Focomat IIC - column plug?

[Hilo]

The older black IIC sometimes comes with a double plug that goes into the top of the column. It is black or dark brown, grounded and it takes the plug from the lamphouse on one side, and a plug from the enlarging scale on the other side.

I wonder if this plug was/is standard available in the shops (in Germany), or if Leitz had it made?

Anyway, I would like to find one for my IIC, so any ideas are welcome

Michael

 

[Ron789]

How about this? It's a different shape and it's white, but you could cover it with black duct tape, or paint it black, or maybe they are even being sold in black.... I think I bought this at the Action, but it may also have been Gamma or Praxis. It costs very little.

 

[Hilo]

Thanks Ron ! Yes, that would work fine.

I just realised the receiving plug inside the column of my IIC is different, it takes the later, smaller rectangular plug. I don't think the old Leitz plug or your plug would work . . .

 

[AgX]

The older black IIC sometimes comes with a double plug that goes into the top of the column.
I wonder if this plug was/is standard available in the shops (in Germany), or if Leitz had it made?

Such plugs were common houshold utilities in West-Germany in the 60s. But later they got banned as they could put too much leverage on the mains socket. From then on only distributers with a cable inlet were sold.

I just realised the receiving plug inside the column of my IIC is different, it takes the later, smaller rectangular plug. I don't think the old Leitz plug or your plug would work . . .

The "older" plug is called "Schuko"-plug and still standard in Germany.

The only quite rectangular one is called "Euro"-plug , but only is 2-pole and narrow shaped.
But there are also is a kind of trapezoid plug. It is 3-pole and called "Kaltgeräte"-plug. Very common at photo-stuff.

 

[Hilo]

AgX, thanks for clarifying ! That helps a lot.

I also think my first post was a little confused.

In the mean time I found a Bakelite 2-way plug that seems to be very similar to the one pictured with the older Focomat IIC. I attach a photo of it.

I have a IIC column without the contra plug and that's what I now need to find. In a couple of days I see someone with the older IIC . . . hope he won't mind I open up the column's contra plug . . .

 

[John Koehrer]

The picture above is what's on my llC.

 

[Hilo]

I have another question about another plug that was used by Leitz for their Focomats IC and IIC. I am talking about the plug that connects the lamphouse to the column. Attached are some pictures of this plug.

I would like to find one, but I would also like to know if someone knows this is a plug that Leitz had made for them, or if this plug already existed?

Thanks, Michael

 

[AgX]

Still missing is the frontal view. But the pins seem cylindrical, ordered in triangle and with one being prolonged.
The body of the plug is similar to the german (Kalt-/Heiß-)Gerätestecker.


Anyway, I got countless cables and never saw this connector.


It seems similar to this swiss male plug
https://www.conrad.de/de/kaltgeraet...se-c13-schwarz-200-m-hawa-1008243-621549.html

(of which existance I was not aware untill today)




The easiest way to solve the problem would be installing a new plug and socket. Likely the Kaltgeräte female socket and the Kaltgeräte male plug for the cable.
https://www.buerklin.com/default.as...:"SERanking"}&l=d&jump=ArtNr_41F1822&ch=20991

https://www.buerklin.com/default.as...agecount":100}&l=d&jump=ArtNr_41F115&ch=11746

 

[Hilo]

Thanks AgX,

Later on I will post a picture of the front side of the plug.

The Swiss plug indeed comes close (and Conrad sells them too here in The Netherlands) but I am afraid the distance between the pins will be different (larger) than with the Leitz plug. This I will check today.

Yes, I am also considering replacing the old socket and plug with a new one. To make it fit securely inside the column may be the challenge . . . but worth trying.

The plug that Leitz used is very compact and strong. My old friend who repaired for Leitz tells me these plugs were part of their replacement inventory and came with the cord connected . . . he can't remember exactly, but thinks Leitz had these plugs made. They were used for both the IC and 2C columns. The inside diameter of the IC column is smaller, and it makes sense the plug was designed smaller than standard size.

 

[AgX]

Do you need a connector at all at the enlarger?

Permanently fixing the cable to the enlarger could be another option.

 

[Hilo]

Do you need a connector at all at the enlarger?

Permanently fixing the cable to the enlarger could be another option.

Very correct. And I have done so with different Focomats (many pass through my hands as I help others find them, and do basic repairs). In fact one could wonder about the whole electricity situation from the top of the column down to underneath the baseboard. A simple direct connection from the lamphead's cord into a timer works fine. I guess I find it a pity, when everything else works well, to bypass all that.

I compared the distance between the two essential pins of the Focomat plug to the distance between current plugs in use: the Focomat plugs have a much smaller distance between pins. I think that rules out the Swiss plug.

Attached pictures of the front of these Focomat plugs.

Looking at the different Focomats I have, and thinking back, now I realise that over the years they came with at least four different plugs. And probably more. I guess the plugs were giving problems and Leitz tried to find the better solution all the time.

 

[AgX]

The swiss plug I hinted at has a form of a rhomb. It fits the swiss wall socket.
The one above seems like a hybrid of that swiss plug and the german/european plug for cold appliances.