Blawikit for Durst 138s

[Doc W]

Has anyone ever seen a "Blawikit" head for a Durst 138s? It is mentioned in the manual (p.5):

"2.4.6. The BLAWIKIT 138 diffused lighting system.
Where the Laborator 138S is supplied with the BLAWIKIT condenserless black-and-white lighting unit, this again is mounted on the enlarger head with the four bolts."

It sounds like an easy drop-in head with no fuss, no muss. The very think I am looking for! However, I can't find it mentioned anywhere except the manual.

 

[Luis-F-S]

It's shown right after the Unicorn head. Actually, I believe it's basically a CLS 301 without the filters so it's just a diffusion light source. I suspect they didn't sell many because most labs bought one of the CLS colorheads. There was a fairly complete CLS 301 on the auction site recently at a not too bad price, but was missing a few parts. I'd look for one of the Aristo D57, or adapt a 5x7 or 8x10 cold light head to it.

 

[jbmia]

Haha.. Hey Luis! I bought it... to have as a back up to the one you sold me last year... Picked up the missing parts from Jay @ Newvision to make it a complete set. Sheesh, you drove a hard bargain... But I really wanted it and have been happy printing with it... That is, till an L 1200 Elite 2000 showed up locally a couple months ago that I picked up for a song. Now I'm looking to get rid of my AC-800 to make room... ;-).

 

[Luis-F-S]

Glad you got it John, it's always good to have backups. I enjoyed the CLS 301 for the time I had it, now I just use the DeVere 5108 pretty much for everything. Printed some 135 with it the other day, it was a joy to use. Also have an LPL 4500-II set up for MF & smaller, but usually end up using the 810! I have a TRA301 transformer that I got shipped in from Canada as a backup. If you know of anyone interested in it, I'll sell it for what I have in the shipping!

 

[Luis-F-S]

So Doc W, did you ever get the bulb to work out?

 

[Luis-F-S]

till an L 1200 Elite 2000 showed up locally a couple months ago that I picked up for a song..

FWIT and IMHO, an L1200 can't hold a candle to an L138! L

 

[jbmia]

Ha! Yeah... It's a toss up for me..

The 138 I have, has a little play in the focus knob and with smaller negs (IIRC), you've really gotta reach up for certain enlargement sizes.. that can be a little awkward. The Elite 1200 has a motorized focus system which is pretty convenient (for as long as the electronics will last) so you don't have to reach up to focus like with the 138.

The column and carriage on the 138 are bomb proof.. the plastic teeth on the L1200 column.. not so much.

I do like the L1200 femoneg carrier more than the 138's nega carrier..

Pluses and minuses.

I'd love to have a Devere 5108... no wonder you switched out.. ;-) I actually have a Devere 504 wall mount chassis... I'm slowly looking for parts for that, but Devere parts are much more expensive and harder to finder here in the states than the Durst stuff. Let me know if you run across any deals worth a drive.

John

 

[Luis-F-S]

Ha! Yeah... It's a toss up for me..
I'd love to have a Devere 5108... no wonder you switched out.. ;-) I actually have a Devere 504 wall mount chassis... I'm slowly looking for parts for that, but Devere parts are much more expensive and harder to finder here in the states than the Durst stuff. Let me know if you run across any deals worth a drive.

John

My SM-183 is solid, I don't think it was used much, the plate where the Nega 138 slides into still has all its paint! Thank goodness for the Government Surplus or I would not have it. Have a full set of condensers, plus the Aristo D57 cold light head for it. You might do better to try to find a complete DeVere 504, may actually be cheaper than trying to source out the parts depending on what you need! My 5108 was a complete enlarger and used in a photo studio, so it never saw commercial lab work. It's mint, though I did have to drive 1,000 miles each way to get it!

 

[Doc W]

So Doc W, did you ever get the bulb to work out?

I never even got to try it. A fellow Apugger, Hexavalent, showed up with a prototype LED light source and we jumped right into that. It looks like it might be perfect, with a few modifications. Then summer vacations and general goofing off in the hot weather intervened so we have not followed up yet. But I will try the bulb tomorrow just to see if it also works.

 

[Luis-F-S]

When you've tried them, let us know if you found a better mousetrap!