Scruples Loc: Brooklyn, New York

Forgive my Naïveté!

When you originally posted this thread, I thought you were discussing a kitchen utensil. But, that made little sense since you were posting in the Photography Section. Since Google is my friend, I asked for some insight and found nothing related to a “photography potato master.” So I decided to wait it out. Now I understand. I never thought of an add on flash.

While it looks ‘somewhat’ of a potato masher I can’t understand why it wasn’t called add-on flash.
Thanks!

TonyP Loc: New Zealand

Us too. We use ours probably every other night during winter for mashed spuds.

IDguy Loc: Idaho

Yes. Use in RV.

BebuLamar

My battery went dead one day. It swelled and cracked. I put together a pack myself so I can still use it.

BebuLamar

I have the TTL modules for both the F3HP and the F5 to use with the Metz 60CT4

dennis2146 Loc: Eastern Idaho

I also used the Vivitar 283. Great flash. I still have one and look forward to trying it out on a like new Nikon F2AS and a Nikon F3HP though I do have a Nikon SB17 for the F3 as well.

Dennis

kb6kgx Loc: Simi Valley, CA

I have, and still occasionally use, a Sunpak 555 with a GN of 150! But I would never use it to actually mash a potato! 😆

E.L.. Shapiro Loc: Ottawa, Ontario Canada

"Potato Masher" is an old photo-slang for a certain electronic flash industrial and electronic design. Prior to that design most portable camer- strobes consisted of two pieces, a lamp to mount on the camera and a shoulder or belt carrying a power pack. The lamp head contains the flash tube, trigger circuit and synch socket. The power pack contained the batteries, the step-up circuitry for high voltage and capacitors. A could or straight cable hooked up the two components. The domestically produced (U.S) Potato Masher SOMETIMES was a one-piece unts, such as some of the Honeywell Strobonar had all the aforementioned components in the on-camera unit, whereas most of the popular German-made models such as the old Metz 402, and the Ultrablitz Matador 400 had separate power packs. The potato-masher nickname came from the rectangular or square design of the lamp head assembly and the handle housed the capacitors. Having the capacitors in the handle decreases resistance in the cable and all aads a bit of effective power and lighted the weight of the power pack.

So...y'all laugh but those strobes were real professional equipment in terms of POWER! Many packed up to 200-watt seconds at 2500 to 3000 BCPS. That's a guide number of at least 160 (ft) at ISO 100. Plenty of light for direct flash and many bounce-flas techniques. The comparatively large lamp heads cover a wide field of view.

A few of the later units had thyristor-controlled auto flash but for the most part, you had to know what you were doing as to proper flash technique and exposure control.

If anyone has one of those oldies and if it is in working order, consider using it. Just make certain the trigger voltage is safe for your digital camera or use a Safe-Synch adapter, or use remote triggering by radio or photoelectric cell.

In comparison, in my opinion, today's Speedlights are cute, handy, little plastic toys.

As you can see, actual potato mash comes in round and square/rectangular configurations, just lie the electronic flash counterparts.

NOW! ya'll younger fols- quit the ageism and stop laughing at old guys and old gear. There's a lot of good stuff you can learn

JohnnyDW Loc: Richmond and Sunshine Valley British Columbia

Never did own a masher but but fondly recall strapping on my Mecablitz with the magic floating balls.
Real fire power for large spaces and fast recovery time.

jackm1943 Loc: Omaha, Nebraska

I gave one to my granddaughter to use along with the Rollei TLR I gave her.

burkphoto Loc: High Point, NC

I used a pair of Vivitar 285 originals (not the 285HV) with a six-volt Quantum QB-1 Battery. That was my favorite for events and graduation handshake portraits. I had a white "scoop" made from Epson Double-Sided Matte Presentation Paper. It diffused bounced light for softer portraits at close distances. The flash was in a bracket that kept the tube directly over the lens about a foot above the camera.

In the 1970s, I used the Strobonar 65D potato masher. Here's a frat party photo taken with it.

(Download)

bobmcculloch Loc: NYC, NY

Does any one still make them, Had Metz 202, great flash!

rwoodvira

[quote=Bridges]If you don't understand the question, I assume your answer is no.

When I shot Nikon film I had a Braun which I loved - long gone.

Charles 46277 Loc: Fulton County, KY

I don't have one. Maybe that is why I have lumps in my pictures. I do have the Graflex Star Wars flash and a few cases of flashbulbs, though. Anybody know how to use it with a Canon 650?

Bridges Loc: Memphis, Charleston SC, now Nazareth PA

Metz was as good or better than OEM flashes. I think the ability to use higher ISO and smaller flash units along with the low prices of Godox and Flashpoint doomed the company. If their products were still viable (price point-wise) I'm sure someone would have purchased the company and continued their excellent products.