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Found Antique Darkroom Equipment

2k_Nasty

Member
Joined
Feb 6, 2026
Messages
1
Location
United States
Format
Digital
Hi howdy!
Sorry in advance if this doesn't fit with the vibe of this forum!

When I bought my house a few years back, I saw old equipment in the basement and then promptly forgot about. While down there to work on some stuff, I saw it again and investigated. It appears to be darkroom equipment, and powers on when plugged in (to my surprise).
Do y'all know what all I have here?

Darkroom - Google Drive

drive.google.com
 
Welcome to Photrio! Asking for identification of what you've got is fine. If you're OK with it, I'll include some of your pictures below so people don't have to go offsite to look at them.











Note that this is only part of the imagery; more is available through the link you posted.
 
Looks like someone was etching circuit boards for electronic devices.
 
That's an Omega E3 5x7 Enlarger, sold only during the WWII to the military. I have the same enlarger, this one looks set up with the sideways enlarging table, enlarger was designed to be approached from the left, against a wall. Great Autofocus 5x7 Enlarger.
 
What's with the heating coils in the counter? Must be a cool basement. Be careful you don't get electrocuted.
 
mshchem said:
What's with the heating coils in the counter? Must be a cool basement. Be careful you don't get electrocuted.
Click to expand...
That's what made me think they were etching circuit boards; it kept the acid warm to speed the etch.

That and the circuit board mask in one of the photos...
 

That's a rare enlarger! It should be saved...
 
Kino said:
That's what made me think they were etching circuit boards; it kept the acid warm to speed the etch.

That and the circuit board mask in one of the photos...
Click to expand...
Yup, sounds entirely plausible. Of course, a setup like this wouldn't be a HAM enthusiast's hobby project - this is some kind of cottage industry making PCB's in reasonable editions; dozens or hundreds to a series, possibly. The PCB design looks quite professionally done as well.
 

You're right. You got an entire darkroom setup there. It would take some time to identify it all.
 
First thought, freaking weird basement! I've been in your shoes, don't waste too many years with this stuff. Yeah the enlarger looks kinda cool but the electrocution cold light and timer. I'd pass on the works. It's a bunch of junk.
Keep the enlarger if you can find a couple carriers and lens boards. There's rarely a free lunch. When I last moved I gifted an Elwood 5x7 enlarger to the new owner, I kept the lens board and carrier.
Yep I'd scrap it and clean up, looks like a meth lab.
 
mshchem said:
I gifted an Elwood 5x7 enlarger to the new owner, I kept the lens board and carrier
Click to expand...

You kept the negative carrier? Finding a replacement would be almost impossible. (I have an Elwood 5x7. It takes up a lot of room and is almost never used.)
 
Don_ih said:
You kept the negative carrier? Finding a replacement would be almost impossible. (I have an Elwood 5x7. It takes up a lot of room and is almost never used.)
Click to expand...

It was scrap metal, actually very nice enlargers. I have beautiful enlargers upto 8x10. Mostly I use a 4x5 Beseler for 6x9, 6x6 negatives.
 
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