Help with identifying this enlarger part (looks like a condenser)

~andi · Apr 3, 2015

Hi fellow Apugers,

I've recently got hold of an early Leitz Focomat 1c. Along with the enlarger came the part pictured in the attachments. I have no idea what it is for. It has no markings but it looks like a condenser lens (one side concave, the other straight) and is a tad smaller than the standard 1c condenser lens. The Focomat 1c has no removable condenser lens, instead the lens is mounted into a long cylinder. Mechanically, this part fits into the top opening of a 1c condenser cylinder forming a optical system with the convex sides of the two lenses facing each other. It looks like it could be a double-condeser accessory (converting the single condenser of the 1C into a double-condenser). However I never heard of such a accessory for the 1c nor did I find anything about it on the web.

Any ideas what this could be?

Cheers,
Andi

Hilo · Apr 3, 2015

Andi,

I have used and have taken Focomat 1C's apart since around 1980. I have all the models. Never seen this piece. It also doesn't make sense this would sit on top of the round opening above the spring that is holding down the 1C condensor. This piece would have to replace the bajonet ring that fixes the spring in place. To make sure you could also post this in the Leica forum > darkroom . . .

I assume you got the round head 1C version? The design of this piece you wonder about seems to be later, and perhaps it also doesn't quite look Leitz to me. But this is difficult to see from pictures.

Michael

~andi · Apr 3, 2015

Michael,

thanks for your input. As you assumed, it is the round head version of the 1C, black label (instead of a red dot), white handle, small base board, short column.

I've attached some more pictures showing the part sitting in the condenser tube with and without spring. It sits in there perfectly being locked in place by the spring. It's the only way I could think of fitting this part to a 1c. Given the perfect fit I find it unlikely to be just a coincidence - then again... stranger things have happened. Maybe someone tried to create a double condenser like this? Just out of curiosity I'll have to try making a print with this setup.

I'll try the Leica forum too.

Cheers,
Andi

Hilo · Apr 4, 2015

Andi,

Yes, I see your point. It does look like it's made for the 1C. Perhaps it was made to work with a special enlarging head, like the point-light for the 1C. I had that, but could not get any even illumination and gave up on it.

Glennview ( http://www.glennview.com/leitz.htm ) knows a lot about these enlargers, you could drop him a line. Sometimes there are parts for the enlargers that were only made in the USA, like the under-the-lens filter holder for your version 1C . . . So, in the German information it does not exist, but in reality it does.

~andi · Apr 4, 2015

Michael,

The hint to the point light source / different head is a very good idea. I'll contact Glenn maybe he has seen this before. Maybe Kienzle could shed some light on this too, maybe I'll drop them a line too. I think they made a lot of modifications and customizations to the Focomats.

Anyway, thanks a lot for your pointers to further research.

Cheers,
Andi

Hilo · Apr 4, 2015

Yes, if this is Leitz-made, then Kienzle will know. And perhaps they made it for one of their heads. If you find out anything I would love to know. I will send you a pm with contact - it happens that I am not here for months . . .

Good luck

chip j · Apr 4, 2015

Looks similar to a part that's with an Ancient Valoy I have--it's double condenser w/a frosted glass diffusing disk on top.

~andi · Jan 9, 2017

It's an old thread, but I've got an update on my original question and posting for completeness sake.

I think I found out what the mysterious Ic part is. I believe it's Leitz Part Nr. 17 629. "Zusatz-Beleuchtungslinse für gerichtetes Licht, auch für Focomat Ia" - exactly what I suspected in the beginning: An additional lens, converting the Focomat Ic single condenser into a double-condenser. I found the description of the part in old Leitz Catalogue (1968). Since there's no picture of the part in the catalogue and no number on it, I can not be 100% certain, just about 99% confident.

Best,
~andi

Hilo · Jan 9, 2017

Andi, good to see you are still hooked on the Leitz enlargers. Yes, I think you may be right. Gerichtetes Licht would translate to pointed light, or point light.

It also makes sense as far as my own experience goes. As I told you in the previous post (2011 !) I used the point light and had trouble to get even illumination. This 17629 part could be made to solve that. 1968 would be in the middle of the production of the 1c. One bit of information that may help you is that the transformer of the point light I owned had "Made in France" written on it.

I sent you a PM here, or I believe it is now called a conversation (confusing !)

Michael

AgX · Jan 10, 2017

Hilo said:
Yes, I think you may be right. Gerichtetes Licht would translate to pointed light, or point light.

But that would require a point light source.

"gerichtetes Licht" does not translate to "point light source".
But in most cases a point light source is indeed used to yield such light.

~andi · Jan 10, 2017

Hi Michael,

I'm not very active on the Internet. I sometimes amend old questions when I think I found out something new in order for others to profit from it. When I do research, nothing is more frustrating than reading pages and pages about a similar problem without a conclusion.

I haven't thought about interpreting the catalog entry like you do ("if you have a light source which already emits directed, you need this part"), that's how I understood your post anyways. I, on the other hand, was interpreting it as: "you use this part and get better directed light (=double condenser light as in the IIc)". However, I'm not sure there is enough evidence in the catalog for either theory. For all we know the part could actually scatter light when used with a point light source.

I guess we would have to ask someone which definite knowledge about part 17 629.

Best,
Andi

--
PS: The mentioned Leitz Katalog: http://www.l-camera-forum.com/leica-wiki.de/images/c/c1/Leitz-Gesamtkatalog-1-Sep-1968.pdf

AgX · Jan 10, 2017

I assume Leitz people were a bit negligent on terminology. And most likely the meant what you are saying above.

It would be interesting to learn about a test were both condenser set-ups were tested against each other.

~andi · Jan 10, 2017

Yes. The Ic is in storage right now since I found another toy to play with and have limited space When I set it up again, I'll probably do a quick a/b comparison.

~andi · May 22, 2018

Thanks to Hilo and pointers from Chip we finally identified the part in a 1940 Leitz catalog. It is named VOBIT and was originally meant for the use with a 100W Projection Lamp called VOLAM to achieve a more directed light to aid in enlarging thin negatives. The lamp can be used with all enlarger types, with the caveat that the 135mm enlargers need this extra condenser. As far as I understand, can also be used with the normal opal bulb (albeit to a lesser effect) as well with an additional battery driven lamp (25W/6V)[AQFOO] for in the field use of the enlarger without mains power (auto accumulator). The additional opal-glas-disc (AQOOL) should be used to even out the light a bit as the adjustment of the lamp seems to be very critical when used with the projection lamp. The opal glas can be used with AQFOO to even out illumination. AQFOO can also be used with VOBIT (albeit without the opal glas AQOOL) to improve illumination.

Here's the 1:1 translation of the catalog entry (forgive the germanisms, I was too lazy to make it sound correct and just translated more or less literally):

Leitz Catalog "Leitz Vergrößerungsapparate", April 1940 (date on the last page, though it is not 100% clear if this is the publication date. Complete "Date" Info in last page reads: "April 1940 F.Y. o. Pr // Liste Nr. Photo 7891").

Projection Lamp and Accessories (p. 39 f)
-------------------------------------------------------

In all our enlargers, instead of the Opal-Bulb, a projection lamp [VOLAM] can be used. Together with an additional condenser [VOBIT] for the small format enlargers, directed light can be achieved. This directed light is especially recommended when enlarging thin negatives because contrast is increased by the Callier-Effect. It makes it possible to achieve satisfactory enlargements of negatives which would otherwise yield unsatisfactory results even on ultra-hard paper grades. The VASEX and Focomat IIa do not need the extra condenser because these enlargers are already equipped with a double-condenser.

To prevent adjustment of the lamp with each new magnification factor and to allow the lens to be stopped down a little, the upper condenser needs to be covered with a matt-screen [opal glas disc, milk glass screen, etc.][AQOOL]. By doing so the light gets scattered a tiny bit, but the illumination still remains much harder and brighter compared to a 75W opal bulb.

By using directed light like this, even with the opal disc on top of the second condenser, the adjustment of the lamp needs to be performed extra carefully. Otherwise colored rings or heavy light fall-off towards the edges might be observable.

Because the projection lamp gives off a lot of heat, a ventilation ring [Vorym] has to be placed between the two hemispheres of the enlarger head (except Focomat Ia).

To control brightness of the image when using the projection lamp, variable resistors can be usde similar to the AKTINA-Lamp. It is not necessary to use the same resistors. Simpler resistors without a voltmeter suffice.

[...]

Also see this related thread which brought on finding the info:
https://www.photrio.com/forum/threads/point-light-source-for-the-focomat-ic.159833/

Help with identifying this enlarger part (looks like a condenser)

~andi

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~andi

Help with identifying this enlarger part (looks like a condenser)

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