Mystery attachment to a Bogen tripod

[djc5270]

I've just purchased a used Bogen tripod, it should arrive in a few days.

There's some thing attached to the column that I've not seen on a Bogen tripod.

Can any provide information about this thing?

Thanks,

Dan

 

[Dale H. Cook]

That certainly is strange - in more than half a century as a photographer I've never seen anything like it. My initial impression is that it is used to mount something other than a camera, but I have no idea what that might be. In my career I have seen a variety of small electronic instrumentation used on a tripod, but that has all had a standard 1/4 x 20 thread. When you receive the tripod you could remove the nut on the top and see if disassembly provides any clues.

 

[cgw]

Studio flash attachment?

 

[djc5270]

Dale & CGW,

I've come to the conclusion that this is the azimuth post for an older (and higher profile) video head. It's similar, but longer, than the post on a 501HDV head. It also could be part of a boom mount. Until the tripod is delivered, I'm going to toss this into the Whatever Pile!

The more important concern is why is this thing still on the tripod?

There was no mention of it in the ad. This is one of those sellers that sell all kinds of stuff - perhaps they couldn't figure out how to get it off the tripod.

OR, it's been on the tripod so long that the mounting screws are corroded and frozen in place.

OR, it's part of a maintenance jig for working on tripods.

OR, they probably took as much of the attachment off the tripod to keep shipping costs down.

I'll post the resolution.

Thanks for your interest,

Dan

 

[djc5270]

Looks like a base/spindle for the Bogen 3066 for the video head, without the head itself.

R116,36 TripodBase and Spindle| BogenTripodParts.com

It looks like Kwillmorth gets the prize. The 3066 has an offset azimuth clamp, most newer Manfrottto's that I've see have it centered on the azimuth axis, so I'm pretty sure the part is of that vintage.

Thanks,

Dan

 

[djc5270]

Tripod has arrived, the "Tripod Base & Spindle" has been removed. The shiny stuff is some sort of nasty grease. Other than this strangeness, the tripod is in excellent condition.

Thanks,

Dan