desperately seeking 4x5" light box for ilford MG500 head

paul ewins

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Joined
Jan 5, 2006
Messages
446
Location
Melbourne, A
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4x5 Format
Karol, you will need to state what sort of enlarger you are using. I bought an MG500 head that was used on an Omega and had to get a different mounting plate and mixing box so that I could use it on my Beseler 45. The Beseler mixing box is a two part contraption while the Omega one was just one part.
 
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karol baginski

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Joined
Jan 7, 2007
Messages
5
Location
Warszawa, PL
Format
4x5 Format

Dear Paul,
thank You very much for this post.
My enlarger is Durst Elite (motorized version of Laborator 1200). But I didn't found in manual for 500H any mounts for mixing box 4x5"... Am I right?
best regards,
karol
 

paul ewins

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Joined
Jan 5, 2006
Messages
446
Location
Melbourne, A
Format
4x5 Format
Hi Karol, the only copy of the manual I have is the downloaded one from Ilford. This doesn't mention the sizes of the mixing boxes or the mounts. I suspect that each enlarger manufacturer made their own mount and mixing boxes with Ilford supplying the rest. Was the head already on your enlarger or did you buy it separately?
 

youngrichard

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Jul 13, 2007
Messages
153
Location
London, Engl
Format
35mm
My manual (page 47) states " Light mixing boxes: 3 sizes available for negative sizes - up to 35mm (small), from 35 mm to 6x7 cm (medium) and from 6x7cm to 4x5 inches (large)
Note: Light mixing boxes are supplied as part of the adaptor kit to suit each enlarger".
So if your enlarger accommodates 4x5 a large mixing box would have been supplied with the adaptor kit.
If you do find one take care it is right for your enlarger; the "drop" from the register plate varies so that the bottom of the box sits immediately above the negative, and varies from a few mm to 2 or 3 cm. The wrong size means if drop is too small there will be excessive light spill; too deep and it will snag on the negative holder. The height above the register plate is always the same, so that the light shine directly into the apertures in the box.
Richard
 

mpirie

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Sep 19, 2005
Messages
599
Location
Highlands of Scotland
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4x5 Format
Hi Karol,

I have an MG500 on a Laborator 1000. The 5x4 kit has the mixing box and an adapter plate that sits in the bottom of the head to make sure the box is located centrally. Each mixing box has its own adapter.

I can dig it out (it's in storage with the rest of my darkroom) and send you some pics if you like?

Regards,
Mike
 

youngrichard

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Joined
Jul 13, 2007
Messages
153
Location
London, Engl
Format
35mm
What the above post calls the adaptor plate, and I call the Register Plate, is the same for every every enlarger, fitting in the slot at the bottom of the 500 Head; they come in 3 different sizes of central aperture for the 3 different sized boxes. So 4x5 register plate is the same for every different enlarger for which adaptor kits were made. Not so for the box, however.

Richard
 
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karol baginski

Member
Joined
Jan 7, 2007
Messages
5
Location
Warszawa, PL
Format
4x5 Format
Hi guys,
You were absolutely right about adapting plates for mixing chambers, so thank You all for info.
I've just received one box from ONE GREAT APUG forum MEMBER — Thank You very, very much Mike.
The only thing I have to do now, is making plate (which is lifting the mixing box for 4 mm over the bottom of a head) and start printing.
Best regards for all,
karol
 
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