2026-08-12 Manfrotto Professional Tripod with Art. 290 Aluminum Legs and 056 Head

 I had been really searching for something to purchase in my local thrift store, without much luck. There weren’t any cameras, or anything else photographic. I had found yet another LED flashlight—something I have been acquiring lately—and was trying to settle for that. This new LED light was rechargeable and had a USB charging port, while most of my other flashlights required AA batteries and didn’t have a USB charging connection.

    Anyway, I had decided to bite the bullet and replace the LED flashlight where I had found it. Being over in the hardware area to do that, I suddenly spotted a tripod tucked into a corner of a bookcase. When I lifted it out I was astonished to see a spotless, unscratched, unscuffed Manfrotto—a made in Italy Manfrotto (many today are made in China)—

Set of Art. 290 aluminum legs with

 

a 056 head “Professional” tripod.

    I was sitting in a convenient chair in the thrift store examining a rather puzzling feature of the tripod. I had erected the tripod and found one leg’s section locks were facing inwards. Not only that, but the locks weren’t working that well. 

    It took just a moment to realize someone had removed the locks and when they reinstalled them had mounted the bolt heads and twist heads the wrong way around. 

    The casting for the section locks have cast in bolt head sockets so the bolt is locked from rotating. The twist on locks can then tighten down to lock the section in place. Taking both problem locks off and reinstalling them not only fixed the locking action but also had the finger tightening twist locks all facing out from the center column as they were meant to be.
    While I was playing with the tripod one of my long-time fellow thrift store buddies came by and commented that her granddaughter needed a tripod. The granddaughter’s roommate had stolen her granddaughter’s tripod. This left me in a moral dilemma. This particular fellow thrift store buddy had once done me a huge collecting favour, yet I was reluctant to give up my Manfrotto find.
    The reasons are complex. I have my long time belief that my collecting fortune is God’s way of making my life rewarding. If I was to spurn my reward I might not have such luck again! 
    I said, “There are many tripods out in thrift stores (I knew this friend was on the way to at least three more thrift stores the same day) so I am sure you will find one soon.” It is true, but anyone with 70 tripods should be willing to pass one along especially to return a favour.
    In a way I hope I was right*, because I found the tripod had a second really hidden problem the granddaughter might not notice. I was carrying the tripod by the camera platform part of the 056 head assembly when I noticed there was some play between the camera platform and the column. I tried tightening all the twist locks yet the platform still moved. The motion was small, but any movement is too much.
    

    Looking at the underneath of the column to head coupling I found three slot headed set screws. When I tightened them down the small amount of rotation was stopped. Just for curiosity I backed off all three set screws and unscrewed the 056 head from the column top. 

    There is a pattern of cast-in wedge faces. You can screw the 056 head down on the column mount and then explore which of the three set screws goes in the farthest. 

    Once you determine that you can screw the other set screws in—I alternated tightening the two that weren’t going in as far—until they all set home, then I changed to tightening all of them firmly. You want the set screw to bite into the paint without stripping the threads.
Now the tripod is working as it should, with all adjustments locking the camera position as they should.

*The thrift shop buddy did find her granddaughter a tripod later that day.