Although some of you may find this hard to believe, the flash bulbs and cubes have returned. Granted, only in special circumstances and only for those cameras that support or are fitted for such flashes, but nonetheless these old things are here again. I, for one, use them mainly with my Minox cameras, but I do enjoy burning a few of them bulbs with my old cameras, like Retinas and Leica.
These can still be found on Evilbay or in auction houses here and there; usually the AG1 and AG1B ones are ubiquitous, but larger versions of Sylvania bulbs can be had for decent prices, even in bulk (over 10 packs or so).
And why not using them? The old mercury cells are long gone, but most of the flash units are enjoying new options for batteries, like my old Minox flashes. The flash units of old are available for very little money, and if one such is found in good condition, get a pack of bulbs and a batery and enjoy the old style photography. You’ll be glad if you do so, for these bulb flashes are rendering something special to the film, or so I believe.
I have put here an old Sylvania brochure, which will provide good information for those of you who wish to go old style, and try to see what the 50s and 60s bulb craze was about. Enjoy !