• Welcome to Photrio!
    Registration is fast and free. Join today to unlock search, see fewer ads, and access all forum features.
    Click here to sign up

Blue enlarger bulb?

jeffreythree

Member
Allowing Ads
Joined
Jul 6, 2015
Messages
309
Location
DFW, Texas
Format
Multi Format
One of the pieces that came with my old Kodak enlarger was a blue GE Mazda 60W bulb. Can anyone explain it's use in an enlarger? Only thing I found on a search was an early 1900's magazine article I think was explaining it was for correcting skin tones in the print with the films of that time.
 

ic-racer

Member
Joined
Feb 25, 2007
Messages
16,728
Location
USA
Format
Multi Format
Tungsten filament is no big deal these days. Maybe the lamp is a collector's item. Excluding multigrade paper, colored light has no effect in B&W printing.
 

MartinP

Member
Allowing Ads
Joined
Jun 23, 2007
Messages
1,569
Location
Netherlands
Format
Medium Format
If you mean a non-pearl, tungsten filament bulb with the clear glass actually being a see-thru blue colour then it is the sort of bulb that was used for "daylight" inspection, before other high CRI lighting sources became available. It would be used in a desk-light or inspection light of some sort, not in an enlarger.