thanks for the tips guys,
i just had it open on the bench while i mused over the comments and noticed the gap is very easily adjustable and in fact i have made it fire after adjusting the gap
Didn't half make me jump when it flashed though! I just need to redo it on camera so you can see.
@mikeselectricstuff
will be trying some argon as it's easy to get hold of and cheap. There is no sealing whatsoever on the enclosure so i'm sure it's not meant to be under anything other than atmospheric pressure. 1000fps flash? sounds interesting maybe you should make a video on it, isn't it about time we saw some of your glassware
@yago
no, i'm far more interested in high speed video, but it might be fun to so something with it if i can rig up the right trigger based on light or sound. I paid £30 for it including postage, i could have saved a tenner and picked it up as the seller was local to me but i CBA.
@miguelvp
thanks for the links, i had found them already but i still appreciate your effort! I did wonder about the inner part of the ground electrode being adjustable but i dont think it is. It seems to be set into the plastic insulation that surrounds the trigger electrode.
more to come...