Focomat 1c in need of restoration

[MattKing]

Ah? There's a difference between those? I thought they're both interchangeable. Dont remember in the US, but other places, used them interchangeably

@baachtrika thats a good suggestion, thanks.

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The detergent/soap for the machines is chemically very strong and often includes a lot of bleach. It produces very low amounts of foam.

The detergent/soap for hand washing is very gentle/mild, so as not to irritate hands. It produces very generous amounts of foam.

If you put hand washing detergent in a machine, it will foam so much that the foam will often escape out through the machine's seals, and start to "foam" your kitchen! Don't ask me how I know how that looks.

 

[mgb74]

I'd be very concerned with how it's packed for shipment. I recently packaged just the head for a Beseler 23c and it took a really big box. I don't know if it's best, for this enlarger, to remove and pack the condensers separately within the box (that's what I did with the 23c).

You may want to inquire about professional packing (if available) or at least walk through how the seller plans to pack it.

 

[Hilo]

From the picture: that is quite an early version 1C.

I can tell because it has the old metal redfilter and it has an early (design) plug into the column.

Like Baachitraka says, the easel will lock onto the baseboard, which I do think to be original as it has the typical Leitz feet and the lever for the locking clamp

Yes, sorry – I meant the soap for washing dishes by hand . .

The Focotar lens with this age enlarger would be the 5cm f4.5. Which is ok, but you need to stop it down twice for sure, to get sharp grain in the corners. The 50mm f4.5 is later and a little easier to get sharp corners with. Then there are still two later versions, a Schneider made 50mm f4.5 with a larger frontglass (but not a faster aperture), on the barrel's side is written Focotar 50/4.5. And the latest version, the Focotar-2 50/4.5 (also written on the barrel) which is really very good.

It is about 50 euros, right?

 

[John Koehrer]

It's a very simple machine to clean and rewire. If you want you can bypass the column wiring entirely. New wire from the lamp socket to a male plug. That's what many makers did. The lamp goes directly to the timer and that allows the timer to control the lamp for both focus and timing.

Disassembly of the bits & pieces is very straightforward too. To make it simple remove & clean one piece at a time. If you don't fiddle with the adjustments I'd just check the thing out when it's back together.

 

[analoguey]

The detergent/soap for the machines is chemically very strong and often includes a lot of bleach. It produces very low amounts of foam.

The detergent/soap for hand washing is very gentle/mild, so as not to irritate hands. It produces very generous amounts of foam.

If you put hand washing detergent in a machine, it will foam so much that the foam will often escape out through the machine's seals, and start to "foam" your kitchen! Don't ask me how I know how that looks.

Gotcha!
More or less like hand-washing powder vs machine wash powder.(detergent)

I'd be very concerned with how it's packed for shipment. I recently packaged just the head for a Beseler 23c and it took a really big box. I don't know if it's best, for this enlarger, to remove and pack the condensers separately within the box (that's what I did with the 23c).

I'll keep that in mind, thanks Harris!

You may want to inquire about professional packing (if available) or at least walk through how the seller plans to pack it.

Yes, that's what I'm veering towards.
Seller also wants to get rid of the drier(?) thats pictured next to the focomat.



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[baachitraka]

I cleaned with contact lens lotion. It does a very good job.

 

[analoguey]

It's a very simple machine to clean and rewire. If you want you can bypass the column wiring entirely. New wire from the lamp socket to a male plug. That's what many makers did. The lamp goes directly to the timer and that allows the timer to control the lamp for both focus and timing.

Disassembly of the bits & pieces is very straightforward too. To make it simple remove & clean one piece at a time. If you don't fiddle with the adjustments I'd just check the thing out when it's back together.

I see - I was thinking the idea of column wiring being the better choice as wiring was more or less concealed? It even goes under the baseboard IIRC.
Not a good idea?

I never understood how it was an auto-focus enlarger though - is it because the lens to negative distance is kept same irrespective of adjustments(and other enlargers work otherwise?)

From the picture: that is quite an early version 1C.

I can tell because it has the old metal redfilter and it has an early (design) plug into the column.

Like Baachitraka says, the easel will lock onto the baseboard, which I do think to be original as it has the typical Leitz feet and the lever for the locking clamp

Ah, I see.
I thought it would be a newer model, from what I heard about it. Hmm, I'll check the locking mechanism when I get it.

Yes, sorry – I meant the soap for washing dishes by hand . .

No worries - dishwashers arent big here, mostly hand-washed dishes, so the liquid would be something like Vim or Axion(?) or such.
Or just water with some lemon juice in it.

The Focotar lens with this age enlarger would be the 5cm f4.5. Which is ok, but you need to stop it down twice for sure, to get sharp grain in the corners. The 50mm f4.5 is later and a little easier to get sharp corners with. Then there are still two later versions, a Schneider made 50mm f4.5 with a larger frontglass (but not a faster aperture), on the barrel's side is written Focotar 50/4.5. And the latest version, the Focotar-2 50/4.5 (also written on the barrel) which is really very good.

It is about 50 euros, right?

Yes it's about 50, pre-shipping. If I have to switch lenses now would I need a focotar or would any new 50mm enlarger lens do?



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[Hilo]

€ 50 is a nice price. The screw thread for the lenses is M39, many will fit, but not all. For sure the EL Nikkor 50/2.8 fits.

You need a 2cm extension ring with these lenses - 17675 is the code . . .

 

[chip j]

Any lens from 45mm to 60mm will autofocus on it, as long as it physically fits.

 

[Hilo]

Any lens from 45mm to 60mm will autofocus on it, as long as it physically fits.

You may be right, but for lenses other than 50mm you would have to change the automatic focus adjustment. Which is not all that simple. What plays there too, is that at one quarter going up the column there are two holes about 3cm from each other. You stick a pin in the lower hole when you print with the paper on the baseboard, you use the pin in the upper hole, in combination with an easel like is shown in the picture of this enlarger (this Leitz easel is that 3cm)

I doubt if the Schneider Componon S, with the lever on the side, would fit in the 1C. But over the years I have used different lenses, other than the Focotars, and they worked fine: Nikkor, Rodagon G, Minolta CE and Meogon . . all in 50mm.

One thing you should be aware of is that this early version 1C does not have a filter drawer. Later versions have this drawer which slides from right to left to open, and it is positioned between bulb and condenser. Assuming you will use multigrade filters, you have two options where to place your filters in this 1C: below the lens, or simply on the condenser. Opinions vary which is the better option. Because I do not like to keep opening the lamp house all the time, I prefer under the lens. But others work fine putting the filters on the condenser. Leitz USA made a filter holder for a while which replaces the red filter. Difficult to find. It is not difficult to use an other brand filter holder, I have some made by Beseler that work fine. They do need a slight modification, like drilling a hole and a longer screw. Even I, with two left hands, could do that!

Don't let the above throw you off, the 1C is a fantastic enlarger. Mostly because of the system to press down the negative with the condenser (just one glass to keep clean), the beautiful negative holder which gives a nice black border if you want it and the ease of changing magnification, for which the autofocus was really made . . .

 

[analoguey]

I cleaned with contact lens lotion. It does a very good job.

Hmm. I dont know if it's coated lens - I'm assuming you meant for the lens?

You may be right, but for lenses other than 50mm you would have to change the automatic focus adjustment. Which is not all that simple. What plays there too, is that at one quarter going up the column there are two holes about 3cm from each other. You stick a pin in the lower hole when you print with the paper on the baseboard, you use the pin in the upper hole, in combination with an easel like is shown in the picture of this enlarger (this Leitz easel is that 3cm)

Hmm, This looks like something I'll understand upon seeing.

I doubt if the Schneider Componon S, with the lever on the side, would fit in the 1C. But over the years I have used different lenses, other than the Focotars, and they worked fine: Nikkor, Rodagon G, Minolta CE and Meogon . . all in 50mm.

One thing you should be aware of is that this early version 1C does not have a filter drawer. Later versions have this drawer which slides from right to left to open, and it is positioned between bulb and condenser. Assuming you will use multigrade filters, you have two options where to place your filters in this 1C: below the lens, or simply on the condenser. Opinions vary which is the better option. Because I do not like to keep opening the lamp house all the time, I prefer under the lens. But others work fine putting the filters on the condenser. Leitz USA made a filter holder for a while which replaces the red filter. Difficult to find. It is not difficult to use an other brand filter holder, I have some made by Beseler that work fine. They do need a slight modification, like drilling a hole and a longer screw. Even I, with two left hands, could do that!

It just requires an attachment, right? Even replacing the metal holder might work?

Don't let the above throw you off, the 1C is a fantastic enlarger. Mostly because of the system to press down the negative with the condenser (just one glass to keep clean), the beautiful negative holder which gives a nice black border if you want it and the ease of changing magnification, for which the autofocus was really made . . .

Actually this thread is selling me the enlarger than driving me away from it! :-D

€ 50 is a nice price. The screw thread for the lenses is M39, many will fit, but not all. For sure the EL Nikkor 50/2.8 fits.

You need a 2cm extension ring with these lenses - 17675 is the code . . .

Noted.

I think someone should mark this sticky or such for focomat info available here - not something found easily on Google - despite digging to page ten of its results.


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[baachitraka]

Its one of engineering marvel.

I was cleaning the condensor element with contact lens lotion.

 

[Hilo]

Quote "You may be right, but for lenses other than 50mm you would have to change the automatic focus adjustment. Which is not all that simple. What plays there too, is that at one quarter going up the column there are two holes about 3cm from each other. You stick a pin in the lower hole when you print with the paper on the baseboard, you use the pin in the upper hole, in combination with an easel like is shown in the picture of this enlarger (this Leitz easel is that 3cm)".

"Hmm, This looks like something I'll understand upon seeing".

Yes, my usual struggle with words . . . I should have mentioned that on the pin rests the foot of the paralellogram. When you use the 3cm thick easel, you move up the paralellogram 3cm (by placing the pin in the high position) for the autofocus to keep being precise.

With regards to a filterholder, yes it is not difficult to make something once you see the redfilter. I attach some pics, first the Leitz made holder, second a Beseler holder (I believe from the 23C), both do the same

 

[John Koehrer]

The wiring through the column works fine and makes a cleaner installation. If you rewire the whole thing you also get a switch at the baseboard.

The adjustment of the auto focus is pretty simple and briefly it's:
Raise head to maximum, adjust parallelogram, Set to minimum and adjust again.
There are more detailed instructions online.
Originally it's set for a 1" thick easel and the Focotar. If you change lenses or easel you can focus manually or adjust the autofocus.
You can use the existing filter holder for VC filters but they're easily damaged.

 

[chip j]

You may be right, but for lenses other than 50mm you would have to change the automatic focus adjustment. Which is not all that simple. What plays there too, is that at one quarter going up the column there are two holes about 3cm from each other. You stick a pin in the lower hole when you print with the paper on the baseboard, you use the pin in the upper hole, in combination with an easel like is shown in the picture of this enlarger (this Leitz easel is that 3cm)

I doubt if the Schneider Componon S, with the lever on the side, would fit in the 1C. But over the years I have used different lenses, other than the Focotars, and they worked fine: Nikkor, Rodagon G, Minolta CE and Meogon . . all in 50mm.

One thing you should be aware of is that this early version 1C does not have a filter drawer. Later versions have this drawer which slides from right to left to open, and it is positioned between bulb and condenser. Assuming you will use multigrade filters, you have two options where to place your filters in this 1C: below the lens, or simply on the condenser. Opinions vary which is the better option. Because I do not like to keep opening the lamp house all the time, I prefer under the lens. But others work fine putting the filters on the condenser. Leitz USA made a filter holder for a while which replaces the red filter. Difficult to find. It is not difficult to use an other brand filter holder, I have some made by Beseler that work fine. They do need a slight modification, like drilling a hole and a longer screw. Even I, with two left hands, could do that!

Don't let the above throw you off, the 1C is a fantastic enlarger. Mostly because of the system to press down the negative with the condenser (just one glass to keep clean), the beautiful negative holder which gives a nice black border if you want it and the ease of changing magnification, for which the autofocus was really made . . .

The lever on the Schneider 50 28 can be removed.

 

[analoguey]

Okay, the deal fell through - I havent heard back from the chap, so I'm looking at other alternatives here.

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[Hilo]

Sorry to hear that. But at least you learned something about this enlarger. I imagine they are rare in India?

I wonder how much shipping would be from Europe. If you are patient and know where to look, you find one below €100 and in quite good shape. If you want, I can find out shipping costs.

Would you want to print larger than 40X50cm? I ask because this is what the short column 1C can do. It is more simple to ship than the 1,20m column version . . .

 

[analoguey]

I did learn quite a bit about it Michael, thanks!
I did think the chap would want to finish the trasaction quickly as I know he's been wanting to part with it for sometime - oh well!

yes, enlargers aren't available that frequently here - and eBay/online selling of old goods hasn't taken off that well, plus everyone chants digital now so, one has to actually go and ask the local old photo shops for them. I asked quite a few over the weekend, and only one had a locally made enlarger - KB or KHB I think (and quarter-plate size) - but no focomats as such. And most only knew what a photo processing machine was, the enlarger per them was the regular printer - if I werent looking for one myself, I doubt I would know too!

I currently only have paper to print to 9"x12"(24x30cm) or so - as of now, I think that is the max size I will print. Larger prints, I will anyhow project horizontally - something I have in mind, but not for the immediate future (say 6 months). I might buy one of the quarter-plate ones locally - so waiting for a focomat shouldn't be an issue.