Besseler 23C III XL Dichro Colorhead Enlarger . . . What to look for?

[John Galt]

I already have NOS Beseler 23C II that I use for B&W. Paid $20 (twenty) for it because it was missing a few small parts. Got the parts on sleazebay for <$20 so still a good deal . . .

Anyway, I have a lead on a very nice 23C III XL with Dichro Colorhead . . . No idea on pricing yet. I will be visiting it sometime in the next few days or so . . . What should I look for before deciding on a purchase? Also what would be a good deal? 23 C IIs are listed on a 100 mile Craigslist search from "free come and take it out of my garage", a PAIR for $20 . . . on up to $299.

I have never done color before. But if this is a good deal I may give it a try.

Thanks in advance . . .

 

[John Galt]

Bueller? Bueller?

 

[mshchem]

That's a pretty enlarger . I used a Dichro head for years for VC. I have accumulated some amazing equipment that people just want gone. It's hard for people to understand that something that they paid several thousand dollars for 15 years ago is going for 5 cents on the dollar.
I have 4x5 Beseler equipment, works great.
Color printing is a lot of fun, remember that Fuji is the last company to make cut sheets of color paper. Everything Kodak comes in expensive rolls.

 

[craigclu]

If you get the dichro, you'll likely find yourself eventually using it for B&W VC work. Much like a cold light for spotting issue advantages over the condensor. I know of these popping bulbs. It tends to be caused by corrosion on the bulb sockets and pins. If it's been sitting for awhile, you might want to clean them up with some abrasive.

 

[Martin Rickards]

And keep your fingers off the dichro bulb. failing to do so can reduce bulb life significantly.

 

[choiliefan]

Make sure the mixing box is suitable for the largest format you shoot.

 

[John Galt]

I purchased this enlarger and a metric crap-load of Kodak chemicals, fixer, developers, toners, ind stop, photoflo etc . . . along with a 55 gallon garbage bag filled with plastic brown jugs (all sizes), 3 of those modern rectangular safe lights, a big box of graduates and funnels, two GraLab timers, a half dozen easels,150 sheets of Ilford MGIV FB 16x20 glossy paper, and 50 sheets of Foma Fomabrom glossy 16x20. Plus a bunch of trays, 6 each of sizes up to 18x24 . . . all for $250 dollars . . The paper is all good, I tested it for fogging this afternoon . . . paper is all 5-7 yrs old. It may have lost a couple grades of contrast though just because of it's age. The enlarger was purchased new in 2012, came with El Nikkor 50mm and 90mm lenses, neg holders, and lensboards

going back tomorrow to grab the entire dry-mount system . . . Seal Commercial 210M dry-mount press, rotary cutter, two rolls of dry-mount tissue, two rolls of release paper, 25 Seal Colormount cover sheets, tack iron and several hundred various matte boards, frames etc . . . and a bunch of other stuff I don't know what it is . . for $100, Score!

All of this stuff belonged to a locally renowned artist who did a lot with alternative processes . . . combined wet darkroom printing with lith, toners, oils, color touch-up etc . . all of this stuff is less than 10 yrs old.

 

[Tim Stapp]

Don't you love the local Craigslistings? I've gotten some super deals. Other folks think that darkroom stuff is made of gold {in the CL Yoopers section (Michigan's upper Peninsula residents - the rest of us under the bridge are known as trolls)} there is a first generation Beseler 23CII listed for $400.

 

[John Galt]

Don't you love the local Craigslistings? I've gotten some super deals. Other folks think that darkroom stuff is made of gold {in the CL Yoopers section (Michigan's upper Peninsula residents - the rest of us under the bridge are known as trolls)} there is a first generation Beseler 23CII listed for $400.

The local CL here in Central NY is much the same . . . 23C IIs go from anywhere from "Please get it out of my Garage, Free!!) to $400+ . . the cheap ones are ALWAYS missing parts that are hard to find, the expensive ones are usually complete and typically come with accessories . . . This score was found through the last remaining Photography store in Syracuse . . . someone needed to get rid of some stuff, they called the store, left a name and number, I stopped in and the owner said "Hey John Galt, are u still looking for darkroom stuff?" In this deal, the chemicals ~alone~ were worth $300+

 

[aoresteen]

The newer Beseler 23CIII have baseboards that are prone to warping. My 23CIII with the color head needs a new baseboard. I'll be making one that is thick & WIDE or I will have a wall mount fabricated. I'm leaning toward the wall mount. Good news is I have so much B&W work to do I won't need the color head until at least June.