Win a Pentax Limited Lens: Raffle Now Live!

**ismaelg** · 10-22-2019, 07:14 PM - **8 Likes**

Hello,

I always wanted one of these. A vintage mechanical timer. It screws to the shutter button just like a cable release. Wind it up, start it and it will take the picture for you!
A very cool gadget from the 60's and 70's!

Here is a video of it at work:

Youtu.be

and some pics

Thanks,

Aaron28 · 10-22-2019, 07:31 PM

Originally posted by ismaelg

A vintage mechanical timer.

same would love to get one!! very cool

**UncleVanya** · 10-22-2019, 08:18 PM

I've owned several and seen them sold in stores new. They are a bit of fun if they are new to you.

Not a Number · 10-22-2019, 08:25 PM - **4 Likes**

Nice to have a little parking meter for your camera.

**sergysergy** · 10-22-2019, 08:36 PM

https://www.pacificridgephotography.com/Photography/Gear/Asahi-Accessories/i-TqRHSGd/A

There is actually a Pentax one.

ecostigny · 10-22-2019, 08:50 PM

My dad had one for his Kodak Retina Reflex S. I have no idea where it went; it doesn't seem to be among all the vintage camera gear I inherited from him.

LesDMess · 10-22-2019, 08:53 PM - **1 Like**

Included in one of my purchases was THE MOST ADVANCED "SELF-TIMER" IN PHOTOGRAPHIC HISTORY . . .

g026r · 10-22-2019, 09:20 PM

Originally posted by LesDMess

Included in one of my purchases was THE MOST ADVANCED "SELF-TIMER" IN PHOTOGRAPHIC HISTORY . . .

I received the earlier version of that one in among a mixed lot of series VI filters a while back. Which, I suppose, means that mine's not the most advanced self-timer in photographic history.

(The main difference is that the earlier model doesn't have any time markings on it; you just have to guess. Though the instructions do suggest that a full wind is somewhere around 13 to 15 seconds.)

disconnekt · 10-22-2019, 09:25 PM

This is cool, never seen this before

Gerbermiester · 10-22-2019, 09:42 PM

Nice! I just sold one of these that was made custom for a Polaroid land camera (which didn't have a threaded shutter release). I got more money for the timer than I did for the camera!

There's something very satisfying in working with these old mechanical tools. The one I had just seemed so precisely made for such a minor task. It was finished in brushed nickle too.

**Kevin B123** · 10-22-2019, 11:51 PM

Cool, it shows how advanced the ME was with a built in timer and how we take some of these things for granted.

Eyewanders · 10-23-2019, 12:40 AM

Yup. They're nifty. I've 2 or 3 of them tucked here and there that I sometimes pull out for use on the SV and older folding MF cameras that are sans timer (or those that have timers that I don't trust to not jam). My most used cameras have their own working timers for the most part. I got one from my dad long ago and a couple others tucked away in pockets or boxes from when I used to buy camera lots for cheap.

HoutHans · 10-23-2019, 12:46 AM

That is cool indeed, it looks like an impressive feat of mechanical engineering to get a timer and an actuator mechanism in such a tiny housing.

**Alex645** · 10-23-2019, 01:19 AM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by ismaelg

Hello,

I always wanted one of these. A vintage mechanical timer. It screws to the shutter button just like a cable release. Wind it up, start it and it will take the picture for you!
A very cool gadget from the 60's and 70's!

The 645 doesn't have a self timer, so I bought one of these in the late 80's and probably used it once. Nevertheless it is a cool little device from back when a mechanical solution was cheaper than an electronic one.

pete-tarmigan · 10-23-2019, 05:52 AM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by Kevin B123

Cool, it shows how advanced the ME was with a built in timer and how we take some of these things for granted.

The Pentax SV had a built-in self-timer. That model was introduced in 1962, 14 years earlier than the ME.

Pentax SV (H3v) - Pentax M42 Screwmount Film SLRs - Pentax Camera Reviews and Specifications

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
For Sale - Sold: Samsung ECX 1 35mm Point & Shoot Film Camera - Coolest camera ever :)	scottDee	Sold Items	2	03-29-2019 01:47 PM
The coolest Pentax promotion in a very long time! What neat K-01s (imgs)	barondla	Pentax K-01	13	05-11-2012 03:59 AM
Sony makes the coolest advertisements?	LeDave	Canon, Nikon, Sony, and Other Camera Brands	8	02-19-2010 08:17 AM
Do you know why Pentax is the coolest brand?	hopey	Pentax News and Rumors	17	04-24-2009 09:32 PM

10-22-2019, 07:31 PM	#2
Aaron28 Pentaxian Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: Huntsville, Al Posts: 7,131	Originally posted by ismaelg A vintage mechanical timer. same would love to get one!! very cool

10-22-2019, 08:18 PM	#3
UncleVanya Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2014 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 28,476	I've owned several and seen them sold in stores new. They are a bit of fun if they are new to you.

10-22-2019, 08:25 PM - 4 Likes	#4
Not a Number Moderator Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Venice, CA Posts: 10,526	Nice to have a little parking meter for your camera.

10-22-2019, 08:36 PM	#5
sergysergy Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2011 Photos: Gallery Posts: 5,176	https://www.pacificridgephotography.com/Photography/Gear/Asahi-Accessories/i-TqRHSGd/A There is actually a Pentax one.

10-22-2019, 08:50 PM	#6
ecostigny Pentaxian Join Date: Nov 2017 Location: Branford, CT Posts: 561	My dad had one for his Kodak Retina Reflex S. I have no idea where it went; it doesn't seem to be among all the vintage camera gear I inherited from him.

10-22-2019, 08:53 PM - 1 Like	#7
LesDMess Pentaxian Join Date: May 2011 Location: Santa Cruz, CA Photos: Albums Posts: 3,235	Included in one of my purchases was THE MOST ADVANCED "SELF-TIMER" IN PHOTOGRAPHIC HISTORY . . .

10-22-2019, 09:20 PM	#8
g026r Pentaxian Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: Toronto Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,074	Originally posted by LesDMess Included in one of my purchases was THE MOST ADVANCED "SELF-TIMER" IN PHOTOGRAPHIC HISTORY . . . I received the earlier version of that one in among a mixed lot of series VI filters a while back. Which, I suppose, means that mine's not the most advanced self-timer in photographic history. (The main difference is that the earlier model doesn't have any time markings on it; you just have to guess. Though the instructions do suggest that a full wind is somewhere around 13 to 15 seconds.)

10-22-2019, 09:25 PM	#9
disconnekt Pentaxian Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: SoCal/I.E. Photos: Albums Posts: 1,702	This is cool, never seen this before

10-22-2019, 09:42 PM	#10
Gerbermiester Pentaxian Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: British Columbia Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 377	Nice! I just sold one of these that was made custom for a Polaroid land camera (which didn't have a threaded shutter release). I got more money for the timer than I did for the camera! There's something very satisfying in working with these old mechanical tools. The one I had just seemed so precisely made for such a minor task. It was finished in brushed nickle too.

10-22-2019, 11:51 PM	#11
Kevin B123 Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2016 Location: Hampshire Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 3,191	Cool, it shows how advanced the ME was with a built in timer and how we take some of these things for granted.

10-23-2019, 12:40 AM	#12
Eyewanders Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Land of the Salish Sea Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 3,343	Yup. They're nifty. I've 2 or 3 of them tucked here and there that I sometimes pull out for use on the SV and older folding MF cameras that are sans timer (or those that have timers that I don't trust to not jam). My most used cameras have their own working timers for the most part. I got one from my dad long ago and a couple others tucked away in pockets or boxes from when I used to buy camera lots for cheap.

10-23-2019, 12:46 AM	#13
HoutHans Pentaxian Join Date: Aug 2016 Location: Appingedam Photos: Gallery Posts: 3,126	That is cool indeed, it looks like an impressive feat of mechanical engineering to get a timer and an actuator mechanism in such a tiny housing.

10-23-2019, 05:52 AM - 1 Like	#15
pete-tarmigan Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Conception Bay South, New-fun-land Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,272	Originally posted by Kevin B123 Cool, it shows how advanced the ME was with a built in timer and how we take some of these things for granted. The Pentax SV had a built-in self-timer. That model was introduced in 1962, 14 years earlier than the ME. Pentax SV (H3v) - Pentax M42 Screwmount Film SLRs - Pentax Camera Reviews and Specifications

The coolest vintage accessory: Mechanical timer

Win a Pentax Limited Lens: Raffle Now Live!