Beseler 45M Question

[KN4SMF]

I have a Beseler 45M, the old original one with no other designation than the 45M. Mine has no Resistrol unit, which raises the question if it was ever issured with one. If so I have found a Resistrol off a 45MXT. will it fit correctly on my machine? Here are a couple photos. Thank you.

 

[Konical]

Good Evening, KN4SMF,

There are older and newer variants of the Beseler 45, but I suspect that a Resistrol unit can probably be used with any of them.

However--I'm not sure it's worth the bother of installing, even though that would probably not be difficult. I have used a 45 MCR-X since the mid-'70's; I can count on the fingers of one hand the number of times I can recall using any Resistrol setting except full power.

Konical

 

[KN4SMF]

Thank you. I will go ahead and buy the unit, as the price is right. I am figuring using it perhaps permanently set 1 notch below full, just to stretch bulb life. Bulbs aren't as asy or quick to come by these days. Although I have an idea if I follow that route I will probably have some experimenting to do to re-establish what VC filter to use for "normal contrast", since the color of the light will no doubt be yellowed by the reduction.

 

[choiliefan]

I too have an MCRX with Resistrol.
Only difference between the one pictured and mine is a Beseler plug-in voltmeter at the top of the unit.
The meter gives a good visual representation and better control dealing with fluctuations in line voltage.

 

[KN4SMF]

The link below is the link to the auction for the Resistrol unit i just bought. My main reason I went ahead and got it it is the hope i could dial it back a hair and make my bulb last longer. As you can see, it came with other items I didn't care anything about. but one of the items is curious. It's the thing that looks like some sort of 35mm carrier doohickie. Not sure what it is, but it doesn't look like anything that would go with my enlarger. I also ordered a 2 1/4 x 3 1/4 negative carrier so I can enlarge the film from my new Mockba 4 camera, which I am very happy with. This weekend I'm going to get my Beseler 45 all cleaned up and get it set up for work. That motorized column is really neat. Later on I'm going to try to dig up a cheapo dichro head so I don't have to fiddle with multigrade filters. Of course at that time, the Resistrol unit will become unnecessary. My studies have told me to steer clear of the Minolta heads with the flashtubes.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Parts-lot-...e=STRK:MEBIDX:IT&_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649