Any ideas of what a Zone VI setup is worth?

[Gnomad]

Just getting back into film after a couple of decades of (a) raising children and (b) being poor, the 2 seem to be related :rolleyes: but now I find myself ready to jump back in. I have secured a Bronica ETR-C with 75mm and 150mm lenses and have dusted off the old Sears SLR and the X-700, found my film tank and spools, but haven;t found my enlarger and TBH I suspect I may have "lent" it to a neighborhood kid who was interested. I did find this on the local Craigslist.


"zone 6 cold light enlarger (south anc)
Reply to: sale-925792626@craigslist.org [?]
Date: 2008-11-19, 10:33AM AKST


Leaving state. Need to sell a zone 6 cold light enlarger with timer. Has not been set-up for several years. A very nice piece of equipment. Comes with drying screens, chemical bottles, print washer, and lots of other misc equipment.

All offers considered. "

I emailed for some particulars-a 120 carrier and the proper lens will be mandatory and got this reply (edited for relevance)


"80 or. 90 mm schneider lens

Yes set of gf filters

Yes 120 film carrier

I paid over $ 4000 in 1993 I have no idea what it is worth. It is really nice the timer alone was $450. "

Given that film equipment in general has tanked value wise, can anyone give me a fair to unfair starting price on this? I'm not even sure what a Zone 6 enlarger is, and looking it up has given me the impression that the Zone 6 part is the light source that attached to a enlarger. Any feedback appreicated.

 

[resummerfield]

If he bought it in 1993, it is probably a Type 2, which is the newer, and better type. The Type 2 has 2 "rails" to keep the lens standard in alignment during focusing, vs. the single standard of the earlier Type 1. I've seen Type 2 enlargers in good condition, with a few lensboards and neg carriers, sell in the $800 to $1000 range as recently at a year or so ago. They may go for less today.

Also check the type of timer included--the Type 2 is stabilized internally and can use most timers, but Zone 6 did make a very nice compensating timer, probably worth around $150 or so used.

They are nice enlargers for 4x5 and medium format, but a little dim, but usable, for 35mm. Good luck!

 

[John Koehrer]

There was a Very similar listing on CL Chicago recently. Last week or two I believe. Coincidence?

 

[cowanw]

I bought my 8X10 with all the goodies for 400 dollars in Detroit area last year.

 

[jeroldharter]

I don't have a Zone VI, I have Beselers but I do keep up on equipment.

You don't mention the light source for the enlarger. I believe the standard light source is a variable contrast cold light so you might check because I have seen some with just a basic cold light, Ilford multitgrade head, Beseler 45S and so on.

The older Type I enlargers referred to earlier tend to get marginal reviews, but the newer Type II enlargers get much better reviews. You can tell the difference in a photo by looking at the top of the light source. If you see one aluminum rod sticking up behind the light source then it is Type I; two rods is type II.

A fair price is highly variable. If it were a Type II with the variable contrast cold light head and the timer with dry down adjustment I might pay as much as $1000 if I lived in Alaska and could pick it up. Shipping 4x5 enlargers is expensive and they can be damaged in shipping. I think $500 would be on the low end, but reasonable (with insurance) if shipped all the way to Alaska.

I bought a Beseler 45 MXT that arrived in pretzel form but was too heavy and too much of a nuisance for me to re-pack and send back. The seller put it unsupported in a huge box filled with styrofoam peanuts many of which stuck to the enlarger like peanut butter and the rest were all over the floor after I opened the box. I bought it for about $100 with no light source so I just saved it for parts. If you do buy one that is shipped, ask them to wrap the thing in plastic before using peanuts or you will be a lifetime removing bits of styrofoam. Also, pay for a proper crate or other materials for shipping.

 

[nsurit]

Given that the market in Alsaka is not probably huge, I'd guess it is a buyer's market. Last year I bought a 5X7 Zone VI Type 2 enlarger, timer, 9 ft custom stainless sink, archival washer, a bunch of trays, three lenses, drying racks, a couple of easles and other stuff and doo dads for $800. All in very nice condition. In my case, this is what was being asked for the set up and I was thrilled. I'd probably figure what it was worth to me and make the person an offered that I felt would also be fair to them. Another three of four months my darkroom should be up and running. A happy camper am I. Bill Barber

 

[Gnomad]

Thanks for the input, and a big thank you to Richard who took the time to email me about the particulars I would want to ask about.

I'm reading these replies and now I wonder if this unit is really overkill for what I need right now. It sounds like a right serious piece of work, and honestly I'm not sure I have room for it right now. I don't think it would be practical to break it down and set it up every time I wanted to use it and I don't have dedicated space for it right now. I'll have to consider what you all have mentioned and make an offer, if the guy is leaving the state and doesn't want to pack it around he may be a very motivated seller.
Enlargers do come up on the local second hand store market on a semi-regular basis, they disappear faster than they used to though, I suspect that other folks like me have decided to get back into silver and are snapping them up. Just today I saw a large Vivitar enlarger-unfortunately, it was just the base and column, the head comes in a seperate box and that box was nowhere to be found. Or maybe my old enlarger will magically appear again.

 

[jeroldharter]

It might cost him more to move it than he could get for it. But these things are quite large and heavy so you need dedicated space for it. I have a Beseler 45VXL and I cannot lift it by myself for example. But if you have a chance to get a nice piece of equipment at a bargain price then go for it and see if you can make room in the future.

 

[nsurit]

I would not want it as an enlarger that required frequent moves and/or break downs. Bill Barber

 

[Venchka]

I have a Zone VI 16x20 screen print dryer and an 11x14 Zone VI print washer. Both are nice pieces of equipment. If the seller has the Zone VI dryer and washer they are worth having for any darkroom.

The washer is beautiful just to look at.