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12/12/2008 11:16:47 PM · #1 |
I got a very old polaroid flash at the thrift store for free because when I looked at the battery casing it was completely COVERED with old/dry battery acid. Even though I thought it wasn't going to work from the start I thought it would be good to at least try. First off it took an hour just to get the batteries out because they were so firmly stuffed as I was scraping away the acid (don't worry, I was wearing gloves, glasses, and had my nose/mouth covered with a dish towell). By the time I got them out I was extremely interested in how freakin old they were! I looked on the Duracell batteries for an expiration date and found none. So my random question is: When did they start putting expiration dates on batteries?? and is there a way I can find out how old these ones are (refernce # database??)
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12/13/2008 12:18:55 AM · #2 |
| You might have a better chance of narrowing it down by checking the serial number on the camera -- its date of manufacture would at least set a limit as to the oldest they could possibly be. |
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12/13/2008 12:21:41 AM · #3 |
I'm not totally sure, but I think the expiration dates started up sometime in the mid to late '90s. To me it looked as if one manufacturer had that good idea, and everyone else had to follow suit or risk losing market share.
Are there any identifiable trademarks on the batteries? Companies periodically update their logos and that might help you narrow down a range. |
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12/15/2008 03:55:51 PM · #4 |
wow, those batteries were such a hassle I don't even care about the date anymore...funny story time:
lol...ok so i scraped out all the nasty alkaline dust and neutralized it with a little vingegar, but unfortunately two of the coils that press against trhe batteries broke off because they were completely rusted out. Then for some reason my stepdad took it upon himself to try to fix it and went out and bought new battery coils, soldered them back on, took the whole flash casing apart, had to disconnect everything and put it all back together.
I kinda wish he hadn't gone thru all of that since I was pretty sure it wasn't gonna work. Finally after hours spent working on it, I attached it to the camera and we waited...The little red light came on and we heard the flash charging up with that little high pitched sound it makes. So, like idiots, we hold it next to our ears as it goes "bbbeeeeeeeoooooooooooppppppp" *POP!!!*...It scared the shi** out of both of us and my mom standing in the other room. Lol, so after I was done haveing a heart attack and he took out the batteries so it wouldn't short out again, he sauntered off and poured himself some vodka.
Lesson learned: If you get something from the trift store and are pretty sure it's not going to work, don't waste your time...even if ut's free :)
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12/15/2008 04:03:35 PM · #5 |
| It didn't work, but look what a great story it made! |
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12/15/2008 04:31:24 PM · #6 |
Originally posted by Notroubles:
It didn't work, but look what a great story it made! |
And a great prop to have on hand for some future challenge. |
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12/15/2008 04:31:51 PM · #7 |
| that goes into the "can't win, don't try" bucket. |
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12/15/2008 04:59:34 PM · #8 |
Originally posted by Blue Moon:
I attached it to the camera... |
That's the part that gave me a heart attack. Old flash units can fry a digital camera. |
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12/15/2008 05:04:02 PM · #9 |
So many wasted photo-opps. :(
Originally posted by Blue Moon:
don't worry, I was wearing gloves, glasses, and had my nose/mouth covered with a dish towell |
Originally posted by Blue Moon:
So, like idiots, we hold it next to our ears as it goes "bbbeeeeeeeoooooooooooppppppp" *POP!!!*...It scared the shi** out of both of us |
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12/15/2008 08:13:01 PM · #10 |
Originally posted by scalvert:
Originally posted by Blue Moon:
I attached it to the camera... |
That's the part that gave me a heart attack. Old flash units can fry a digital camera. |
no, it was a polaroid instant film camera that I also got at the thrift store for $4. Me and my friend are just collecting old polaroids for the hell of it.
polaroid sonar onestep pronto land instant camera with flash attached
Message edited by author 2008-12-15 20:13:58. |
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