Beseler 23 wall mount?

fiddle · Jun 25, 2017

I was curious, does such a thing exist? is it possible to wall mount a Beseler 23 2.?
Thank you

Hilo · Jun 25, 2017

If I remember correctly, this enlarger's column system tilts forward. That makes it possible to do large prints, because the easels do not bump into the column as soon as with straight colums. So, from that parameter you do not need the wall mount. Perhaps to make the set-up more stable you could attach to the wall, but a complete wall mount is not a must for that.

I have a Durst Laborator 1000 wall mounted. That enlarger, when attached to it's base board won't go much higher than 30X40cm (12X16), in combination with normal easels (Leitz and RRB). The wall mount turned it into a totally professional enlarger, doing 20X24 easily and still significantly larger too.

mgb74 · Jun 25, 2017

I've never seen a "factory" wall mount for the 23c, but given the design, it would be fairly easy to craft one. Especially if you were also bracing it at the top.

darkroommike · Jun 25, 2017

If you just want to wall mount you can just make a (solid) shelf as wide as the baseboard plus a couple of inches deeper that the back end bracket, drill some holes and use some 1/4-inch bolts to screw the chassis down. You have to fuss a bit to get everything, plumb, square, and level but then you're are done. If you want something a bit more substantial you can use a short piece of BIG angle iron. You could also secure the top of the column to the wall at two points to make it more substantial.

The lamphouse sub assembly on most 23C models can also be tilted backwards for wall projection for making the occasional bigger print.

fiddle · Jun 25, 2017

Thanks for the responses.
Just moved Into a new home, darkroom would either be in garage, no plumbing, or basement with really low cealing, 6feet. Decided on the basement for the water, my thought was maybe wall mounting the enlarger at the highest point, and making a drop table so I could adjust the height of the table.
Have not measured what heights i need yet, projecting horizontally might be the ticket for larger enlargements. Usually do either 8x10 or 11x14, Will rarely do 16x20.

Magneting paint, or a metal sheet on the wall with magnetic strips able to hold the paper flat.?

Thanks again.

mgb74 · Jun 25, 2017

You shouldn't have an issue doing an 11x14 with a "normal" lens on the baseboard. But I don't think you could have the enlarger on a normal counter height table and raise the head up high enough with a 6 ft ceiling. (Are you sure it's 6 feet? I've never seen a ceiling under 7 ft.)

Regardless, I think - given that very low ceiling height - you're on the right track with a drop table that will allow you to work at normal height for your typical print size.

fiddle · Jun 25, 2017

Thanks mgb, think your right. Yep, beams are 6ft. Will end up being a tad shorter once I finish, 100 yr old house.
Guess I'll be sitting while I print, not a bad deal..

mgb74 · Jun 25, 2017

Even I would feel tall with a 6 ft ceiling.

Keep in mind the condenser housing will, at max height, be above the top of the girder. If it get's to the point that inches matter, seek out a cold light (not color) head that will be a bit shorter.

John Koehrer · Jun 25, 2017

I believe Beseler had a wall mount many years ago.
The easier solution(certainly faster) would be to DIY one with a drop table.

MattKing · Jun 25, 2017

I have my Omega D6 on a very stable and strong but low, rolling cart. It allows me to roll it through the door into the next room. I can either print large on to the low baseboard, or print normal sizes on to the movable cart that straddles the baseboard and low cart. The movable cart is at a comfortable height to stand and work at.
As my doors are almost seven feet high, I can actually squeeze a 16x20 easel on to the movable cart and print a full 16x20 there. With a 6 foot restriction, I expect I would be limited to 11x14.

fiddle · Jun 26, 2017

Thanks for the suggestions all...
11x14 might work fine on my normal table, still need to measure everything, in that case I wont need any fancy table etc. If I do want to print 16x20, what do you guys think is easier? Shoot down, lower table almost to the floor, work on my knees? flip enlarger, project horizontal to a wall. Some magnets on wall to hold paper.?

Thanks again.

Fujicaman1957 · Jun 26, 2017

fiddle-PM me your email address and I'll send you the plans for a "drop top" enlarging table I found in the old Petersen's Photographic book " Photo equipment you can make-vol. 1"

RalphLambrecht · Jun 26, 2017

fiddle said:
I was curious, does such a thing exist? is it possible to wall mount a Beseler 23 2.?
Thank you

it shouldn't be too difficult to make one. They make a big difference in stability when the top of the enlarger is fixed to the wall!

paul ron · Jun 26, 2017

all you need is a 6" x 18" ledge mounted to the wall. the vertical frame gets screwed into the ledge, then using aluminum angles at the top as bracing to the wall. just be sure to align the parallel s before bracing the top since you can make an adjustment by pulling or pushing it back.

your easel surface can be anywhere you like it, as long as you align it for parallel.

darkroommike · Jun 26, 2017

paul ron said:
all you need is a 6" x 18" ledge mounted to the wall. the vertical frame gets screwed into the ledge, then using aluminum angles at the top as bracing to the wall. just be sure to align the parallel s before bracing the top since you can make an adjustment by pulling or pushing it back.

your easel surface can be anywhere you like it, as long as you align it for parallel.

Rather than angle iron use a couple of turnbuckles like the ones the use on wooden screen doors.

http://www.doorandwindowparts.com/images/products/K-5037_02.jpg

fiddle · Jun 27, 2017

You guys are great.
Thanks for all the suggestion..

paul ron · Jun 27, 2017

darkroommike said:
Rather than angle iron use a couple of turnbuckles like the ones the use on wooden screen doors.

http://www.doorandwindowparts.com/images/products/K-5037_02.jpg

I tried turnbuckles but they weren't ridged enough to hold my adjustment. The angles worked perfectly. I attached the angles to the wall, then had them lay over the top of the frame. Once I pulled n racked the frame in place, I drove a couple self drilling screws right through n its fixed for life.

BTW I used a laser to adjust this enlarger. Its been mounted for 30 years n hasn't moved yet.

fiddle · Jun 27, 2017

So the angle iron rests on top of the enlargers frame on top, and you drilled into that. Makes sense to me..
Thanks again Paul.
If you ever see a guy with glasses and either a Leica or a Mamiya 7 running around Midtown.. Say hi.

paul ron · Jun 27, 2017

i just looked at mine... i think the frame has a hole in each corner, my screws are up through the angles.

btw i screwed my ledge into the studs of the wall.

we just may bump into eachother one day.

Beseler 23 wall mount?

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