Beseler 45MXT manipulation

Hi all,

I recently acquired a 45MXT after owning for a while a 23CII XL.

Something bothers me: why is it that it's the lower negative stage that comes down instead of the upper one (as it is on all enlargers I have used, and I have used quite a few) when we remove the negative carrier?

I am just trying to understand why since it has a direct impact on the negative to lens distance, which is not the case on other enlargers.

I've used Beseler 45M models in various incarnations for 30+ years. The fact that the lower part of the negative stage opens instead of the top (like Omegas, etc.) has never been an issue (I've used lots of Omega Ds too as well as others). In fact, I prefer it; no need to lift the light source all the time. No problems with negative focus; just focus after closing

Best,

Doremus

Another long time 45M user. I switched from Omega's that drop the condensers onto the negative stage. No matter how careful it knocks the neg stage out of alignment.

Not quite sure if this is what you mean, but I maintained a bank of Omega D5-XLs for 20+ years. The lamp housing (and condensers) is lowered down onto the negative carrier placed on top of the lens stage. I was forever alligning negative stages because, despite verbal and written warnings, students would let that heavy lamp house slam down onto the negative stage after they removed their negative carrier.

And I was probably tightening those screws on the negative stage a lot tighter than Mal! LOL!

Negative to lens distance has to be determined when the negative carrier is clamped in place--you don't do any focusing until that point.

Vaughn said:

Not quite sure if this is what you mean, but I maintained a bank of Omega D5-XLs for 20+ years. The lamp housing (and condensers) is lowered down onto the negative carrier placed on top of the lens stage. I was forever alligning negative stages because, despite verbal and written warnings, students would let that heavy lamp house slam down onto the negative stage after they removed their negative carrier.

And I was probably tightening those screws on the negative stage a lot tighter than Mal! LOL!

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You are right, care goes a long way. My only experience is with well used D2s and they always lifted one corner of the condenser first the opposite side hitting first. You try to be careful ..... When I had to make a choice I bought Beseler. Plus it was 1970 and Ansel had one. LOL

voceumana said:

Negative to lens distance has to be determined when the negative carrier is clamped in place--you don't do any focusing until that point.

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Yes but you are always pulling the neg carrier for a speck of dust or something. If your springs are good and dovetails adjusted the carrier position is consistent, no need to refocus, although I have so I am sure it was a waste of time. LOL

On the D5s (we had 14 of them) adjusting the four arms that lifted the lamphouse/condensers so that they lifted it evenly was a challenge, but important. I alligned all of them at the beginning of the semester (and cleaning lenses and the 3 condensers and vacuuming out the enlarger) and usually checked them during a break -- and depended on the students/instructors to tell me if one had gone wonkers in between. They are very solid machines. Most were set up with just a 50mm lens, but several had turrets that had 50, 80, and 135 mm lenses installed. But I would not have minded if they were all Beseler 4x5s either..

The other side of the darkroom had a bank of 8 23CIIs -- all with 50mm lenses. Most beginners seem to prefer the 23CIIs -- smaller, less intiminating. Much easier to keep alligned. And the counter-balance springs never break - an issue with the D5s.

My first Beseler burned in the Sobranes Fire. I bought a "new" one of a similar vintage a couple years ago. It is in excellent shape and came with the now $900 stand. First thing was alignment, way out in both axis. I backed up and looked and the whole carriage was tilted. I pulled the bottom stop pin, ran the carriage off the tracks then back on only Square with the frame. The other axis is easy. No telling how many years the racks and pinions were 1 tooth off.