Oconnor 50 Help Needed

[m3rob]

I would like to convert the base of my Oconnor 50 to a 100mm ball for a new and modern tripod with a 100mm bowl. Is this a mitchell mount? How do I securely attache a 100mm ball to this head? Any suggestions?



Thanks!
Rob

 

[Nate Weaver]

It looks like you have a 50 that has had the claw ball (not to be confused with 100mm or 150mm ball, "claw ball" was it's own size) removed, and replaced with a fabricated custom Mitchell mount.

It also looks like they drilled the mount with the pattern needed to attach an Oconnor 100mm ball. Those 8 holes with the bare silver showing? That's them.

Confirm that they are in the same pattern as the picture below. It's an octagon shape.



I would go to Ebay, and camp out until somebody has a Oconnor 100mm ball for sale. You can also buy new, but they are not cheap.

Avoid the temptation to try to make a Manfrotto 100mm ball work. It would be work to make it attach, and it will likely always be loosening itself because of the way it attaches to Manfrotto heads.

 

[txdp]

Visual products is who you should contact

 

[m3rob]

Thanks for the help guys!

Rob

 

[BillWojo]

Nate, I think that is just a stock O'Connor Mitchell mount. The first model 30 head that I got had the same thing. The claw ball from another model 30 fit right on using the same 8 little socket head cap screws. I would look for a damaged head on ebay to pilfer the ball from. Here's the fun part, O'Connor made a lot of these heads with 120mm balls. Both of my tripods and both model 30 heads that I use are 120mm. So make sure that what you purchase is a 4" ball. A lot of sellers don't know the difference.
I wonder if the name "Claw ball" refers to the 120mm ball?

BillWojo

PS Check with Translvania Films for O'Connor parts also.

 

[Nate Weaver]

Nate, I think that is just a stock O'Connor Mitchell mount. The first model 30 head that I got had the same thing.

Fair enough. I've seen so many modified 30 and 50 heads, I just assumed OConnor only made them in claw ball back then.

I would look for a damaged head on ebay to pilfer the ball from.

Yeeeks. Never seen a 100mm ball on "broken" OConnor head. I personally think that would be a long wait on Ebay. You're talking to a guy who has had an "OConnor" Ebay alert going for about 7 years. I have an OConnor problem. But I'm not the MOST knowledgeable. Just more than average

I wonder if the name "Claw ball" refers to the 120mm ball?

Bingo.

PS Check with Translvania Films for O'Connor parts also.

Good resource. He prob has something, but it's a little difficult to find out. Anybody who has called them knows what I mean.