Automega E3 5x7 Glass Carrier Needs New Anti-Newton Glass

Nokton48

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5x7 Glass Omega E3 Carrier needs new glass by Nokton48, on Flickr

This is an Automega E3 5x7 Glass Negative Carrier I just received. The top glass is missing, and the bottom has a crack in one corner. I'd like to replace them both.

I've looked at old threads, and I'm still not sure where to go. Where are the best sources for these replacement pieces? Short of buying another carrier.
 

Lachlan Young

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Currently trying to make sense of some MPP Micromatic carriers that look exactly like those (the whole machine looks very like a direct - probably licensed - copy of the E3, autofocus and all - & made until the 1980's!) - I'm not entirely sure how the top glass is supposed to be attached other than dropped in on top of the film resting on the lower glass. Kienzle will likely be able to supply suitable glass from Germany if needed.
 

Oren Grad

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StepheKoontz said:
Really? I got some glass from them a few months ago for my scanner.
Click to expand...

Yes, alas, I verified it via email with Mike a few hours ago:

Hi Oren
Unfortunately the demand for our glass has lowered to the point that it's become unprofitable. It's been a good 30 years but all things must come to an end.
Best Regards
 
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Nokton48

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5x7 Glass Omega E3 Carrier needs new glass by Nokton48, on Flickr

Stephe,
I know you are great at building things. This is really more than just finding the ANR glass. Pieces are missing and will need to be fabricated. Not so easy for me to do ! I think this would be a major design project, and takes time away from getting the enlarger itself completed.

I'm buying some old Omega E parts from Glenn Evans, and I inquired about having him rebuild this Omega E-3 5x7 glass carrier unit. I don't have all the parts, he will have to make the clips, etc. So the carrier is on it's way to Glenn. He had built a number of custom things for me in the past.

www.glennview.com

I do have the original instruction book (from 1947) coming here soon.

Automega E3 by Nokton48, on Flickr

Automega E3 Instructions by Nokton48, on Flickr
 
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Nokton48

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Durst 138 ANR 5x7 Glass by Nokton48, on Flickr

Glenn says he is out of Anti Newton glass, but suggests perhaps coated glass? We will see.

Meanwhile I snagged this original Durst 138 5x7 ANR glass (German Ebay) for about $85 total delivered.
 
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Nokton48

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Thanks for the kind offer Lachlan!

Glenn Evans is rebuilding my 5x7 carrier for me. He has original Omega bottom glass, but is using clear glass in the top, it's all he has, that is thin enough to fit in the carrier. He has to bevel the glass, manufacture aluminum clips to hold the glass (same bevel as the glass) and install miniature screws (which he has) to hold it all together, both top and bottom.

He's charging me $125 for the job (design and construction) and I think that's quite fair. I'll keep searching for some thin coated glass.

Today I installed my new E3 in the darkroom, it's using the 4x5 glassless carrier and E3 4x5 Condenser head. Needs aligned but the projected image looks pretty good with the 190 Wolly.

E3 Finally Installed by Nokton48, on Flickr

I'm ready to start printing again. Bought some more Multigrade developer yesterday, as well as some more paper.
 
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Nokton48

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Printing with new E3 by Nokton48, on Flickr

Today I disassembled and rebuilt the LED head I received with my Automega E3. I mounted the LED driver on top of the head (as Jerry bodine did) which gives more room inside for spreading out the diffusion plexi inside and now it's pretty even. Using my Pentax Digital Spotmeter I can see the center is 1/3 stop brighter than the four corners. I can live with that.

So tonight I am printing through 5x7 glass carrier with the E3 and the LED

Lens is my fave 180mm f5.6 Rodagon 90s version

Enlarger E3 has some "flex" but what saves me is the "Laser Align". I confirm alignment right before exposing.
 
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Nokton48

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Completed E3 5x7 Glass Carrier by Nokton48, on Flickr


Here is the completed Automega E3 5x7 Glass Negative Carrier. On the right, you can see the beveled glass and custom made clips that Glenn Evans manufactured. On the left, is a sheet of Durst L138 Glass (Non Anti Newton) that came from a dealer in Austria. Using a Dremel Grinder bit attached to my mini drill press, I slowly reduced the width of the glass, until it was a perfect fit in the Omega top frame. This took many hours to get just right. I then use 3M 850 Tape to build up the thickness of the ends of the glass. This required many many thicknesses of 850 tape. When I was satisfied with the glass tightly holding my test 4x5 negative, I used more 850 Tape to secure the glass to the bottom part of the top carrier frame. Glenn could not do anything with the top part of the frame.

So it works! Not Anti Newton but it gets me going. Sure took long enough to build!
 
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Nokton48

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Latest Darkroom Renovation 4 by Nokton48, on Flickr

After a good amount of metalwork, the E3 is much better aligned, has a new Omegalite head (my fave). Yesterday I setup four choice lenses, and on each added three point adjustments for accurate laser alignment. Lots of drilling tapping and lots of black masking tape.

Shown on the baseboard are the 180mm chrome Componon, 210mm chrome Componon, 240mm chrome Componon, and black 150mm F9 G Claron. All of these laser align to the baseboard at this point.

The E4 Omegalite looks like it will be bright enough (40W) to burn an 8x10 in a reasonable period of time. And no heat!
Using the E3 5x7 glass carrier that I restored.
 
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Nokton48

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OK Now I am thinking again about trying to get some A/N glass for this thing.

Maybe the third time will be the charm
 

removed account4

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have you contacted http://www.khbphotografix.com/ ?
when I got a E4 i bought a carrier from them
they are fantastic people - super friendly super knowledgeable
and their prices are pretty amazing... did I mention they were great ?
 
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