Want to Buy Beseler 45 MX parts

[Dennis S]

I know that this is a long shot but what I am looking for is the filter drawer for my Beseler MXR. When my enlarger was manufactured the filter drawer was an option that wasn't chosen. I have the condenser glass and lamp house but don't have the drawer needed for colour filters. Hopefully in Canada but Western Canada even better.

 

[albada]

The filter drawer is part of the tubular casting for the condenser assembly. In your picture, you can see that the drawer and condenser tube are one casting. Does your casting have that drawer-portion? If not, you need a new condenser casting.

Mark

 

[Dennis S]

The filter drawer is part of the tubular casting for the condenser assembly. In your picture, you can see that the drawer and condenser tube are one casting. Does your casting have that drawer-portion? If not, you need a new condenser casting.

Mark

It doesn't as it is the older version when the drawer was an option on that enlarger, so I need the condenser casting. Someone may have that available in a collection of old Beseler parts as the one in the photo is availible on eBay but it is the whole thing (glass and light head) the seller wants $300 USD converted to Canadian $ is $411 which is out of my $$ range. I asked about just getting the casting that I need but nothing so far. Got a reply from the seller who told me "Dream on" .... So I guess I'm still looking

 

[mgb74]

Would that component be specific to the 45MX or almost any of the Bes 45 condenser variations?

 

[ntenny]

I don’t know what he has in stock at the moment, but I found a condenser casting for the Beseler 45 family—mine is a 45AF, but I think they’re cross-compatible—at Glennview. Might be worth checking in to see if he can come up with one with a filter drawer.

-NT

 

[mshchem]

Watch for this stuff on Craigslist etc.

Does your enlarger have the small red filter slider right above the lens? Beseler made a set of contrast filters back in the 50's into the 70's that fit this drawer. Would be easy to fit acetate filters for this. You have a old enlarger

 

[Rick A]

I use an Ilford under lens filter set with mine.

 

[Dan McGuire]

Dennis
I built a filter drawer for my 45MXT Frankenstein enlarger
it fits in where the negative carrier goes
I am at a loss to figure out how to up load the pictures (there is a reason I enjoy low tech analog photography)
DM me and I can send pictures if you are interested

 

[Dennis S]

Well it looks like I have found exactly what I need from member thornhill (Derek Green) that is on it's way too me. The guy is fairly local so the shipping price was quite reasonable as the other places needed to ship it with the glass (unneeded) from Ontario so basically what I would have paid just for shipping is the amount I paid. Great having a website like this for film photographers that need certain parts that are not widely available. My 45 MXR should be fully functional properly soon.

 

[mshchem]

Well it looks like I have found exactly what I need from member thornhill (Derek Green) that is on it's way too me. The guy is fairly local so the shipping price was quite reasonable as the other places needed to ship it with the glass (unneeded) from Ontario so basically what I would have paid just for shipping is the amount I paid. Great having a website like this for film photographers that need certain parts that are not widely available. My 45 MXR should be fully functional properly soon.

These old condenser heads work great, no gizmos or electronics.

 

[Nicholas Lindan]

A problem with the Beseler & Omega condenser heads is that the illumination isn't all that uniform. It isn't a problem with the head per se but the PH21X enlarger bulb and it's location over the condenser. The bulbs aren't all that uniform to start with and with use small particles of crud fall down inside the bulb and cause variations in illumination.

Durst enlargers mount the lamp base down and use a mirror to take the light from the side. Durst is very Germanic for being an Italian company.

 

[mshchem]

I use Beseler Universal color heads, RGB dichro filters, one is set up for color. Another with green and blue for VC. I have spares because these heads can just quit. I always think I should buy a LED head but never get around to it. I have too many enlargers and heads.

And I have a couple old condenser heads, illumination is good enough for me

 

[Dennis S]

Well everything has been installed and fits/works perfectly. Going to have to wait until I get less daylight for proper printing as I only have now is a bedroom/bathroom darkroom. Was doing a bit of Lith printing before that didn't need the use of contrast filters. When I used them before it was always a hassle getting them in a proper location that would work properly. When I did 35mm film I always used my 23C II but over the years I gave that away and increased my negative size to 4"x 5" so I only have my 45 MXR to use now.

 

[Dan McGuire]

Well everything has been installed and fits/works perfectly. Going to have to wait until I get less daylight for proper printing as I only have now is a bedroom/bathroom darkroom. Was doing a bit of Lith printing before that didn't need the use of contrast filters. When I used them before it was always a hassle getting them in a proper location that would work properly. When I did 35mm film I always used my 23C II but over the years I gave that away and increased my negative size to 4"x 5" so I only have my 45 MXR to use now.

Good luck