Does it make sense to part out an enlarger?

logan2z · Mar 26, 2020

I've got a spare enlarger that I no longer need so I've decided to sell it. Enlargers are obviously difficult to pack and ship and so they're typically pickup-only items. But I don't love using sites like Craigslist at the best of times and certainly don't relish the idea of having people come to my home during this pandemic. So I've been thinking about parting out the enlarger and selling the bits online.

Has anyone had any luck selling an enlarger like this? I seem to see the same old enlarger parts for sale on eBay month after month so I'm not sure how successful this approach might be.

BMbikerider · Mar 26, 2020

I would think, speaking from over the pond that you would have very little luck by selling it for parts. Some enlargers have desirable parts such as condensers (mainly oldish B&W only) Transformer perhaps and the negative carrier may be sought after if they are no longer available, but don't expect a huge amount for them.
A couple of years ago I had to find a replacement head for my LPL 7700 colour. It wasn't difficult, I located one quickly and the owner was almost giving it away. It cost me £25 plus the fuel to get there and back.

ic-racer · Mar 26, 2020

Taking it apart and scattering the parts across the globe makes it inoperable.

jtk · Mar 26, 2020

I just bought 2 unique Omega D2 neg carriers. Perfect for "camera scanning"

My Durst 609 enlarger column can't be equaled new...I've used it for copying for years, paid a lot of expenses with it.

Pieter12 · Mar 26, 2020

On the one hand, if there is a market for the parts (you don't say what the enlarger is), shipping is easier and less expensive than the whole enlarger. You could always, like post #4, keep the column and baseboard and adapt it to use as a copystand. On the other hand, some I know keep a second enlarger set up in the darkroom just for preflashing paper.

logan2z · Mar 26, 2020

Pieter12 said:
On the one hand, if there is a market for the parts (you don't say what the enlarger is), shipping is easier and less expensive than the whole enlarger. You could always, like post #4, keep the column and baseboard and adapt it to use as a copystand. On the other hand, some I know keep a second enlarger set up in the darkroom just for preflashing paper.

I specifically didn't mention which enlarger it was because I didn't want my post to come off as a thinly veiled for sale ad. But I believe there is a market for some of the parts of the enlarger - specifically the lens (which is specific to this enlarger) , the negativec carrier etc. I thought about keeping it for pre-flashing but I very rarely, if ever, do that, and I'm short on space.

BradS · Mar 26, 2020

Does it make sense to part out an enlarger?

It depends. Obviously, it depends on what enlarger it is and how patient you are willing to be waiting for a buyer to come along.
If it is a popular, high end model, then yeah. it does make sense. You should probably expect any parting out for sale effort to be more of a service or kindness to the community rather a money making adventure.
That is to say, most of this stuff doesn't really attract a lot of buyers at any given moment...but, when you need a spring for your 60 year old Omega D2, you need a spring....know what I mean?

mshchem · Mar 27, 2020

Never throw away a functional unit unless it's in the way. This stuff is going to be impossible to find in a few years. The lenses don't sell, but are easy to ship. I abandoned an old Elwood 5x7. Later on I had to get a couple knobs from a friend for another vintage photo project, he had saved some pieces of an old Elwood. Parts fit perfectly.

I have a sign in my darkroom "This is not a Museum! " That's in another utility room

mgb74 · Mar 27, 2020

ic-racer said:
Taking it apart and scattering the parts across the globe makes it inoperable.

But might make 3-4 other enlargers operable. A bit of a crap shoot; all depends on the number of parts that can be productively reused. If I sacrifice 2 parts from one enlarger to make 2 others usable, that's a net gain. The problem is that once you start down the cannibalization path, it's hard to walk back.

BMbikerider · Mar 28, 2020

If as I suspect the enlarger is one of the better models made by Leitz (Unique calibrated lens is the clue) the enlarger will be worth far more in one whole bit than split up. I understand that these lenses if it was for a Leitz model are uniquely calibrated for that enlarger alone and will not be calibrated for another even of the same model. The will be able to be calibrated but I doubt if there is anyone capable of doing it now. Of course I may be wrong with the type/model but it was a calculated guess.

logan2z · Mar 28, 2020

BMbikerider said:
If as I suspect the enlarger is one of the better models made by Leitz (Unique calibrated lens is the clue) the enlarger will be worth far more in one whole bit than split up. I understand that these lenses if it was for a Leitz model are uniquely calibrated for that enlarger alone and will not be calibrated for another even of the same model. The will be able to be calibrated but I doubt if there is anyone capable of doing it now. Of course I may be wrong with the type/model but it was a calculated guess.

It is a Leitz enlarger with a Focotar 40mm lens. If the calibration you're referring to is for the autofocus feature, that is easily calibrated via adjustments on the enlarger itself. There's no issue moving the lens to another enlarger of the same type.

BradS · Mar 28, 2020

logan2z said:
It is a Leitz enlarger with a Focotar 40mm lens....

Jeeez, no, please do not break it up. List it here for pick up...at a reasonable price....after the state wide stay-at-home order is relaxed.

logan2z · Mar 28, 2020

BradS said:
Jeeez, no, please do not break it up. List it here for pick up...at a reasonable price....after the state wide stay-at-home order is relaxed.

I hear you Brad. It's a great enlarger for 35mm. My only frustration with it is the lack of availability of the correct bulbs. I've tried several aftermarket bulbs and they are too dim leading to long exposure times. So I switched back to using my Beseler 23C for 35mm and then started shooting MF which can't be used with the Leitz. So it's just sitting there collecting dust and taking up a bunch of space in my darkroom.

I think I will wait until the current crisis passes and then sell it locally. Or donate it to a community darkroom. Maybe someone else will be able to track down a better bulb.

BMbikerider · Mar 28, 2020

logan2z said:
It is a Leitz enlarger with a Focotar 40mm lens. If the calibration you're referring to is for the autofocus feature, that is easily calibrated via adjustments on the enlarger itself. There's no issue moving the lens to another enlarger of the same type.

This must be the V35. I was thinking of one of the earlier Focomat models with the parallelogram system to raise the enlarger head these have to be calibrated and the lenses are NOT interchangeable with each other. I can understand why the owner would be reluctant to send it bay a carrier, it must be the heaviest 35mm enlarger I have had to move.

logan2z · Mar 28, 2020

BMbikerider said:
This must be the V35. I was thinking of one of the earlier Focomat models with the parallelogram system to raise the enlarger head these have to be calibrated and the lenses are NOT interchangeable with each other. I can understand why the owner would be reluctant to send it bay a carrier, it must be the heaviest 35mm enlarger I have had to move.

Yes, it's a v35.

BMbikerider · Mar 29, 2020

In which case taking it apart to sell the major components would be almost on the level of a war crime!!! These should easily be able to be sold for £300 minimum (about $370)

If you were in UK I would rip your arm of to buy it.

calebarchie · Mar 29, 2020

I am still chasing a lens for this enlarger and several other parts but only for a good price especially given the COVID-19 dilemma.

BMbikerider said:
This must be the V35. I was thinking of one of the earlier Focomat models with the parallelogram system to raise the enlarger head these have to be calibrated and the lenses are NOT interchangeable with each other. I can understand why the owner would be reluctant to send it bay a carrier, it must be the heaviest 35mm enlarger I have had to move.

You are incorrect regarding both.

BMbikerider · Mar 29, 2020

My information came from a transcript in the museum at Weztlar, Germany where it described after the cam system was individually machined then the lens was calibrated to use it. I can only repeat as I found

ozphoto · Mar 29, 2020

I've done this with one that was really bad shape, as it had been kept in a shed, was pretty rusted on some areas and had some DIY to the head. I was looking to use the column if possible but ended up changing my mind, so decided to part out the bits that were usable.

Only the chassis and the column attachment are left, both are in excellent condition, and the only thing I tossed was the actual head - it was utterly useless. All the buyers were from around the world, so it's good to know they are able to use their own enlargers now that they have the pieces I sold off.

Parting out a fully operational one doesn't make sense to me personally, but others may naturally disagree.

Does it make sense to part out an enlarger?

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