Filters for Beseler MCRX 45

[JBrunner]

So I'm looking at my brand new (to me) old Beseler MCRX 45. I know this is a common enlarger, but I have never owned one, till this orphaned fellow.

It's pretty strait forward of course, but a couple of questions.

Directly beneath the condenser, but above the carrier, there is a slot that contains a large ?holder? long D shape dealy that has a scratched up piece of plexi in it. Is this for giant contrast filters? or a place to warm a ham and cheese?

Above the lens board there is another, smaller holder that looks like it is made and sprung to hold glass filters. Where can one obtain filters to fit this, or what is the current vogue?

Thanks.

 

[Paul VanAudenhove]

The D shaped holder is a filter drawer, I think you may have to cut the filters to get them to fit properly. Not certain if you will need to trim the ham and cheese. <g>

The other part you refer to would probably be the negative carrier, located between the upper and lower bellows. What carrier do you have now? The carrier number is 4 digits, and is stamped just above the word 'Beseler' on the round carrier.

Hope this helps.

Paul

 

[pandino]

J,

The sandwich warmer is for color filters to use when printing color paper. It accounts for the "C" in MCRX.

The lower filter drawer is for 2 3/8" x 2 3/8" VC, ND, Diffusion and other types of filters. I have a set of Ilford 3 1/2" MG filters trimmed to fit in the drawer, as well as a red, plexi, "safe" filter.

Many lenses' rear elements will interfere with the function of the lower drawer, so many don't bother to use it. You can acquire special lensboards to lower the lens out of the drawer's path.

 

[JBrunner]

The other part you refer to would probably be the negative carrier, located between the upper and lower bellows. What carrier do you have now? The carrier number is 4 digits, and is stamped just above the word 'Beseler' on the round carrier.

Hope this helps.

Paul

Nope, I have a 4x5 carrier, nestled quite snugly in the carrier slot.
This slot I'm refering to is below the neg carrier slot and lower bellows, just above the lensboard and looks to be about 2in x 2in and has a spring built in, like the lens board. Seems like the logical place for a contrast filter, but IDK. They would have to be glass or some rigid matieral. Hmmmm.

 

[JBrunner]

J,

The sandwich warmer is for color filters to use when printing color paper. It accounts for the "C" in MCRX.

The lower filter drawer is for 2 3/8" x 2 3/8" VC, ND, Diffusion and other types of filters. I have a set of Ilford 3 1/2" MG filters trimmed to fit in the drawer, as well as a red, plexi, "safe" filter.

Many lenses' rear elements will interfere with the function of the lower drawer, so many don't bother to use it. You can acquire special lensboards to lower the lens out of the drawer's path.

The moment of clarity is upon me. Thank you, sir.

 

[Paul VanAudenhove]

Pandino, that makes sense. I was looking at my 45MXII, which doesn't have a lower filter drawer.
Thanks.

 

[pandino]

Pandino, that makes sense. I was looking at my 45MXII, which doesn't have a lower filter drawer.
Thanks.

The 45MXII is a bit newer than the dinosaurs J and I have, so I'm not sure if the nomenclature followed. My manual says:
M= Motor
C= Color Filter Drawer, between condensers
R= Resistrol Unit (for varying lamp brightness)
X= Rear support truss (X-brace)
D= Dichro head.

 

[ann]

there used to be filters that fit in that sliding drawer.

Once in awhile they can still be found on ebay.

 

[JLP]

I have the Beseler 45MXT which also has a large D shaped sandwich warmer that also takes 6x6" filters (Cut to shape) from both Ilford and Kodak. The 6" barely covers the filter carier so if you can find some that is slightly larger and then cut them in the D shape that would work better than the 6"

jan

 

[ricksplace]

I have the same big blue beast. I cut 6" ilford filters to fit the sandwich tray. I cut the corners so they fit the round D shape. They have no trouble covering all the image area. IMHO, it is better to use filters above the condenser lens and negative, since anything you put in between the negative and the lens will degrade the image slightly. I very rarely use the 2" filter tray.

 

[smcclarin]

Just got a Blue MCRX Sandwich warmer unit myself from Robert Hall in Utah in 2012!

Looking foreward to finding a lensboard and lens for 6x8 and 4x5 enlargements for the new darkroom.
Thanks to Robert Hall, my unused mint 6x7 Omega may be obsolete, and I might have to justify a 4x5 camera in the not so distant future! Frame cost is high in 4x5 so I better train up on the RB before making the jump, but I am sure IQ is worth every dollar! Also I have holes in the focusing bellows, any good tips on repairing the bellows with Gaffers tape, or recommended tape for the task!? Cant wait to fry some toast with this thing! JK.
Thanks to you guys I am just going to tell people its a 1965 Blue Stratoliner series Toast-a-Tron! Variable contrast toast anyone!?

 

[Curt]

I have the Beseler 45MXT which also has a large D shaped sandwich warmer that also takes 6x6" filters (Cut to shape) from both Ilford and Kodak. The 6" barely covers the filter carier so if you can find some that is slightly larger and then cut them in the D shape that would work better than the 6"

jan

Hi Jan, what is the "T" in the discription? I think I want one.

I have a 45MXDDCA.

4x5
Motor
X Crossbrace
Dichroic
Diffusion
Color
Adjusta-Table
Model.

Soon I'll be using my Durst 138.