Vintage Camera Nightlight

vintage camera nightlights! who wouldn't want one?
i've made a few different ones and posted some pictures on my flickr http://www.flickr.com/photos/jayfish/sets/72157627988114745/ .

some folks have been asking for a how-to so here's a rundown of how i make my nightlights. this is my first instructable so i'm sure i'll forget steps or something. i can also take more photos if anything is confusing.

i really enjoy making these so let me know what you think!
jayfish

also, if you'd rather just buy one from me, i have a few for sale here:
http://www.etsy.com/shop/jayfish


i've entered this instructable in the make it glow challenge! vote for me!  and thanks for looking...  :)

Step 1 Parts

parts required:
vintage plastic camera
nightlight
candelabra base socket

misc parts that i had on hand:
heavy black cardstock (i cut up the dark slide from my polaroid instant film)
odd screws (3 to replace some drilled out rivets, one to screw the base to the nightlight.)

tools i use:
screwdrivers
wire cutter
needlenose pliers
wire stripper
small saw
dremel with cut-off wheel
soldering iron
hot glue gun
glue/epoxy made for plastic use
cordless drill w/various bits
xacto
matte or satin clear coat
black spray paint for use with plastic


a word about camera selection:
not all cameras will work for this instructable. when it's finished, the camera will be hanging from the receptacle so the lighter weight the camera, the better. also i'm keeping in mind how much of the camera will be sticking out from the wall as well as ease of disassembly/reassembly, room for the lamp socket, etc.
also, i really really like cameras so i'm not destroying any cameras that are in great/pristine condition nor any cameras that are rare (to me at least. if i can't find more than 2 for sale, i don't modify them until i do).

Comments

[longwinters]

Neat idea thanks for posting it.

[uweinstructables]

That looks a bit like speaker wire, what gauge wire are you using to extend the light socket and ir sensor?

[BoldZ]

looks awesome! unfortunatly i cant find any of those cameras..:S

[Carleyy]

This looks awesome! I love repurposing vintage electronics!

[George_S]

The using of IR LED would be good idiea (low power consumption), but if i need more powerful IR Light source, i will use incandescent bulb covered with ebonite sheet to hide visible light

[annabelly]

Has anyone sent you the old film they found? If so, what was on it?? !!

[jayfish]

from all the cameras i've ended up buying, i've got a huge box full of film i need to try and get developed. i did get a few rolls done so far and they had some really neat pictures from the 60's. i'll try and scan them and post them to m flickr account in a few weeks.

[Mark Rehorst]

What a great idea! I'm going to the local Goodwill store tomorrow and buying up all the old cameras they have!

I'll use a red LED for the light source and just leave it on all the time- they are so low power it will probably use all of 2 cents worth of electricity to operate one for a year. Red light won't be too blinding at night, either.

[jayfish]

i'd love to use LEDs but i kind of like how the incandescent bulb mimics the shape/look of a flashbulb. please post your versions when you get them completed though! i'd love to see them.

[chrissv]

Looks good! One question comes to mind.

In Step 5 where you are modifying the flash housing and inserting the modified socket, it looks like the socket touches the small piece of aluminum flash housing, which in turn is connected to the larger flash curved mirror piece (excuse my lack of technical terms for the parts of the camera!)

Doesn't this expose electricity to where a human could accidentally touch the night light flash housing? Or is there some kind of insulation that I missed?

[jayfish]

thanks for that! (if i don't have a picture, it gets lost)

i've edited it to add that i use a couple coats of matte or satin clear varnish on the front of the aluminum flash housing before putting it together with the socket. i think that's a pretty good insulator since that piece is recessed and hard to reach because of the bulb. the larger curved mirror part is plastic so there's no risk there.

[garnishrecipes]

This is fantastic! :) Your work is beautiful.

[Warlrosity]

This is like the most amazing thing ever. Like ever.

[Marker1024]

Nicely done, very cleaver. Keep up the creativity, 4 stars I'm following.

[scoochmaroo]

Freaking fantastic. I seriously want one.

[mr.squeakers]

I love this amazing...