Free Colour Enlarger Melbourne

[Mick Fagan]

On Friday I helped someone pick up some stuff and among other things, I sort of picked up a darkroom of stuff.

Among the stuff is a Durst M605 Colour enlarger, which works. It is missing a baseboard, but that can be easily fixed. I could possibly help with that.

I'm not saying it is brilliant, but the basics are there and everything works. I know this as I hooked things up and switched the colour head on and off with the supplied timer and power supply; works well.

There are two lenses, an EL Nikon f/4 50mm for 35mm and a Komuron-s f/5.6 75mm for 6x6 film. I think the Komuron is not too good at all, looks a bit dirty so I wouldn't rely on that , but the Nikon lens looks reasonable; meaning the enlarger is ready to go for 35mm film.

If someone wishes to start out and would like this enlarger and maybe enough stuff to start developing film and doing prints, then I've probably got you covered. If you are brand new to film, I can give you some tuition in my darkroom to get you going.

If you need transport for the enlarger and associated stuff, I can probably help out as well. I know what it is like to not have wheels as at some stage in my life I was much younger and penniless.

Attached are some images of the enlarger, in one picture the enlarger is switched on, you can see the coloured light emanating from the negative stage, which is open.

Mick.

 

[Spidy]

I noticed no replies to your post.

Is this offer still available? What about the tuition? I built a darkroom a couple of years ago but life got too busy. I am almost in a position to begin printing, however, I'm afraid my knowledge has gone the way of the Dodo so some tuition will definitely be advantageous.

 

[Mick Fagan]

Yep, still available.

Mick.

 

[Spidy]

Excellent. I have two (colour and B&W) enlargers but I'll definitely take you up on tuition. How do we proceed?

 

[Mick Fagan]

Very slowly, we have isolation issues in Melbourne and until we are fully vaccinated, it isn't going to happen.

To be honest, I thought you were after the enlarger.

Darkroom tuition isn't a problem, just the small enclosed air space that we will be working in.

Mick.

 

[Spidy]

Understood. Will reach out to you in a month or so.

 

[Spidy]

Also, I might still be interested in the enlarger (if mine are incomplete)

Mainly looking for guidance at this point.

 

[Mick Fagan]

Well, check out your enlargers and see if you need anything.

Mick.

 

[Spidy]

The LPL 66 seems to be complete. The 6700 needs a yellow knob, the red safety filter assembly that hangs under the lens and unfortunately a bulb.

I can't believe the red safety filter assembly is the most expensive part!

BTW. I can't seem to private message you. I'm in the North Western suburbs. I'm guessing you're in the South East?

 

[Lenny20]

Yep, still available.

Mick.

It's a long shot Mick, but is your enlarger from 6 months back still available? My girlfriend and I would happily avail ourselves of your generosity as we take the plunge from digital to analogue...

... no worries if not!

 

[Mick Fagan]

As a matter of fact, it is still available.

You will need to do a bit of fiddling, but from memory everything one needs is somewhere in and around my darkroom. What else do you need?

Pm me and I'll get back to you, currently on the road.

 

[Mick Fagan]

Well the enlarger has been given to someone who it appears will give it a new life of enlarging 35mm and 120 film in both colour and B&W.

It's taken 5 years to move on, luckily there was no price inflation!

 

[Nige]

Nice Mick. Good thing you didn't put out in hard rubbish!

 

[CrazyCockatoo]

Nice Mick. Good thing you didn't put out in hard rubbish!

I'm the one who takes the enlarger. Mick handmade a wooden crate for the enlarger, and carefully secured it in. He also gives me several trays to replace my old cracked ones and a paterson 5 reel tank that i can use as a temporary RA-4 developing drum( As i high-school student, i can't afford a paper processor). He's very helpful to me and alswer tons of my questions about the enlarger.
The m605 it's very helpful to me, as when i do b w enlarging it helps me to change contrast quickly, unlike my old leica 1c(bought from an old man at Mick's age) i have to pull out drawer and change filter.
I've made a baseboard for it, and added a fan on the top which will turn on when you turn on the enlarger, to cool it down.
As you said, it's really sad that you see when an elderly people passed away, the things they love goes into rubbish, really happy to see someone that love it would take it and give it a second or maybe third life.

(Sydney Opera House enlarged by the durst m605)

 

[Mick Fagan]

Great stuff, and interesting to see the cooling fan you've installed on the top. I don't think I've ever seen something like that done to an enlarger before.

The print looks good, certainly getting there.

Mick; officially an old man......

 

[koraks]

added a fan on the top which will turn on when you turn on the enlarger, to cool it down.

It's not necessary. I've used this type of enlarger for a few years. It doesn't require a fan. The lamp housing is cast aluminum and thermally fairly well separated from the rest of the head. There's no problem with heat buildup as long as you use a lamp that's recommended for this enlarger.
Having a fan on your enlarger may seem like a nice idea, but it's just about the last place in your house where you want to kick up dust.

 

[Don_ih]

And the fan would add a little vibration.

unlike my old leica 1c

I truly advise you to hold onto that enlarger. Chances are, if you keep making enlargements, you'll begin to see how great that thing actually is. (And mine doesn't even have a filter drawer.)

 

[gbroadbridge]

I gave away for free one of those enlargers in mint condition along with everything else in the darkroom including a Jobo CPE2 back in 2006.

Regrets, I have a few...

 

[CrazyCockatoo]

I gave away for free one of those enlargers in mint condition along with everything else in the darkroom including a Jobo CPE2 back in 2006.

Regrets, I have a few...

then you might share the same personality with Mick, he's really helpful. I saw your profile which you says you're in Sydney, will you go and shoot around on ANZAC day at Hyde park, my English teacher told me there will be a march there.