||
| Magicubes | Wire | Cube | 11 Cubes | ||
| SF | Wire/Gas (O2) Filled | Bayonet | 10 | ||
| Wabash/Sylvania | |||||
| Model | Type | Base | Qty. | Rare? | Notes |
| 3 | Wire | Medium Screw | 1 | Yes | w/ WW2 defense notice |
| Press 50 Superflash | Medium Screw | ||||
| Norelco/Amplex | |||||
| Model | Type | Base | Qty. | Rare? | Notes |
| PF1 | |||||
| PF1B | |||||
| PF1 | Larger bulb | ||||
| PF1B | Larger bulb | ||||
| PF4 (Clear) | Wire | Bayonet | 20 | ||
| PF5 | |||||
| 5B (Sureshot) | Yes | ||||
| PF3 | Wire | Bayonet | 12 | ||
| Osram Vacublitz | |||||
| Model | Type | Base | Qty. | Rare? | Notes |
| XM1 | Wire | Glass Baseless | 5 | Yes | |
| XM1B | Wire | Glass Baseless | 5 | Yes | |
| X0 143 | Foil | Bayonet | 1 | Very! | Tubular |
| Ken Rad | |||||
| Model | Type | Base | Qty. | Rare? | Notes |
| 11 (Red package) | Wire | Medium Screw | 1 | ||
| Rex Ray | |||||
| Model | Type | Base | Qty. | Rare? | Notes |
| 5 | Wire | Bayonet | 6 | Yes | |
| West | |||||
| Model | Type | Base | Qty. | Rare? | Notes |
| 5 (Osaka, Japan) | Wire | Bayonet | 5 | Very, Very | |
| Bond | |||||
| Model | Type | Base | Qty. | Rare? | Notes |
| Press 5 | Wire | Bayonet | 8 | Very, Very | |
| Lumex | |||||
| Model | Type | Base | Qty. | Rare? | Notes |
| M2 | Wire | Miniature Pinless | 1 | Yes | |
| M2B (Japan / Canada) | Wire | Miniature Pinless | 12 | Yes | |
| Meggaflash (Still in manufacture) | |||||
| Model | Type | Base | Qty. | Rare? | Notes |
| PF200 | Wire | Medium Screw | Mediumpeak; Replaces Sylvania Type 2 | ||
| PF300 | Wire | Medium Screw | Slowpeak; Replaces Sylvania Type 3 | ||
| PF330 | Metal Sheet | Medium Screw | 3 | Floodflash; Replaces Sylvania Type FF33 | |
| Blue Dot | |||||
| Model | Type | Base | Qty. | Rare? | Notes |
| 5B | Wire | Bayonet | 6 | Yes | |
| Technocolor | |||||
| Model | Type | Base | Qty. | Rare? | Notes |
| 5 | Wire | Bayonet | 4 | No Markings on bulb | |
| Mastercraft | |||||
| Model | Type | Base | Qty. | Rare? | Notes |
| 5 | Wire | Bayonet | 10 | In Box, No Markings on bulb | |
| Amplex | |||||
| Model | Type | Base | Qty. | Rare? | Notes |
| 5B | Wire | Bayonet | 8 | ||
| PF1 My-T-Myte | Wire | Glass Baseless | 8 | Smaller Bulb | |
| PF1 | Wire | Glass Baseless | 8 | Larger Bulb | |
| PF1B My-T-Myte | Wire | Glass Baseless | 8 | Smaller Bulb | |
| PF1B | Wire | Glass Baseless | 8 | Larger Bulb | |
| Philips | |||||
| Model | Type | Base | Qty. | Rare? | Notes |
| PF5 Photoflux | Wire | Glass Baseless | 5 | ||
| Duraflash | |||||
| Model | Type | Base | Qty. | Rare? | Notes |
| SM | Gas Filled/Primer | Bayonet | 8 | ||
| Misc. (& Unknown) | |||||
| Model | Type | Base | Qty. | Rare? | Notes |
| AG1 (Brand Unknown) | Wire | Glass Baseless | 12 | ||
| M3 (Brand = Focal) | Wire | 15 | |||
| 5B | Wire | Bayonet | 13 | ||
| 11 | Wire | Medium Screw | 1 | ||
| M22 (European) | Wire | Medium Screw | 1 | Egg Shaped | |
| P25 (Blue) | Wire | Bayonet | 1 | ||
| P25 (Clear) | Wire | Bayonet | 1 | ||
| ZB1 Experimental | Wire | Wire Leads-Baseless | 2 | Per Bill Cress: Only he and I have these. | |
| Press 40 | Wire | Medium Screw | 4 | ||
Sources of Bulbs:
Bill Cress
Photo
Meggaflash
General Information:
Graflex
Organizaton