Am I too Late?

[Hubigpielover]

Trying to put together a darkroom and hopefully an enlarger but it seems like I am to late. Are there still good deals out there? I live in small town so do I advertise on the closet craigslist or in the local paper?

 

[David Brown]

It would help if you provided a little more specifics as to your "small town" and it's geographic location.

There is still plenty of gear out there. I currently have two enlargers that are surplus, I just haven't gotten around to cleaning them up and placing them out there for sale. If one is patient, you can usually get a whole darkroom for not much money. Depends on geography, of course.

Craigslist can be a good source. One just has to be careful and know what they're looking at.

Good luck.

 

[pentaxuser]

Yes unfortunately the last enlarger was sold 5 mins ago. Seriously there must be a load of equipment on e-bay, some of which are good deals. In terms of pricing trends then I do think that the days of give-away darkroom equipment may be over as the supply of second-hand equipment diminishes. The days of mass migration to digital by analogue users are likely to have passed.

pentaxuser

 

[Andrew O'Neill]

You're in the States. I don't think there is a shortage of used darkroom equipment... Even in Canada I can find tons of it.

 

[Paul Howell]

What format enlarger, 35mm MF or LF, for small to MF check out shopgoodwill.com. Although many are pick up only I got a nice 6X6 Meopta with shipping for under $40, masking negative carrier, and I just bought a digital timer for less than $20.

 

[msage]

Trying to put together a darkroom and hopefully an enlarger but it seems like I am to late. Are there still good deals out there? I live in small town so do I advertise on the closet craigslist or in the local paper?

It would be helpful to know where you are! Where the heck is Thibodaux?

 

[kenj8246]

Thibodaux: https://www.google.com/maps/place/T...6f2ce62f6860616!8m2!3d29.7957633!4d-90.822871

 

[Hubigpielover]

It would help if you provided a little more specifics as to your "small town" and it's geographic location.

There is still plenty of gear out there. I currently have two enlargers that are surplus, I just haven't gotten around to cleaning them up and placing them out there for sale. If one is patient, you can usually get a whole darkroom for not much money. Depends on geography, of course.

Craigslist can be a good source. One just has to be careful and know what they're looking at.

Good luck.

Thibodaux, La....small town almost to the Gulf of Mexico. I'm trying to be patient but it is hard. Everything I find is up north and nobody wants to ship an enlarger.

 

[Hubigpielover]

What format enlarger, 35mm MF or LF, for small to MF check out shopgoodwill.com. Although many are pick up only I got a nice 6X6 Meopta with shipping for under $40, masking negative carrier, and I just bought a digital timer for less than $20.

I keep an eye on it for local goodwill. Like you say they don't ship but maybe one will come up near me. Edit 35mm

 

[Hubigpielover]

Yes unfortunately the last enlarger was sold 5 mins ago. Seriously there must be a load of equipment on e-bay, some of which are good deals. In terms of pricing trends then I do think that the days of give-away darkroom equipment may be over as the supply of second-hand equipment diminishes. The days of mass migration to digital by analogue users are likely to have passed.

pentaxuser

I am always a day late and a dollar short.

 

[peter k.]

I am always a day late and a dollar short.

That may be true or not, who knows.. but your still sucking air.. and that's a big +

 

[rolleiLeicafilm]

I'm finding that large format enlargers are very hard come by now in Western Canada. Lots of 35mm entry gear but no pro-sumer level 4x5 enlargers.

 

[John Koehrer]

You might check the NO craigs list. Seems to be just over an hour.
Find a free one & the gas is covered.

 

[ac12]

Thibodaux, La....small town almost to the Gulf of Mexico. I'm trying to be patient but it is hard. Everything I find is up north and nobody wants to ship an enlarger.

The problem is the cost to box and ship the enlarger will be EXPENSIVE.
Most people have thrown away the original box the enlarger came in, so boxing it for safe shipping will be difficult.
You have to be willing to drive a bit to pick up the enlarger.

But be patient, and keep watching Craig's List and other similar sites.
Then be ready to jump FAST to buy it.

gud luk

 

[Peter Schrager]

You might check the NO craigs list. Seems to be just over an hour.
Find a free one & the gas is covered.

See if you can find a Minolta 6x7...sweet and easy to ship

 

[Wayne]

Trying to put together a darkroom and hopefully an enlarger but it seems like I am to late. Are there still good deals out there? I live in small town so do I advertise on the closet craigslist or in the local paper?

You're not too late at all. I still see enlargers every month or two on my craigslist.

Call the high schools as far as you're willing to drive; the stuff is probably long gone (if it was ever there) but you never know. Call the newspapers as far away as you're willing to drive (most stopped using enlargers 10+ years ago but they may have them in storage). Call art centers, see if you can post a wanted ad there. Google for small local auction sites. Put an ad on craigslist. Get a phone book and call area photo labs and photographers. You may have to invest some real time in the search but you'll find something. Just be wary of paying too much. There are people who havent touched their enlarger in 20 years who still think they are valuable. They really aren't. I wouldn't pay more than a few hundred for the best large format color enlarger, and most should be even less. You're not that far from NO, there's got to be plenty of enlargers and darkroom gear gathering dust there.

 

[Hubigpielover]

Yes unfortunately the last enlarger was sold 5 mins ago. Seriously there must be a load of equipment on e-bay, some of which are good deals. In terms of pricing trends then I do think that the days of give-away darkroom equipment may be over as the supply of second-hand equipment diminishes. The days of mass migration to digital by analogue users are likely to have passed.

pentaxuser

I find eBay to be overpriced in general when it comes to photography equipment. A lot of "rare" and don't know if it works but I'm charging like it does. all that aside, I do go on there from time to time. I will keep a better eye out for deals.

Thanks

 

[Hubigpielover]

See if you can find a Minolta 6x7...sweet and easy to ship

Cool thanks

That may be true or not, who knows.. but your still sucking air.. and that's a big +

Amen to that.

I'm finding that large format enlargers are very hard come by now in Western Canada. Lots of 35mm entry gear but no pro-sumer level 4x5 enlargers.

I don't know if people in the South got on the digital kick sooner or they are still keeping them because I rarely see them on craiglslist.

You might check the NO craigs list. Seems to be just over an hour.
Find a free one & the gas is covered.

 

[Hubigpielover]

You're not too late at all. I still see enlargers every month or two on my craigslist.

Call the high schools as far as you're willing to drive; the stuff is probably long gone (if it was ever there) but you never know. Call the newspapers as far away as you're willing to drive (most stopped using enlargers 10+ years ago but they may have them in storage). Call art centers, see if you can post a wanted ad there. Google for small local auction sites. Put an ad on craigslist. Get a phone book and call area photo labs and photographers. You may have to invest some real time in the search but you'll find something. Just be wary of paying too much. There are people who havent touched their enlarger in 20 years who still think they are valuable. They really aren't. I wouldn't pay more than a few hundred for the best large format color enlarger, and most should be even less. You're not that far from NO, there's got to be plenty of enlargers and darkroom gear gathering dust there.

That is a great idea. I will start where my mom teaches and try my old high school and work my way out.

Thanks!

 

[Wayne]

Oh, and put a wanted ad right here in the classifieds with your location in the title if you haven't already. You may find a local apugger willing to give you one or help you get one.

 

[Hubigpielover]

I spoke to soon! The guy finally responded to my emails. https://batonrouge.craigslist.org/for/5940635844.html

 

[Kino]

Not bad for the pair! I am constantly tripping over enlargers in Virginia and, to my chagrin, tend to take them home with me.

Hope this deal works out for you!

Frank

 

[Arklatexian]

You might check the NO craigs list. Seems to be just over an hour.
Find a free one & the gas is covered.

Thi

That is a great idea. I will start where my mom teaches and try my old high school and work my way out.

Thanks!

Thibodaux, in addition to New Orleans, there is Baton Rouge and at one time there was an active photo community in Lake Charles. Houston is not that much farther from you than is N.O.......Here in Shreveport the local photo society has long since gone _______ and those with darkrooms gave away or threw away their equipment. By the way just what is Hubig pie? I have heard the word but am not familiar with what it is....Regards!

 

[Sirius Glass]

No, you are not too late. Darkroom equipment is still available on Craig's list, APUG and Large Format Photography Forum. Some are available for free to a good home.

 

[mshchem]

I spoke to soon! The guy finally responded to my emails. https://batonrouge.craigslist.org/for/5940635844.html

That Beseler is terrific go for it