DEVERE Enlargers

[Ian Grant]

Does the service manual explain how to do this?

Not sure - I'll see if I can find it later tonight, it's in storage somewhere at my Mother's house.

Ian

 

[Philippe Grunchec]

It would be extremely kind! Thanks in advance.

 

[Martin Aislabie]

Ian, the head is not creeping, the problem I have is different: it is very difficult to insert the negative carrier, I have to lift the front part of the head to get enough space for the carrier. Forgive my rusty english...

Phiippe, I had this problem too on my 504 Mk4 - but moved the spring on the Head to the lower hub (to put more tension in the spring)

Now, when I move the lever to release the Neg Carrier, the head lifts enough to slide the Carrier out without difficulty.

BTW, I never found any reference to this in the User Manual :confused:

Hope this helps

Martin

 

[Philippe Grunchec]

Thanks, Martin, but my spring is already at the lower hub!
I also have a 504: maybe I should try to exchange the springs, assuming the one on the 504 is in better shape???

 

[clayne]

I just aligned and leveled my 504 tonight and did post-verification with the Versalab laser tool. I shit you not, dot center from top of column all the way down. Amazing enlargers - machines actually. This is how professional tools used to be built. Definitely the best I've ever used.

Anyone have suggestion for notchy column feel though? I figure it might need some grease on the column guides. When I say notchy I mean one can feel the rollers/surface interaction when adjusting height/focus. It's not the end of the world but it makes grain focusing a bit easier if the feel isn't gritty.

 

[Philippe Grunchec]

I have asked Odyssey, but didn't get an answer (yet)

 

[Ian Grant]

It would be extremely kind! Thanks in advance.

No luck with the service manual but I have found a reason why my head drops forward, and will take some photos this morning.

Ian

 

[Philippe Grunchec]

Thanks, Ian!

 

[Philippe Grunchec]

If you don't have the time to take the photos, may be you can explain it here:I'll try to understand

 

[Ian Grant]

Apologies, pictures just taken

The lug that locates into my head is missing a small roller, top right on the front image. This means the head falls forward ever so slightly.

The bottom bits the head slides against seem to be adjustable. You need to see if there is any adjustment with a spanner etc.

Ian

 

[Philippe Grunchec]

I'll check mine and tell you! Thank you again.

 

[Philippe Grunchec]

I ignored the problem, lifted the head with my hand... and realized that the carrier is in fact a little too small to print an 8x10 negative entirely (I mean keeping the black borders)!

... and very difficult to focus on the grain (Foma 200/Pyrocat HD), at least with my 9/240 G-Claron!

 

[Philippe Grunchec]

I guess simply because I printed on 11x14 paper only, which made the grain invisible!

 

[clayne]

Hey Ian, during your DeVere head-flying-through-the-ceiling purchasing mishap did you happen to damage the bellows at all? The bellows on my 504 looks like it might have suffered through it at one point in it's life. I'm not a 100% sure though. Anyways, the problem is that one of the top corners of the bellows has pulled away from the bottom of the negative stage allowing light to leak past. It's not the end of the world and can be masked, but was curious if you knew how to reattach the bellows to the head entirely and what method it's secured by? From cursory inspection it almost looks adhered, but I can't really tell. I did remove the aluminum top plate where the holder slides on top of but there didn't seem to be a lot of access to get to the top of the bellows.

 

[Ian Grant]

My bellows didn't suffer luckily, but they are attached using Impact/Contact adhesive. That's how |I attached new bellows to a camera I've just restored as well and it works perfectly.

Ian

 

[clayne]

Alright, the only problem I can see is how to clean the surface without removing the bellows entirely. Is that essential?

 

[Ian Grant]

It's hard to say, if you can get something with some methylated or surgical spirits between the surfaces to at least remove loose stuff that should be enough.

Ian

 

[Philippe Grunchec]

By the way, Ian, does your 8x10 negative carrier provide enough space to print a neg entirely?

 

[Ian Grant]

I think so Philippe, but not the clearedges.

Ian

 

[Philippe Grunchec]

Another (minor) problem: the colour dials on the head do not light up... because the lamp is missing. It is not a screw in torch lamp: does someone know which type it is?

 

[Philippe Grunchec]

Up!

 

[clayne]

I haven't the slightest but I wouldn't be surprised if it were a simple BNC lamp.

 

[Tom Kershaw]

The bulb for the colour dials on the 5108 is a small bayonet type at enlarger voltage (e.g. 240V / 15W in my case)

Tom

 

[Philippe Grunchec]

Thanks a lot, Tom! I'll try to find one...

 

[Philippe Grunchec]

I found one... and could install it! Thanks a lot.
I have another question: the two fans work in different directions, i. e. one "sucks" and the other one "blows". Is that normal? On my 405 they both "suck".