Ilford Multigrade 400

[wfwhitaker]

Is anyone aware of possible bulb replacement types for the Ilford 400 Multigrade head? Mine has ELB's (30V, 80W, GX5.3 base) and they should be easy enough to find. However, they're only rated at 18 hours and I'd like to find something possibly a little more long-lived.

Thanks,

 

[ann]

those bulbs will last a lot longer than 18 hours.
we have that head on one of the enlargers in our gang lab and the enlarger has been in use for at least 3 years and i have yet to change the bulbs; of course you know , now that i said that, on Monday things will be different.

I can't tell you how many days or hours that system is in use, as i dont track it, however, it is in use several hours a day, at least 4 times a week.

try Webster Electric in Chicago, great prices. on ebay their id is lights64. I don't remember the cost of the last bulb of that type but it was more than a 50% savings.

 

[wfwhitaker]

those bulbs will last a lot longer than 18 hours.
we have that head on one of the enlargers... and i have yet to change the bulbs; of course you know , now that i said that, on Monday things will be different.

Thanks, Ann, for that information. That's encouraging. As we all know, Murphy doesn't take a day off, but hopefully, at least, you're not on his short list.

The head I have is actually one which was rebuilt by Glennview to replace the bulb socket in a Durst 138, so it's a little different. No reason, to suspect that the bulbs in it are not the same as the original spec. I'll replace both and see how it does.

Just curious, since this head's been radically modified, does the original Ilford 400 head include a fan? (The Ilford 500 head does have a fan, which is why I'm prompted to ask.)

 

[ann]

this is going to sound strange, but i am not sure, don't really pay much attention to it , after i got it set up; however, i don't think so.
just the control panel , head, and foot switch, nothing going into the head so it is doubtful

 

[ann]

just dawned on me, with your statement about the work done on this head, the bulbs are halogen, not screw in. I am not familar with the socket in the durst.

Webster has about every bulb known to mankind at very cheap prices, so they should be able to help you .

 

[wfwhitaker]

Not to worry. The socket assembly on the Durst is removable, held in by two thumb nuts. The modified Ilford bit sits in place of the original socket and has its own sockets which are correct for the ELB bulbs. It's pretty strange looking...

I checked with Webster, but they don't show them on the store listing. I emailed. If they don't have them, there are other suppliers who do. Of course, I won't have them until next week and vacation is this week. Oh well.

 

[ann]

they have them, i always email them. and the thumbnail looks like the bulb housing