Beseler 45VXL questions

[ParkerSmithPhoto]

I'm looking at getting a Beseler 45VXL with the motorized lift and focus attachment. Any warnings on these?

That is, are the lift and focus units reliable or do they tend to croak? If the unit does croak how difficult and/or expensive is it to convert the enlarger to a manual lift?

Any other pros/cons on this unit based on your experience would be greatly appreciated as well. This will be a bit of a drive if I decide to get it, so I have no direct knowledge of it, just looked at pictures.

 

[Mark Crabtree]

It is a nice enlarger, but I use mine without the motor lift and focus. I have those parts but they were not installed when I purchased the enlarger, and I don't know why they were removed. The chassis is very rigid and alignment adjustments seem adequate, though not elegant. The focus mechanism on mine is fussy, but I suspect this is from incompetent assembly; I can work with it, and this is my #2 enlarger, so I haven't bothered to correct it.

I should have all the motorized parts if you want to buy some spares, but they are surprisingly heavy for shipping.

 

[Richard Warom]

I have one its very old but in good condition, the motorised lift works very well also the focusing, the one area of problem I have is the film holder part between the bellows is a bit tired so doesn't clamp the film holders without light leaking, to solve this I use a couple of spring loaded plastic clamps on the front corners and the problem is solved.
Richard

 

[rmann]

It is easy to convert back to a manual lift, you use the same gearing as the 23 enlarger. I have the motorized model, it works fine with the heads it was designed for. However, if you try to use a head that is heavier than the Beseler you may have problems. I had a heavy custom head on mine for a while and the motor would not lift it without a "push" from me. I now am using a lighter LED head and the motor handles it just fine. The VXL is designed with counterweights (metal plates ) on the inside of the head, these can be removed or added to balance the load. (FYI - George Brown on Ebay is selling a custom "L" bracket for the VXL - it adds extra rigidity and the ability to make adjustments.)

 

[Whiteymorange]

I only have my own experience to go by, but I have come across a half dozen of these things over the years in various configurations. The motor lift has always been operational, even when the rest of the enlarger had seen far better days.

 

[ParkerSmithPhoto]

It is easy to convert back to a manual lift, you use the same gearing as the 23 enlarger. I have the motorized model, it works fine with the heads it was designed for. However, if you try to use a head that is heavier than the Beseler you may have problems. I had a heavy custom head on mine for a while and the motor would not lift it without a "push" from me. I now am using a lighter LED head and the motor handles it just fine. The VXL is designed with counterweights (metal plates ) on the inside of the head, these can be removed or added to balance the load. (FYI - George Brown on Ebay is selling a custom "L" bracket for the VXL - it adds extra rigidity and the ability to make adjustments.)

So the head is counterweighted and doesn't just "fall" like the 23C?

 

[Jon Shiu]

So the head is counterweighted and doesn't just "fall" like the 23C?

The counterweights are to balance the powerful lift springs, ie if you have a light weight head you add more weight. If a heavy head like the 8x10 head, you take off the weight.

The 23C also had powerful lift springs and will not fall, but will tend to rise.

Jon

 

[ParkerSmithPhoto]

The counterweights are to balance the powerful lift springs, ie if you have a light weight head you add more weight. If a heavy head like the 8x10 head, you take off the weight.

The 23C also had powerful lift springs and will not fall, but will tend to rise.

Jon

That's funny. My 23C, when the lock is released, drops like a stone. I never knew it could be different.

 

[Ian C]

Properly adjusted, the counterbalance spring of the Beseler 23C will hold the head in position so that it doesn’t fall or rise. It should be locked to the column when you have it positioned as wanted.

See “Adjustment of Counterbalance Spring” on page 10-11 of the manual.

http://www.jollinger.com/photo/cam-coll/manuals/enlargers/beseler/Beseler_23C(newer).pdf

 

[ParkerSmithPhoto]

I'm a little confused as to how the 45VXL loads the neg carrier. It looks like the head lifts up like an Omega rather than the neg stage dropping down as on the 45MX.

Another APUGer has a 45MCRX condenser head available. Will this work on the 45V? As it is, the enlarger has no light source so I need to be sure before I start making purchases.

Thanks.

 

[MattKing]

From the Beseler site:

"[h=3]45 V-XL The Professional's Enlarger[/h]The 45 V-XL sets the standard for professional laboratory use, offering faster operation, greater productivity, increased efficiency and unprecedented versatility in a large format enlarger. Its massive, twin E-Channel, center-braced, vertical column assures that the center of the projected image remains stationary when changing image magnification. Thus, there is no need to reposition the enlarging easel, especially important with roll easel users. The extra long column permits enlargements greater than 24x on the baseboard from 35 mm film with a 50 mm lens.The 45V-XL accepts the Beseler 3 lens turret, all the 45 series light sources, all 45 series lensboards and film carriers" (emphasis added)

 

[ParkerSmithPhoto]

One last question, and thanks for all the help. I'd rather not transport this beast with the carriage attached. Is it fairly easy to remove the carriage assembly from the column and remove the column from the baseboard? How is the column attached (hex bolts?)?

If anyone has the manual and can shoot me a quick scan or even a photo of that info, I'd be eternally grateful. I'm hoping this will be my last enlarger purchase, like forever.

Thanks again.

 

[rmann]

Column is easy to remove from the baseboard, the carriage I would leave in a locked position at the top. I think you can still get a manual from the Beseler website.