How to center bulb on Focomat Ic

[ooze]

After suspecting that my Focomat has uneven illumination on the baseboard I did a test without a neg and tried to get an even grey on a sheet of paper. And indeed, the sheet was very unevenly exposed. There are three screws at the top which secure the "bulb-stick", also allowing positioning of the bulb. However, centering the bulb has turned out to be extremely frustrating so far. I tried visual inspection of the illumination on a sheet of paper on the baseboard and also tried to visually center the bulb; with no success.

Do you know a good method to ensure even illumination? Do you have the bulb close to the negative, or at the top, or somewhere in between?

The Focomat has given me a lot of headache really, and sometimes I ask why bother, when my Meopta is capable of producing perfectly good prints without all the hassle.

Cheers,
omar

 

[highpeak]

Is the condensor lens clean?

 

[edz]

Do you know a good method to ensure even illumination? Do you have the bulb close to the negative, or at the top, or somewhere in between?

Its really quite easy. It, however, depends much upon the bulb and the variation of Focomat Ic as some have egg shaped and others round lamp housings. Its not just newer to older since one Focomat in my collection (I never intended to have more than 1 but) dating from 1940 has a longish eggshaped housing for stronger bulbs and larger enlargements--- called "VUTOO" it also has a large baseboard (63x65cm) and a tall (120 cm) and very thick column (5 cm) intended probably for military and espionage.

Here's the Focomat Ic handbuch I uploaded years ago to photo.net:
Dead Link Removed

 

[edz]

The Focomat has given me a lot of headache really, and sometimes I ask why bother,

Its my favorite enlarger for 35mm and 24x24mm negatives. For 35mm I only use my Durst 900 when I want to use either the point source or colour or multigrade or cold light heads-- I have a Wallner colour head for the Ic but its just too heavy with the underbelly (normally these were used without the underbelly) and the head seems to creep, solutions anyone?. Negative handling is wonderful on the Ic--- world's better than the IIc or Durst.

 

[ooze]

Here's the Focomat Ic handbuch I uploaded years ago to photo.net:
Dead Link Removed

Hallo Edward,
I have already checked that pdf file. It doesn't help a lot in my case really.

With your Focomat, does it make a difference in terms of illumination whether the bulb is positioned higher up or lower? Mine is a black one for color, with a round dome and filter drawer.

I wonder whether I'm actually using the correct bulb. Mine is a standard bulb that can also be used in, e.g. Durst condenser enlargers. However, I vaguely remember to have read that there is also something called a short neck bulb. Any ideas? Considering that the only sort sold here is the one I'm currently using I don't have any option really:rolleyes:

Cheers,
omar


Also, the condenser is clean.

 

[edz]

With your Focomat, does it make a difference in terms of illumination whether the bulb is positioned higher up or lower?

Of course it makes a difference!

See what I wrote in 2004 at Photo.net:
http://photo.net/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg?msg_id=0098q0

 

[ooze]

See what I wrote in 2004 at Photo.net:
http://photo.net/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg?msg_id=0098q0

Thanks.