Beseler 45A manual

[hicpics]

Hi,

I'm trying to find a manual for the 45A I got for free. Anyways does anyone know a good source for a manual preferably free I'm really tight on money. I've already contacted Beseler and haven't heard back yet. Or if you can tell me how to use it mainly I'm trying to figure out the color analyzer part.

Thanks in advance.

 

[mgb74]

I have a pdf copy of the Beseler 45mxt enlarger. PM me with your email if you'd like a copy.

 

[frobozz]

Back when I had a 45MXT, I scanned my manual. Not sure how close it is to a 45A, but if it will help, here you go:

http://backglass.org/duncan/darkroom/beseler_45mxt.pdf

Duncan

 

[hicpics]

Sorry I should have added photo's first,but here is a photo.

I mainly need help on how to use the controller and color analyzer.

 

[frobozz]

Er, is that a Minolta 45A head on a Beseler enlarger chassis? (The picture is too tiny to see for sure...)

Duncan

 

[hicpics]

Yep sorry about that. It comes up pretty big on mine for some reason I'll try getting a better one.

 

[hicpics]

Here we go

 

[hicpics]

Does anyone know how to use it. This is my first enlarger which was probably a bad idea for a beginner, but anyways I've got some expired paper on the way.

 

[glbeas]

I have a 45A, and I think I have the manual somewhere. If I can dig it up I'll scan it for you and email a file to you.

 

[hicpics]

Thanks that would be nice.

 

[EdSawyer]

I have the manual, service manual, and a bunch of updates from ColorBAT (who used to service these), posted here:

http://pubpages.unh.edu/~eme39/beseler_45A_manual.zip

This is a great color head, (and enlarger too), I think it's the best color head Beseler ever made or sold, easily. Very sophisticated, even if you don't bother with the analyzer part. I have 5 or 6 of these (mostly since they can be found cheap, and to have them as spares), a bunch of spare bulbs, and a couple of the mixing chambers.

I generally only shoot one or two emulsions (Ektar and Portra), so once I have a base exposure sorted out, I rarely bother using the analyzer, but if you do a lot of different emulsions or different papers, it's pretty handy. My only gripes are the replacement flash bulbs are hard to find cheaply (cheaper to buy spare full heads, usually), and the flash tube output is somewhat low for really large prints (20x24 or higher, say.)

Using your enlarging lens wide-open makes life easier for the flash tubes. Usually I use mine @ f/8 but may switch to f/5.6 in the future. Doing so requires a pretty well aligned enlarger (and a good enlarging lens that is at its best wide open, like 105mm APO El-Nikkor).

enjoy!
-Ed

 

[hicpics]

Alright thank you. It's to bad they don't make the bulbs. Mine came with a rodenstock(I think) lens. I think those are top of the line aren't they i'm kinda new to this stuff.

 

[EdSawyer]

More

Bulbs can be had on ebay if need be, but its usually cheaper to buy a whole spare head, which will have vulbs in it.