Nikon SB-24 and SB-26 flashes

[dougsmit]

For some months I have been a fan of the 'Strobist' Strobist: Lighting 101
way of lighting and have one each Nikon SB-24 and SB-26 flashes which come highly recommended on that site. My SB-24 came with a bracket and cord set SK-E900 which came packed with instructions for use on a Coolpix 990 camera. I note that the included cord fits the socke on the side of the SB-26 and fires the flashes together when connected.

Does anyone have experience using this corded multiflash but not using TTL (these flashes were made for film TTL and are not compatable with digital)? I realize that I can set the two flashes manually (perhaps with different power settings) but I am having trouble figuring how to use the thyristor automation with linked flashes. Does it work? Does one set both flashes to 'A'? Can one flash be reduced in power in relation to the other by setting one, for example, to f/8 and the other to f/16? I could see how Nikon might have included the thyristor eye as a backwards compatable feature and not counted on it working in multiflash. If both flashes are set to auto do both lights meter separately or does one eye take over and quench both at the same time? The pair works fine on manual but I wondered if there might be a bonus of having that cord since it came along with the flash.

Hints for using this set up would be appreciated if anyone remembers using these in the 'old days'. Thanks.