Canon A-1 with a Canon 155A flash.

[Bill521]

I recently decided to go back to film photography. I purchased a Canon A-1 on eBay. The camera so far has worked and have already put two rolls of film through. I again went on eBay and purchased a Canon 155A flash unit. The flash does activate and will flash when to press the button on the back. The camera shows the flash is present with the F in the viewfinder finder, when you look through the viewfinder. The problem is it does not flash when I attempt tp snap a photo. Now I am unsure if it the camera or the Flash unit. Any suggestions as to which is the problem would be greatly appreciated.

 

[webestang645]

Could be a broken wire inside the flash. If you are comfortable doing so, open the flash unit and inspect the wires that connect to the hot shoe. A broken wire, especially the yellow one, is a common failure point that can be fixed by soldering it back together.
The hot shoe might be broken as well. You could try using a "Canon Synchro Cord A" to bypass the hot shoe.