Want to Buy 4x5 diffusion chamber for Ilford 500h head

Trader history for MarkL (0)

MarkL

Subscriber
Joined
Jan 5, 2006
Messages
600
Location
Upstate NY
Format
4x5 Format
I have an Ilford 500h head and smaller format chambers, but not the 4x5!
 

George Nova Scotia

Subscriber
Joined
Mar 17, 2010
Messages
992
Location
Milford, Nova Scotia
Format
Multi Format
Leigh B said:
That's not mentioned in the User Manual nor in the Service Manual.

- Leigh
Click to expand...
There differences in the drop down - there are "dimples" near the base which determine how far the mixing box goes below the base of Ilford box. The beseler 45 unit is actually made in two parts. A search here on APUG will find a thread with pictures, maybe others with dimensions. Nothing is as simple as it should be there may also be a third manual, but I've only seen one version for a Focomat II.
 
OP
OP

MarkL

Subscriber
Joined
Jan 5, 2006
Messages
600
Location
Upstate NY
Format
4x5 Format
I have a Beseler 45. I do have chambers for smaller formats. When I get home I'll look at the other chambers and the manual. Hoping to purchase the 4x5 so I can use the thing!
 

Leigh B

Member
Joined
Jan 17, 2011
Messages
2,059
Location
Maryland, USA
Format
Multi Format
George Nova Scotia said:
Here are a few pictures of what you need
Click to expand...
What you show is the diffusion installation kit.
The translucent diffuser is not used in condenser installations.

Quoting from section 2.1 of the user manual:
"For some enlargers, two kits are available; a diffuser kit (which converts condenser enlargers to diffuser) or a condenser kit (which enables the enlarger condensers, and therefore, all the associated characteristics, to be retained). In these cases, the choice of kit depends on whether the user prefers diffuse or condensed light."

This is not the same as the mixing chamber, which is what the OP needs.

- Leigh
 

George Nova Scotia

Subscriber
Joined
Mar 17, 2010
Messages
992
Location
Milford, Nova Scotia
Format
Multi Format
You are correct, but also look at the notes in section 14 - only one mixing box is supplied with condenser kits. I suspect the OP will let us know. Have you ever seen a condenser kit on a Beseler 45?
 

Leigh B

Member
Joined
Jan 17, 2011
Messages
2,059
Location
Maryland, USA
Format
Multi Format
George Nova Scotia said:
Have you ever seen a condenser kit on a Beseler 45?
Click to expand...
The difference is that the condenser kit only has the mixing chamber; nothing below it.

That's how my Beseler 45MX is configured.

- Leigh
 
OP
OP

MarkL

Subscriber
Joined
Jan 5, 2006
Messages
600
Location
Upstate NY
Format
4x5 Format
After digging out my equipment, I see I mis-spoke about my needs. I actually do have the 4x5 chamber but not any adaptor for the Beseler 4x5. Below are pictures of the boxes/adaptors that came with the ebay purchase a few years ago. There was no way to anchor/position the head to the enlarger so I did rookie surgery and screwed an adaptor ring on as shown. I'm still unsure how it's supposed to sit on the enlarger and what I might still need. As I recall, I was having trouble with vignetted corners so maybe the mixing chamber wasn't sitting low enough. Any info is welcome.

 

paul ewins

Member
Joined
Jan 5, 2006
Messages
446
Location
Melbourne, A
Format
4x5 Format


Ilford 500H mixing box for Beseler 45, the LH piece sits in the bottom of the 500H head and protrudes through the base. The RH piece sits on top. If this was manufactured as a one piece unit it wouldn't be possible to remove it without pulling the head apart.



L - R, Beseler 45, Durst L1200, unknown used on Durst 138 conversion
 

Leigh B

Member
Joined
Jan 17, 2011
Messages
2,059
Location
Maryland, USA
Format
Multi Format
paul ewins said:
Ilford 500H mixing box for Beseler 45, the LH piece sits in the bottom of the 500H head and protrudes through the base.
Click to expand...
Correct, but only used for diffuser installations.

For condenser installations the mixing box on the right is used by itself.

- Leigh
 

paul ewins

Member
Joined
Jan 5, 2006
Messages
446
Location
Melbourne, A
Format
4x5 Format
Leigh, if he has the smaller mixing boxes then it is most likely the usual diffusion set up. A condenser setup is uncommon.
 

Leigh B

Member
Joined
Jan 17, 2011
Messages
2,059
Location
Maryland, USA
Format
Multi Format
paul ewins said:
Leigh, if he has the smaller mixing boxes then it is most likely the usual diffusion set up. A condenser setup is uncommon.
Click to expand...
IF is the most over-used word in the English language.

Assumptions are like a certain part of the human anatomy...
Everyone has one, and they all stink.

I was just quoting information from the Owner's Manual.

- Leigh
 
OP
OP

MarkL

Subscriber
Joined
Jan 5, 2006
Messages
600
Location
Upstate NY
Format
4x5 Format
You guys are so generous taking and posting pictures, and commenting! So Paul, referring to your last picture, it looks like I have the chamber on the right but I need the one on the left. If I can't find one, I wonder if I could make a crude replacement, even out of foam core board or something. It looks like its purpose is merely to support the upper box. The upper box I have has a thin piece of white acrylic diffusion in the bottom. I wonder why the Beseler box has to be elevated inside the head, since it appears that the lower section is also inside the head. As I recall, the light bulbs inside can be adjusted up or down to shine into the windows in the box.

And what is it that keeps the head from sliding off the enlarger? It must have some kind of collar that the enlarger "retainers" can slide over.

It's been several years since I used the head, but I remember really liking it and its timer.

Mark
 

paul ewins

Member
Joined
Jan 5, 2006
Messages
446
Location
Melbourne, A
Format
4x5 Format


Here are a couple of different adapter plates, the top one is for a Beseler 45 and the bottom one was for an Omega. From memory the four counter sunk holes around the inside edge match up with the screws that hold the retaining slides in place. You remove the slides and then screw the plate in place using the same screw holes. You need counter sunk screws for this - I can't remember whether the ones holding the slides in place are counter sunk or not so you may need to buy some new ones. You can then set the head in place and screw it onto the plate from the underside. The four screw holes around the outside should line up with screw holes in the base of the head.



This is the only photo I could find of it all set up, hopefully that will make it slightly clearer. I sold that enlarger a few years back so I'm afraid I can't do any better than this. The diffusion boxes are all set up to be the same height above the base of the head so that the windows in the side of the box line up with the lamps which loosely clip to the bottom lip of the window (depending on what enlarger your head was used on before they may need to be spaced out from the back of the head to be in the correct place). The different height below the base of the head is all about getting the diffusion panel as close as possible to the negative. The Beseler box has to be longer to cater for all of that compressed bellows you can see in the photo above. You may find that you can get away with using the box you have without any major issues.
 

Latif Crowder

Member
Joined
Jul 18, 2017
Messages
18
Location
Canada
Format
4x5 Format
MarkL said:
So generous of you to help Paul. Thanks very much.
Click to expand...
Hi Mark,
Did you ever find the mixing head for the Besler 45. I now find myself in the same situation.
Am looking for the two part box that Jeorge pictured in an answer above.
Thanks for any help with this.
Latif
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Menu
Log in
Register
Cookies are required to use this site. You must accept them to continue using the site. Learn more…