Changing the lens on my enlarger?

What kind of enlarger is it?

 

We really need to know what enlarger you have! It is very likely that an interchangeable lens board is available, if not a lens board that is too big can be cut down fairly easily, thus avoiding the relatively hard job of cutting a 39 mm thread!

 

Um, that's OK.

Is the lens a screw mount? It's possible (especially if this is a Lucky,) that the mount is 39mm "leica" type. You can probably simply unscrew the 50mm and screw in any other lens with a 39mm mount.

 

What you need to know is whether the Burleigh Brooks enlargers use a proprietary lens board, or whether the lens boards are compatible with those of a more common make of enlarger. For your sake, I hope it's the latter, because I've never seen a Burleigh Brooks lens board on eBay ever. In fact, I didn't know there was such a thing until you mentioned it. If it will take Beseler or Omega lens boards, you can breathe a sigh of relief and easily obtain a new lens board for the 105mm lens. Otherwise you might be stuck with one lens board and with screwing and unscrewing the lenses whenever you want to change formats, which would be a pain in the ass (but doable).

 

The ring is to use when the lens board has no threads, just a hole.

 

Basically you're OK. Just unscrew the old lens from the board and screw in the new lens. Having only one ring is fine. EL-Nikkor f/2.8. There is the f/4 version but there is not f/1.4 version.

 

******
You're good to go, then.
A 105 is overkill for 6x7; but I am from a generation taught by the old guys that an enlarging lens slightly longer than necessary for coverage is better sharpness and more even coverage. Whether that is true or not, that is what I do. I have 105 5.6 Nikkor, and a 100 mm VHE Vivitar 5.6, which is a rebadged Schneider Componon. Both give me excellent images with 6x7. I am also very conservative (whether right or not) and opted for slower 6 element lenses as above.
Given a choice between spending your hard-earned golden grickles on a better enlarging lens or a better camera lens, of course, buy the best camera lens you can. Enlarging lenses can wait, as long as you have the negs.
At this juncture, a schlock 90, 100, or 105 will at least give more even coverage than the 50 mm you removed-- when printing 6x7 negs.

 

Well, How did it go?

 

First the RB and now the enlarger.... you are going the right way ! Congrad's !
Peter

 

Did you simply try to print those overexposed negatives darker by using longer exposure time or larger aperture?