Focomat 1c questions.

[Tina Kino]

Thank you as well @Ron789 - that's very helpful!

 

[choiliefan]

This may have already been answered but does your baseboard have a long lever on the side and a recessed T-nut in the center of the base?
The locking easel has long T-slots milled on the underside which slip over the T-nut on the baseboard. Positioning the easel when composing the print, it can be locked down with the side lever. Its a terrific feature on these wonderful enlargers.
Another nice thing to have is the anti-newton rings attachment under the condenser.

 

[Tina Kino]

the modification of the Omega holder for both enlargers. Left for the Focomat Ic, right for the Valoy II.
This holder is not rare and they come up now and then at okay prices. The open design at the front, and the lower flaps, make it easier to use.


View attachment 390295

I was looking for these Omega holders, only seeing one at (German) eBay right now, in very bad condition, and it's the equivalent of $58 - which I'm finding a bit steep

The "modification" you mentioned is cutting (filing away?) the right corner, as with the Focomat Ic there's that silver rod in the way otherwise, yes?





I see the Ilford multigrade filter set can be bought including a kind of holder that mounds to the lens with three "arms".

Would that be an option with the Focomat Ic, or does this also not have enough clearance for the silver rod, just as with the Omega holder above?





Thanks in advance!



Ps: ..just found out that the Omega holder is still available new, in the US, via B&H - for a mere $299.95

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/39320-REG/Omega_429029_Filter_Holder_for_Red.html

 

[Don_ih]

I see the Ilford multigrade filter set can be bought including a kind of holder that mounds to the lens with three "arms".

That's not a good option for anything. If you're stuck, punch the red plastic out of the red filter under the lens and use that circular frame as a place to set your filters upon. Otherwise, I've done what @Hilo suggested, which works well. There's no reason one of the holders should cost much. If I had another one, I'd just send it to you.

 

[Tina Kino]

Thank you @Don_ih - I appreciate the sentiment!
I will try to find a used Omega one or maybe build one myself.. actually it would be amazing if somebody would 3D-print some of those things!

Circling back to the easels - If I understand correctly the ones with the nice, broad blades and the white paint-on-wood are the ones where it's fiddly to get the paper into?
They do look nice, but they also command high prices where I'm at - plus, if they're annoying to use I'd rather get something else..




What do you guys think of this kind of Leitz easels -
they don't look as solidly built as the others (that's perhaps why they're a bit cheaper), seem to have the proper height (looks like 1" at least),
is anybody using one of those, and what are your thoughts?




Another one I'm looking at is this Kindermann one..
..can't seem to find any info on it at all on the net, but it looks nice (grey hammertone paint kinda matching the late, grey focomat : )
Would probably need to add some kind of base board or at least a sheet of leather to the bottom..

 

[Don_ih]

What do you guys think of this kind of Leitz easels -
they don't look as solidly built as the others

That second easel you posted is small (notice where the cm scale stops) and is actually very very well-built - much better than the bigger one you posted first. The first one has a problem of falling apart (poor fastener choice), tends to rust a bit, sliding the blades can be stiff, and the paper is ridiculously irritating to line up. But it is good for 8x10 and it does clamp to the baseboard. But, no, it's not worth the high prices people want.

The small easel is about as good as it could be. But it's just too small. I have no idea why they made it.