Devere 54 enlarger

[Norman Hart]

Hi I have recently obtained a devere 54 bench enlarger with two sets of condencers how old is this enlarger and is it possible to obtain a film carrier
What is the enlargers reputation

 

[David H. Bebbington]

I own a De Vere 54 - I am not sure when production ceased, I think in the early 1960s. The main agents for De Vere in the UK are Odyssey Sales:
www.odyssey-sales.com
I have bought a new helical-thread lens mount from them, they might have a carrier. Quite a few people have been junking De Vere 54s lately (for no good reason, they are well-made and entirely usable) so if you put a want ad in all the places you can think of, some one may have one. The particular example I have was given to me free. It came with a condenser head (which several people told me was tricky to set up, and which I sold on) and also the original cold-cathode head, which almost gave me heart failure when I saw it (would you believe a hollow water-filled perspex diffuser from which half the water had leached away?). In the end I got a third-party cold-cathode head for about £35 which works fine but whose light is too blue to use with multigrade paper. An Ilford multigrade head would be ideal for your De Vere, of course you could retain the head if you ever changed to another enlarger.

Regards,

David

 

[Norman Hart]

Devere 54 sorry 504

Hi David
Thanks very much for the info I contacted Odyssey sales and after several emails and my giving them all the measurements size and colour I have been informed I am in possesion of a Devere 504 enlarger. With this information I was able to purchase a multi adjustable film holder from ebay.Considering the 504 cost me £20 and included two rodenstock lenses and the carrier £21
I am a very happy man.Neither the vendor or myself were aware what we were dealing for a 504 and not a 54 !!!
Thanks once again Norman

 

[Norman Hart]

Hi David
Thanks very much for the advice.I contacted Odyssey and after several emails I sent the measurements and colour and they confirmed that I had a
Devere 504 and not a 54.I have now obtained a multi adjustable film holder
from ebay. Considering I paid £20 for the enlarger plus two Rodenstock lenses
And a further £ 21 for the carrier .I am delighted !! It is a case of neither the vendor or myself were aware that we were dealing with a 504 and not a 54