Ok, madbadger:

This may bore others, so if they start ragging on ya, PM or email me and I'll talk ya through things.

The flash unit should have a battery clip for 2x C cells (aka it runs off 3 volts) but that may be missing. Any two-cell clip will do, but I dunno about feeding the unit anything more than 3v. The button is for firing the wee beastie, and you can tell the unit is charged when the whine it gives off goes up past hearing range (or peaks out) The slider switch (if I remember right) is for either auto-fire or for manual (push the button) and the knob on the clear casing holding the board adjusts the automatic flash rate for the auto-fire.

It is supposed to be mounted button-down on the traverse crossbar in the bracket on top. There should be a sliding rod with a brass end there, and when you push the bottom of the shaft up (under the traverse gearbox) the rod end actuates the flash. You're supposed to attach a wedhe-shaped piece to a servo arm to actuate the rod. I think I have the instructions for mounting & operation in my old manuals file, I can send it on if you want.

And don't let that flash unit go cheap. Its no longer made, and the last one I saw on eBay went for over $40 US. Thats why my trio aren't for sale (though I would loan one to one of the electronics guys if they wanna take a shot at duplicating it)

I can talk ya through the other things (as I said) so just ask, or PM or email me, and we'll get your baby rolling.