Help me figure out my contact printer, Please?

JMC1969 · Dec 8, 2015

Thanks for looking.

I got this thing a few years back and never got around to toying with it. It's missing something and I'm not 100% on which it is.

The pictures show a hinged door, that has a slot with runner for something to be put in and out. The question is what?

my first thought was it must be for diffusion of some sort as there is just a 15w bulb sitting in there (2nd bulb was red, but dead), but why have a door to remove and replace diffusion that must be there to even out the light?

So I question it is is missing a negative carrier and some how this tray slot is for that. But, with no lens, how would it project the 1 1/2" - 2" span between the negative and the paper on the glass?

p.s. i know this probably won't work with enlarging papers, but I want to play with it anyway.

thanks

John Koehrer · Dec 8, 2015

Curiouser and curiouser.
I'd think the slot would be for a piece of opal glass. IE: a diffuser.
The white light is for exposure and the red to align the negative and paper. Using enlarging
paper's going to be inconvenient(ahem!) because of exposure times in the area of fractions
of a second.
Can you guess how I figured that one out? It's rhetorical and I don't need the embarrassment.

Rick A · Dec 9, 2015

I believe the slot is indeed for a sheet of opal glass.

juan · Dec 9, 2015

Change the bulb to a lower wattage and use enlarging paper. I, too, think the slot would be for a diffuser.
Juan

ic-racer · Dec 9, 2015

Maybe you can try to fashion a diffuser out of layers of diffusion material, thicker in the center. I suspect it will have quite a hot spot in the middle with just a plain diffuser sheet. Most people use enlarging paper for silver contact printing, it gives a grater choice of emulsions.

removed account4 · Dec 9, 2015

you can get milk or diffusion plastic at a plastic / acrylic shop.

Truzi · Dec 9, 2015

You may also be able to find some ND "filter" sheets that you can cut to size, and sandwich with a diffuser, so you can get more reasonable times with enlarging paper.

Maybe something from here:
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/buy/color-correction-filters-gels/ci/24442/N/3945526706

JMC1969 · Dec 9, 2015

Thank you for the replies. I did put a piece of 1/4" milk plex in there but I like the idea of adding ND filter and I think I have some already. I put a 4x5 with some FB paper and got about 4 sec. Doesn't look good but that could be partly the photographer (me). I will try a few more things later today and see what I get

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Jim Noel · Dec 9, 2015

OPal glass,or a good plastic equivalent and either add more ND filters or reduce the bulb to 5-7.5 watts if you are going to use enlarging paper. Or get some silver chloride paper (contact paper) and leave the bulb alone. You will be amazed at the difference between contact and enlarging paper. One source is michaelandpaula.

ic-racer · Dec 9, 2015

If you are planning on making fine prints, rather than proof prints, consider multigrade paper. Once you add the filters, the exposure times will come down also.

JMC1969 · Dec 9, 2015

Ok, so here is the next question then. I did not have the filters' I thought I had, so should I stick to a straight ND filter .6 (2 stops), .9 (3 stops) 1.2 (4 stops) or since this is a Tungsten bulb, do I use a C.T. Blue? Or is the Blue blocking power already taken care of in the paper?

John Koehrer · Dec 11, 2015

TBH I dunno about having to use the C.T blue, but if you're using enlarging paper would assume not. Condenser type enlargers
don't use them and multigrade is Gr. 2 without a filter.

Jeff Bradford · Dec 11, 2015

Order some FomaLux paper - made for contact prints.

eddie · Dec 11, 2015

ic-racer said:
If you are planning on making fine prints, rather than proof prints, consider multigrade paper. Once you add the filters, the exposure times will come down also.

It looks as if you could use it for split-grade contact prints. With the proper sized gels on a piece of glass, you could switch out filters while the negative/paper remain locked down. I kind of like the idea...

JMC1969 · Dec 13, 2015

eddie said:
It looks as if you could use it for split-grade contact prints. With the proper sized gels on a piece of glass, you could switch out filters while the negative/paper remain locked down. I kind of like the idea...

Thats interesting. I would need to put in an in-line switch to turn off/on the bulb. As it is, the bulb comes on when you close the lids down. easy fix. Thanks for all the replies. Hopefully I will have a result or two later today. Of course I would need you guys to got buy all my extra junk that is posted in classified here, so I can get to everything in there and think a little.

Help me figure out my contact printer, Please?

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