I was curious about the flash bulbs used in the hero guns.
I couldn’t find much discussion about them and I was wondering if anybody knew what kind they are or how they’re mounted into the tube?
I was thinking they might be an AG3B connected to an adapter, but that’s just a guess, based on looks alone.
Does someone have a more definitive answer/guess?
Thanks,
David
I have a pack of 12 GE flash bulbs that look to be the right thing. They’re mounted in a white wedge base that’s yet to be identified. I was actually going to start poking around for the base this week. I’ll get some pics of my bulbs posted soon.
Cool.
I was thinking ag3b because of the size, shape, color, and their use (the blue bulbs were used for color film, and the three’s were brighter than the one, so if the bulbs were used as a signal to post production, it seems like they’d go with the brightest).
It just looks like the tip broke off. In a picture of Venkamn going nuts with the proton, the flash is on, and no special effects are added (I think it’s a German lobby card), you can see the tip of the flash bulb, that swivel end.
I was thinking a flash bulb adapter because in an earlier sony display picture, when the wand was pointing down, it looks to be dull grey and has the same general look as one I saw on eBay (this adapter was also made by GE). But yeah, in the new pictures posted, it looks white. So I don’t know.
How do you think it was mounted in there? Just by being a tight fit?
the socket that the bulb fit into was held in place by a very tiny set screw through the side of the clear barrel. the wire that carried the current to the bulb was run underneath the gun ear, through a hole drilled in the back of the banjo, through the red tubing into the other banjo and out the side of it right through a hole drilled in the side of the clear tube, right in front of the set screw that holds the bulb socket.
AG3B is the only bulb ive been able to find that closely matches the ones ive seen in the hero throwers.
Thanks, guys.
Do you think the socket was made for production, taken from another flash device, or store bought?
The ones I have are AG-1B:
Here’s a shot of an unused one inside a 5/8" ID acrylic tube:
You can see the blown one in the initial picture is slightly larger due to use.
My bad.
Just a quick thing that Jack and I have discussed before and we were talking to Kind2311 in chat about: the connection between the push button and hat light on the gun ear and the flash bulb in the barrel of the gun.
We are all pretty sure the push button on the gun ear fires the flash bulb and turns on the hat light at the same time. It’s probably an on/off push switch and the hat light doubles as an indicator light so the SFX team knows when a flashbulb is blown.
The first thing that tipped us off to this was the wiring of the front gun ear and the bulb as seen here:
Though covered, there are definitely wires running from at the very least the push button, through the banjos, and to the flash bulb socket. This was what first tipped us off to the idea.
Now for some screen caps from GB1 showing it in action.
Ray, just as he’s about to fire “high and outside” at slimer. Notice this is before he fires and the orange hat light is not lit. Also notice where his left hand thumb is: 
Then he fires the wand and sets the flash bulb off:
Then, as the flash dies down, you can clearly see the hat light is now on.
You can also see this functionality as Egon fires at the bar in the ball room.
And the hat light can stay on, without the button continuing to be pushed, as seen when Peter comes up to inspect the trap after they capture slimer (sadly I don’t have a screen cap of it). That’s why we feel its an on/off push button and not a momentary one.
So if someone can find the socket, someone could easily wire this up to that push button for some screen accurate lighting effects.
This is really awesome. Anyone have a bunch of time I could borrow? 
you guys are badass. i’m glad that our sony pack pictures and my screencaps could play a part in the eventual confirmation of your theory.
now get to work on making your own flash bulb setup!
Thanks for the pictures Jack. The ones look pretty close to the threes, and your pictures looks pretty close to the hero thrower’s bulb.
mburkit, that’s some pretty legit research.
Very interesting thread. Do you guys think it would be possible to take the guts out of one of those flashbulbs and put one or a few very bright white LEDs in there ? I mean that way you wouldnt have to constantly change the flashbulb, theyre probably not very easy to get (?)
im sure that could be possible but you would never get the same burst of light from LEDs as you would from a flashbulb and thats kind of the point, along with total accuracy to the original packs.
I have actually been thinking about this the past week or so. I’ve been trying to imagine a way to do this with a flashbulb that isn’t single-use. I am not an expert in electronics, but I have rudimentary understanding of how a simple flashbulb works.
For this you would need internal electronics that converted 1.5v to probably at least 100v. Then you would have to press a button to prime the charge, and another to make the flash go off. Potentially, the gun ear button could prime the system, the orange hat could indicate the charge is ready, and the flash itself could be wired to the firing button.
One obstacle would be fitting this circuitry in the gun along with any existing light kit. Also, care would need to be taken that the flash circuit did not short out on anything, especially any existing LED light board in the gun.
As someone who doesn’t have the skill to make my own circuits, my immediate thought was to hack apart a disposable camera with a flash in order to make a prototype. Unfortunately I don’t have time to mess with anything like that now.
While i totally agree that making things as accurate as possible is a great thing (you know i like it ;)) i also think that it would be nice to have the functionality and durability of more modern stuff, i mean for my own pack…id also love to see someone doing this with working flashbulbs 
Sure Leds wouldnt give the same effect but it was just an idea anyway.
From what I’ve found the 3’s are just higher-power versions of the 1’s. They’re also a slightly darker shade of blue. As Matt can attest the 1’s are extremely bright though the amount of power you send to them seems affect the flash. I’ve set off 2 bulbs, one from a fresh 9V and one from 2 half-dead AAA’s supplying about 2V. The 9v test blinded Matt even though he had his eyes closed, the 2V test had a sort of fizzle flash that was still bright and fast but noticably different. Knowing that a lower voltage can still set them off means that these should be relatively easy to add to light setup.
The three’s I saw looked slightly less bulbous, and maybe a little longer (this could have been an eye trick by them not looking as full). Also a slightly darker shade of blue. But that’s just from internet pictures, not side by side comparisons. There seems to be slight differences in appearance by brand, and even within the same pack of both types.
The bulb in the thrower is pretty old, the color could have faded over time. My assumption was based more on purpose. There’s barely any physcial difference between the two. Plus, the 1’s seem to be more available and cheaper than the 3’s, so if they’re the right ones/work the same, even better.
I’m glad I’m not the only person interested in this. Staring at obsolete flash bulbs, in the middle of the night- it can kind of get to you.
If you design a circuit like this, you have to consider the feedback you get from a bulb flashing. It’s one of the reasons there are transistors on the bulb-light circuits for the movie packs. Basically, when you turn the flow “on,” then suddenly close it, there’s voltage feedback, which if not controlled, can burn circuits up.
And that’s where a dedicated circuit design comes in.. You can’t just hook everything up to a switch and batteries and have the orange cap close after the flash circuit opens..
And I really don’t know how to design it so we’re counting on all you electronic gurus out there
Also, would the flash bulb get hot enough to affect the acrylic tube after repeated use?