Beseler 45 MCRX issues - looking for manual

[jillnewman]

Hi there,

Picked up and old Beseler 45 MCRX and I having some circuit issues with the device. Originally I had purchased the enlarger with a switch to control the time of exposure, however when I plug in a timer to the enlarger, it has no control over the exposure and only works by turning the actual timer on and off.
This is an older device, but I am hoping there would be some information in the manual that may help me figure out the issue. I can find a website that has it available for download. hope to hear from someone!

Thanks for your time,

Jillian

 

[Sirius Glass]

Check out http://store.khbphotografix.com/Instruction-Manuals/

 

[Sirius Glass]

Welcome to APUG

 

[John Koehrer]

What brand/model timer is it? Some have a focus/time switch, some don't.
Because the enlarger turns on I'll ASSUME(!) it's just wiring from the timer to enlarger and not internals.

 

[480sparky]

I don't understand? The enlarger has a built-in timer that doesn't have a focus function?

 

[David Brown]

... however when I plug in a timer to the enlarger, it has no control over the exposure and only works by turning the actual timer on and off. ...

Not to be picky, but let's be clear. The enlarger should be plugged into the timer. The timer should NOT be plugged into the enlarger.

I have one of those enlargers. There is a switch on a short piece of wire that will turn the enlarger light on and off, correct? You need to leave that plugged in and turned on, but then the light source of the enlarger can be plugged directly into the timer, and the timer will control the light.

It's hard to visualize without illustrations, but I bet I can "see" what's happening.

 

[Sirius Glass]

I don't understand? The enlarger has a built-in timer that doesn't have a focus function?

My enlarger, not a Beseler, plugs into the timer/power stabilizer. I have to focus the lenses by adjusting the lens height and the aperture on the lens.

 

[jillnewman]

Wow, thank you! I plugged the head into the timer, and plugged the timer into the wall and it worked! Wonderful, thank you!

Also I am curious about leveling, I have leveled out the plane on the lens board to the table, but am concerned the film holder is not parallel. Any ideas on how to adjust?

I have been struggling to find a good resource for discontinued darkroom equipment, but I am currently setting up an operation with three separate enlarger systems, and Omega D2, a Varioscop 60 and now we also have the Bessler MCXR.
I'm sure once we begin production, I will have many more questions that need answering.

 

[480sparky]

....I have been struggling to find a good resource for discontinued darkroom equipment,..............

Good news......... you just found it.

 

[brent8927]

Wow, thank you! I plugged the head into the timer, and plugged the timer into the wall and it worked! Wonderful, thank you!

Also I am curious about leveling, I have leveled out the plane on the lens board to the table, but am concerned the film holder is not parallel. Any ideas on how to adjust?

I have been struggling to find a good resource for discontinued darkroom equipment, but I am currently setting up an operation with three separate enlarger systems, and Omega D2, a Varioscop 60 and now we also have the Bessler MCXR.
I'm sure once we begin production, I will have many more questions that need answering.

If I remember correctly (I sold my 4x5 a few years ago), you cannot adjust the film holder--just the lens board and the whole head. The lens board can be adjusted in the x-axis and the whole head assembly is adjusted in the z-axis.