Durst M35 enlarger - manual or operation instructions

Michael W · Feb 25, 2018

Hi all, this week I will be given a Durst M35 enlarger. I've had a look at it and it seems complete and I believe it is in working order. I've been searching for info about it and have read that they were made from the mid '40s until the mid '60s and are regarded as high quality. However it seems to be quite a different design to most of the enlargers I have used, with a range of knobs and dials whose purpose I can't understand just by looking at them. I've searched for a pdf manual but haven't been able to find one so I am asking here if anyone might have one they could send me. Otherwise it would be great to get a basic explanation of the operating procedure and various do's and dont's.

chip j · Feb 25, 2018

It must be a Micromat?

Michael W · Feb 25, 2018

chip j said:
It must be a Micromat?

On the neg carrier it says "Micromat - MIBIL"

chip j · Feb 25, 2018

Yes, I have the manual. I'll be able to email it to you in a few days once I learn my new scanner. Please send me your email address. Most of the knobs on the front were for a copy cassette. One is the red filter. It takes both screw-in & bayonet bulbs. It was designed around a clear. thin, long vertical bulb w/a big filament that was used in slide projectors. Not made anymore, but I found a substitute and it gives FABULOUS tonality, life-like. I had to hook a dimmer switch up to it so it would't explode! Also takes a reg. 212 bulb but then it becomes just a good, regular enlarger w/swings & tilts for the negative stage. I even got a anti-newton carrier for mine (had it since 1967--bought in Germany). It is autofocus but ONLY w/the lens supplied w/it, whose serial # is engraved on the top. Good Luck

Michael W · Feb 26, 2018

chip j said:
Yes, I have the manual. I'll be able to email it to you in a few days once I learn my new scanner. Please send me your email address. Most of the knobs on the front were for a copy cassette. One is the red filter. It takes both screw-in & bayonet bulbs. It was designed around a clear. thin, long vertical bulb w/a big filament that was used in slide projectors. Not made anymore, but I found a substitute and it gives FABULOUS tonality, life-like. I had to hook a dimmer switch up to it so it would't explode! Also takes a reg. 212 bulb but then it becomes just a good, regular enlarger w/swings & tilts for the negative stage. I even got a anti-newton carrier for mine (had it since 1967--bought in Germany). It is autofocus but ONLY w/the lens supplied w/it, whose serial # is engraved on the top. Good Luck

Hi Chip, thanks for the info, I will PM you my email details.

Michael W · Feb 27, 2018

Many thanks to chip j for the pdf manual which is print quality and exactly what I need for this enlarger.

Michael W · Mar 30, 2018

Hi Chip, I would love to know more about this bulb you are using. I cleaned up the enlarger, which was pretty dusty, but apart from having to replace the bolts that hold the column to the baseboard everything was intact and working, including the Philips Photocrescenta bulb that was in it. I have printed with it and had good results so that is promising. I really like the design of this enlarger, particularly the negative carrier. In the manual it says that it was also designed to be used with a point light source in which case there was meant to be a mirror in the rear of the lamphouse. My enlarger didn't come with this mirror - I'm not sure if it would have been there originally or was an extra. Does the bulb that you use require this mirror?

chip j said:
Yes, I have the manual. I'll be able to email it to you in a few days once I learn my new scanner. Please send me your email address. Most of the knobs on the front were for a copy cassette. One is the red filter. It takes both screw-in & bayonet bulbs. It was designed around a clear. thin, long vertical bulb w/a big filament that was used in slide projectors. Not made anymore, but I found a substitute and it gives FABULOUS tonality, life-like. I had to hook a dimmer switch up to it so it would't explode! Also takes a reg. 212 bulb but then it becomes just a good, regular enlarger w/swings & tilts for the negative stage. I even got a anti-newton carrier for mine (had it since 1967--bought in Germany). It is autofocus but ONLY w/the lens supplied w/it, whose serial # is engraved on the top. Good Luck

chip j · Mar 30, 2018

Yes, the bulb I use (a theatrical spotlight bulb or equivalent--tall, narrow, clear glass w/a big filament) does require the concave mirror. It was standard equipment but fragile--yours probably got broke somewhere along the line. The M35 also came w/a diffusing disk for this type bulb And a heat absorbing glass.My set-up makes a hell of a difference compered to a standard photo enlarging bulb. Good Luck, chip

chip j · Mar 30, 2018

Actually, Michael, the mirror might only be used for centering the bulb. If you can work up a glass diffusing disc & heat absorbing filter, I'd give it a go.

Michael W · Mar 30, 2018

chip j said:
Actually, Michael, the mirror might only be used for centering the bulb. If you can work up a glass diffusing disc & heat absorbing filter, I'd give it a go.

I'm pretty sure mine has the heat absorbing filter, will look into the diffusing disc. Can you give me a brand name or identifying number for the bulb that you use?

chip j · Mar 30, 2018

One is a GE Projection Lamp 125T110P, 125W, 120V (I was told they stopped making this: I have a few). Another is GE microscope 100T 8 and one half /9-120V, med. base down, cc-13 filament, ASA code-EDR. USE a DIMMER switch w/these bulbs (I have a home-made one) or else they'll blow up and short out your timer! Cheers, Chip

Michael W · Mar 30, 2018

chip j said:
One is a GE Projection Lamp 125T110P, 125W, 120V (I was told they stopped making this: I have a few). Another is GE microscope 100T 8 and one half /9-120V, med. base down, cc-13 filament, ASA code-EDR. USE a DIMMER switch w/these bulbs (I have a home-made one) or else they'll blow up and short out your timer! Cheers, Chip

Thanks!

Brutus · May 7, 2018

Hello
I just acquired a Durst M35 (micromat). Awesome machine; they don't build them live this anymore (and didn't build a lot like this even when they used to!)

I would also appreciate a scan of the instructions. I have figured out most of it but it has some dials and levers beyond a basic enlarger (or even beyond basic model like my old 601)

Thanks!

chip j · May 8, 2018

Will see if I can get a scan sent to you.

chip j · May 8, 2018

Scan sent by my friend chuckwadw87.

Christopher Nisperos · Jan 5, 2019

chip j said:
Yes, I have the manual. I'll be able to email it to you in a few days once I learn my new scanner. Please send me your email address. Most of the knobs on the front were for a copy cassette. One is the red filter. It takes both screw-in & bayonet bulbs. It was designed around a clear. thin, long vertical bulb w/a big filament that was used in slide projectors. Not made anymore, but I found a substitute and it gives FABULOUS tonality, life-like. I had to hook a dimmer switch up to it so it would't explode! Also takes a reg. 212 bulb but then it becomes just a good, regular enlarger w/swings & tilts for the negative stage. I even got a anti-newton carrier for mine (had it since 1967--bought in Germany). It is autofocus but ONLY w/the lens supplied w/it, whose serial # is engraved on the top. Good Luck

Hi Chip,
Sorry I'm only seeing this now, months after the original post..
I have the M35 and also the copy camera module... which I've never used. I would love to have a copy of a manual, if possible... I'd really appreciate it!
Best,
Chris

Michael W · Jan 5, 2019

Christopher Nisperos said:
Hi Chip,
Sorry I'm only seeing this now, months after the original post..
I have the M35 and also the copy camera module... which I've never used. I would love to have a copy of a manual, if possible... I'd really appreciate it!
Best,
Chris

I can also send it along, PM sent.

Christopher Nisperos · Jan 5, 2019

Michael W said:
I can also send it along, PM sent.

You're a GAWD, Michael! Thanks, so much. If I understand correctly, you need my private email address, right? Problem is, I can figure out so far how to send you a PM on this site...

Sorry for being so lame, but can anyone help out?
(By the way ... Happy New Year to everyone).

MattKing · Jan 5, 2019

Christopher Nisperos said:
You're a GAWD, Michael! Thanks, so much. If I understand correctly, you need my private email address, right? Problem is, I can figure out so far how to send you a PM on this site...

Sorry for being so lame, but can anyone help out?
(By the way ... Happy New Year to everyone).

Click on his screen name - you will see a table that includes "Start a Conversation". Click there and you will see a screen with his screen name as a recipient, a place for a title and a box for the text of your message. When finished, go down below the box and click on "Start a Conversation".
Avoid the boxes below that last spot. If you click some of those, they can stop him from replying.
And Happy New Year to you too!

AgX · Jan 5, 2019

chip j, as you got a M35 enlarger, does that mean they were exported to the USA in the 50s-mid60s?
I thought Durst 35mm enlargers in that period only to be marketed in Europe.

chip j · Jan 5, 2019

AgX, I bouight my M35 used in Frankfurt in 1967, when I was stationed in Germany w/the US Army as a Still Photographer.Thank God it had an El-Nikkor 50mm 2.8 lens on it, because I can put any 39mm mount lens on it (some were sold w/Schneider 25mm mount lenses). I had it packed really well in a wooden crate & it made the crossing just fine (I know of another one in Bouilder CO that had a cracked head casing due to being shipped over). I also saw one in the Kent State, OH student darkroom. Bye

Michael W · Jan 6, 2019

AgX said:
chip j, as you got a M35 enlarger, does that mean they were exported to the USA in the 50s-mid60s?
I thought Durst 35mm enlargers in that period only to be marketed in Europe.

I have one in Sydney but it had passed through the hands of a few photographers before me so I'm not sure how it got here.

Michael W · Jan 6, 2019

Christopher Nisperos said:
You're a GAWD, Michael! Thanks, so much. If I understand correctly, you need my private email address, right? Problem is, I can figure out so far how to send you a PM on this site...

Sorry for being so lame, but can anyone help out?
(By the way ... Happy New Year to everyone).

I sent you a PM a few days ago - you should be able to access it by clicking on "Inbox" at the top right of the screen.

Christopher Nisperos · Jan 6, 2019

Michael W said:
I sent you a PM a few days ago - you should be able to access it by clicking on "Inbox" at the top right of the screen.

Kind thanks, Michael, but I looked around in there and still couldn’t find anything ..There might be a problem with my laptop.. I’ve been getting the famous "spinning beach ball" and long time lags a lot lately. AgX has my personal email address (and I can't find his!).. perhaps you could send it through him, if he doesn’t mind?

Speaking of whom..AgX had asked about U.S. distribution of Durst in the 50s and 60s. So happens that I was a tech rep and demonstrator for the Durst distributor, EPOI (Ehrenreich Photo Optical Industries) in the early 1970s. The Durst M35-Micromat had already been discontinued by that time (if memory serves ... anyway, the "latest" equivalent —meaning, autofocus— version we were selling at that time was the A300 ), but I know that EPOI sold the M35 at least as early as 1963.

AgX · Jan 7, 2019

Yes, we can do it this way. Though I wonder that the PM system accepts a pdf. I did not know that.

We had the issue that some buttons did not show up on some smartphone, though not yet on laptops as far as I remember.
I advise you to contact Sean, the owner of this ite, on this issue by email via the contact button down under at the first page. But you have to log out first and use that button being still logged out to make it work.

Thank you for this Ehrenreich/Durst information!

Durst M35 enlarger - manual or operation instructions

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