23CII Question

[reverend jay]

I've finally gotten around to setting my Beseler 23CII up the other day and I noticed that in the filter drawer above the condenser there is a square glass sitting on the tray that slides in the drawer. Does anyone know what this is for because it is just a normal square piece of glass. Could the previous owner used this for a diffuser of some kind or something. I can't imagine it is supposed to be there. Any ideas?

 

[E76]

If the previous owner used the enlarger to make color prints, it could be heat absorbing glass and/or a UV filter. I don't think a piece of glass in the filter holder came standard with the 23CII (at least not with any of the three I've used).

 

[MattKing]

Two possibilities:

1) a piece of glass that makes using unmounted filters possible; or
2) heat absorber glass, designed to protect negatives from heat.

Matt

 

[aparat]

It's the heat absorbing glass. It's very useful if you're using the condenser head.

 

[reverend jay]

Ahh.....That makes sense. I've just not seen this in any other 23C. I'm not sure I want another source of dust collection in there so I doubt I will be using it.

 

[E76]

You shouldn't have to worry about dust since the filter is above the condenser and therefore out of the plane of focus of the enlarging lens. I'd use it anyway—any dust that collects on it will not show up in enlargements.

 

[Jon Shiu]

The heat absorbing glass is normally greenish in color and pretty thick.

Jon

 

[Max Power]

If it is in fact heat-absorbing glass, you'll want to keep it in place, especially if you're doing any MF. It does a fantastic job of keeping your negs flat.

 

[aoresteen]

The only time to get rid of the heat absorbing glass is when you use a cold light head.

http://www.oresteen.com/bess23c.htm

 

[panastasia]

The only time to get rid of the heat absorbing glass is when you use a cold light head.

http://www.oresteen.com/bess23c.htm

Yes, the cold light head extends above the large filter drawer. The small filter drawer above the lens is all you'll need, for VC filters, if using cold light for B&W prints. Save the heat absorbing glass for other applications if you want to make color prints using a set of 5.5" x 5.5" color printing filters which include a UV filter in the set. You'll also need it if you're using the color head which generates heat even though they're fan cooled.

Paul