Anyone else fascinated with enlargers?

[Don_ih]

People with enlargers do not need to buy or use those male enhancement products.

Nor do people without enlargers...

 

[Vaughn]

I packed mules for ten seasons (all of the 1980s, May - Oct) and have not done so since but once when someone else did all the work.
After that, I took care of 20 enlargers in the teaching darkroom of a university that serviced 100 to 125 students per quarter, three quarters a year, for 20+ years. I haven't used an enlarger since (almost true...I snuck into a darkroom and used one a few years ago).

So no...mules, enlargers...no longer fascinated by 'em.

Edit to add: This doesn't mean I wouldn't run the lamphousing up and down the column a few times...or not scratch deep inside their ears until their lips droop and eye lashes quiver a little.

Or was it until their lower lip quivers and eyelashes droop...been too long...

 

[Sirius Glass]

I packed mules for ten seasons (all of the 1980s, May - Oct) and have not done so since but once when someone else did all the work.
After that, I took care of 20 enlargers in the teaching darkroom of a university that serviced 100 to 125 students per quarter, three quarters a year, for 20+ years. I haven't used an enlarger since (almost true...I snuck into a darkroom and used one a few years ago).

So no...mules, enlargers...no longer fascinated by 'em.

Edit to add: This doesn't mean I wouldn't run the lamphousing up and down the column a few times...or not scratch deep inside their ears until their lips droop and eye lashes quiver a little.

Or was it until their lower lip quivers and eyelashes droop...been too long...

Mules tend to be a bit messier than enlargers in general although there must be some exceptions somewhere.

 

[Vaughn]

Both can get unbalanced, and both can get a bit ornery if mis-treated...

...have you every cleaned a darkroom after 20 enlargers were in constant use (by mostly beginners) for 16 hours?

-- thankfully me neither -- usually there were empty enlarger stations during day.

 

[faberryman]

I am not really fascinated by enlargers. I mean I like my enlarger and everything, but It is basically a light bulb. It has a motor to make it go up and down, so it is like a motorized light bulb. Maybe if the motor had a remote control I would be fascinated.

 

[Sirius Glass]

I am not really fascinated by enlargers. I mean I like my enlarger and everything, but It is basically a light bulb. It has a motor to make it go up and down, so it is like a motorized light bulb. Maybe if the motor had a remote control I would be fascinated.

Yours has a motor! Mine does not! Now I have GAS and enlarger envy!

 

[VinceInMT]

While I one have one enlarger and that’s enough for me, I am extremely curious what is is in the psyche of some that attracts them to this type of fascination/passion. I suppose I could use myself as a subject since, last count, I am up to 49 machines that do magnetic recording of one type of another and it’s is extremely hard to resist another batch of 8-track tapes, even if I don’t really care what music is on them.

 

[faberryman]

I think the new Heiland has a remote.

It does. With several buttons. I think the entry level model comes with a step ladder instead of a remote though.

 

[GKC]

I use an ancient Meopta 4x4 as a light source for contact printing 8x10 and 5x7 negs.

 

[mehguy]

Just noticed your Amiga Avatar. I loved them in the day. A500, A3000.

Still have my A2500 kicking around

 

[foc]

My first love

(not my photo)

 

[AgX]

Kind of Jack in the Box.

 

[Sirius Glass]

I can generally fall asleep at night without thinking about enlargers.

 

[AgX]

as you are busy with your cameras...

 

[AgX]

Back to enlargers.
What I find interesting is that there were only 2 manufacturers (I know of) who made enlargers in a suitcase. Be it the case serving also as baseboard or just as storing case.

 

[GKC]

Old enlargers can be rabbit holes if they don't come with all the goodies.
I found it's often cheaper to buy another than to find andbuy all the parts needed to add another format to an existing enlarger that didn't come with them.
That's how I ended up with all of mine.
It's an illness, I tell you

 

[c t b]

I agree