Beseler 45 H

[studiocarter]

http://www.ebay.com/itm/322270806878?_trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT

This is a set the same as mine though without the bottle, label, and info sheet.

 

[darkroommike]

A set of Polycontrast filters arrived. 411A. 2 1/4 inches square. They fit in the little drawer. The proper instruction manual lists Varigam #407A filters. The manual for the 45M series enlargers lists both. No tabs can be used. There are 7 filters in my set plus a red safe lite filter.
This enlarger is so old Varigam paper was in use. That had to be in the early 1940's.

Varilour used Varigam filters and was still available according to the 1975 PhotoLab Index but my 1977 book no longer lists any DuPont products.

 

[Leigh B]

Leigh, The H must mean HAND and the other enlargers have a M for MOTOR

Interesting thought.

23C ?

45V ?

- Leigh

 

[studiocarter]

There are a lot of different Varigam filters on the bay now but they all have tabs, so they are not the ones for the 45H.

 

[darkroommike]

Interesting thought.

23C ?

45V ?

- Leigh

As long as we're guessing 23C = compact and 45V = vertical column (I'm pretty sure about this one)

 

[darkroommike]

There are a lot of different Varigam filters on the bay now but they all have tabs, so they are not the ones for the 45H.

But why? Varigam hasn't been made for 50 years! I'd fit it with a set of modern Mutigrade II filters and call it good enough.

 

[studiocarter]

But why? Varigam hasn't been made for 50 years! I'd fit it with a set of modern Mutigrade II filters and call it good enough.

There is no wide filter drawer. That was made for the 45HA and is an acessory. Screw a filter holder onto the lens or use the tiny 2 1/4 tray. I'm not about to cut all those filters to fit. I wish I could use the Ilford's set but they don't fit.
I do have an old partial set of Unicolor sheets that could be cut into pieces as they are 6x6 without the plastic holders. And if they warp, cut some more.
Yea, I'll have to get a new set of Ilford's sheet filters to chop to size.
A set of 3 1/2 inch filters cost less than the antique ones but are no way as cool. I hope they don't warp.

 

[darkroommike]

There is no wide filter drawer. That was made for the 45HA and is an acessory. Screw a filter holder onto the lens or use the tiny 2 1/4 tray. I'm not about to cut all those filters to fit. I wish I could use the Ilford's set but they don't fit.
I do have an old partial set of Unicolor sheets that could be cut into pieces as they are 6x6 without the plastic holders. And if they warp, cut some more.
Yea, I'll have to get a new set of Ilford's sheet filters to chop to size.
A set of 3 1/2 inch filters cost less than the antique ones but are no way as cool. I hope they don't warp.

Ilford makes a below the lens filter set as well as above the film stage sets in 3.5 inch and 6 inch sizes, it was these filters I was referring, too. Or find a set of Kodak Polymax filters, also available as a below the lens set (and made for Kodak by Ilford if I recall correctly). They won't fit in the Beseler's filter holder (which on occasion scratches the filters) but do not require a filter drawer.

 

[TheFlyingCamera]

Back in the day, when I had a cold-light head on my original 23C, I would just put the gelatin filters on top of the negative carrier. Worked just fine.

 

[Fujicaman1957]

Carter, FYI, the factory baseboard for the 45H is 25" by 18.5" by 1.5 thick

 

[studiocarter]

Carter, FYI, the factory baseboard for the 45H is 25" by 18.5" by 1.5 thick

Thanks, I had no such stock laying around so just used what I had. I hope it is flat enough.

 

[darkroommike]

Thanks, I had no such stock laying around so just used what I had. I hope it is flat enough.

Flat enough is not the issue, a big, dense ol' piece of MDF, 1.5 inches thick is a heck of a vibration damper, you'll be fine, just let the enlarger settle for a few moments after changing head height before printing.

 

[studiocarter]

 

[Fujicaman1957]

Carter-I noticed an "X" brace on the back of your 45H. Mine doesn't have that. Can you post a picture of it? I'm wondering if that was an optional item. And on the multi-contrast filters, what I did was epoxy a Series 6 retaining ring to a Kodak polycontrast under the lens filter holder and find Series 6 adapters for each of my enlarging lenses.

 

[studiocarter]

It really looks the same. If yours did have one the holes would be there for the screws. Here is a photograph of the back.

Good idea about the filters. Photo?

 

[Fujicaman1957]

Carter, there are no holes on the column to mount that brace-I'm wondering if it was a factory option. Also, my 45H has the cross piece at the top of the column mounted with 1 screw on each side and the lower hole has a rivet in it.

I made the filter holder with a series 6 to 7 step-up ring and use whatever slip on series 6 filter holder that fits the front of the lens.

It really looks the same. If yours did have one the holes would be there for the screws. Here is a photograph of the back.

Good idea about the filters. Photo?

 

[Fujicaman1957]

I used a series 6 to 7 step-up ring and glued it to the filter holder. Then I just use whatever size series 6 slip on filter holder that fits the lens I'm using.

 

[Fujicaman1957]

Carter, I think I've figured it out. I bought my 45H used and it shows signs of being repainted. My thinking is that who ever repainted it forgot to reinstall the "X" brace. I do have the threaded holes for it-I checked last night.

 

[studiocarter]

Fujicaman1957 way to go. Good work.
Michael

 

[Fujicaman1957]

Hey Michael-

There's a Beseler 23C baseboard on Ebay for around $30 all told right now. I checked and it's the same size as the factory base board for the 45H-25" by 18.5"