Kicking myself in the a** !!

Chuck_P · Nov 27, 2022

Just sharing my frustration here.......................Ten years ago when life was hitting hard I gave up the darkroom and sold some things as a result of that decision. Of all the items that I sold, this is the one that bites the most. Although I can't remember what the price of this was "new" in 2008 or '09, I'm certain I did not pay near $345 for what someone now wants to sell it for used on ebay. I know this timer is not in production anymore, I guess it is "rare". THANK GOD!! I did not sell my Omega LPL/4550 XLG enlarger or the Schneider lens.

RARE 240vac Saunders LPL ET 500 Digital Enlarging Timer | eBay

Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for RARE 240vac Saunders LPL ET 500 Digital Enlarging Timer at the best online prices at eBay! Free shipping for many products!

www.ebay.com

Rick A · Nov 27, 2022

Here's how I view eBay, when I see the word "rare" I laugh because it isn't. What the asking price is, is definitely NOT what the item is worth unless someone is gullible enough to pay it. Yeah, I'd love to sell my stuff for those prices but my conscience doesn't allow it.

Chuck_P · Nov 27, 2022

I want that timer again, but not at that price!

tih · Nov 27, 2022

Yeah, on eBay, "rare" means "I really hope someone will pay me more than this is worth".

Joel_L · Nov 27, 2022

Bummer, given that the listing you showed is the only one for that timer..... Even sold listing showed nothing.

Generally "rare" is laughable, especially when is listed with dozens of the same item. But in this case......

ruilourosa · Nov 27, 2022

Nice timer!

gone · Nov 27, 2022

Thank goodness I have budget tastes. Been using the same $10 Time -O-Lite timer for years. If it dies tomorrow, they're probably still cheap as chips. If I can't find one, I can count the seconds to at least 10. No worries.

rcphoto · Nov 27, 2022

Am I missing something? Timer says it is 240v and looks to have an EU type plug? Probably why there is only one showing up on the US side of ebay.

Sirius Glass · Nov 27, 2022

Heck I passed up a two week field and darkroom class that my coworkers set up with Ansel Adams because I shot 35mm slides and was so smart because I knew that the Zone System only worked well for sheet film! Now lets talk about serious ass kicking!

GregY · Nov 27, 2022

Chuck, They're definitely fishing. Here's a digital enlarging timer for $39. I bet you could call any number of brick and mortar places and get one for a song.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/2753827237...2o4iD7Xj1T/JDdev/u3NokaNg=|tkp:Bk9SR8KSwq2XYQ

Pieter12 · Nov 27, 2022

GregY said:
I bet you could call any number of brick and mortar places and get one for a song.

Not many brick and mortar places left, much less with darkroom equipment, used or new. Most of it is either eBay and other private transactions, like here, CraigsList and other photo forums.

Chuck_P · Nov 27, 2022

Sirius Glass said:
Heck I passed up a two week field and darkroom class that my coworkers set up with Ansel Adams because I shot 35mm slides and was so smart because I knew that the Zone System only worked well for sheet film! Now lets talk about serious ass kicking!

Oh man that does deserve a kick in the rear......

GregY · Nov 27, 2022

Pieter12 said:
Not many brick and mortar places left, much less with darkroom equipment, used or new. Most of it is either eBay and other private transactions, like here, CraigsList and other photo forums.

Pieter, While that's true it just takes a little work to find something like a timer. Here north of the 49th parallel in western Canada, both the Camera Store in Calgary & the "Film Experience" on Longview do get used darkroom equipment. I know the Camera store just got several Chromega 4x5s with lenses et al. If you're looking for something it takes a little sleuthing and time instead of immediately defaulting to Ebay.

4season · Nov 27, 2022

Why pay top dollar for a 240-volt version of that timer in the USA? Might as well buy a brand-new product from the likes of RH Designs.

GregY · Nov 27, 2022

Exactly. Really in the end it's just a timer..... I have a Zone VI on my 4x5, an old IC on my Durst 138, & a time-o-lite on my contact printing overhead light. In the end the print quality has very little to do with which one was used.....

MattKing · Nov 27, 2022

I really would like to have a Darkroom Automations f/stop timer - and Nicholas Lindan's enterprise has started making them again!
And they are long time Photrio advertisers too!
http://www.darkroomautomation.com/da-main.htm

awty · Nov 27, 2022

MattKing said:
I really would like to have a Darkroom Automations f/stop timer - and Nicholas Lindan's enterprise has started making them again!
And they are long time Photrio advertisers too!
http://www.darkroomautomation.com/da-main.htm

What a great price. I paid more for a used RH design.

mshchem · Nov 27, 2022

So much equipment was scrapped, or just got old and failed. I'm still getting stuff occasionally.

guangong · Nov 27, 2022

I use a Gralab for developing film (I putter and walk around between inversions), and a Time-O-Lite for my enlarger, with two different models of Kodak wind ups.

xkaes · Nov 27, 2022

EBAY "ASKING prices" are like Colorado weather. Just wait a minute......

Everybody who has something they think is old -- they really have no idea what it is -- wants a million bucks for it.

Chuck_P · Nov 27, 2022

MattKing said:
I really would like to have a Darkroom Automations f/stop timer - and Nicholas Lindan's enterprise has started making them again!
And they are long time Photrio advertisers too!
http://www.darkroomautomation.com/da-main.htm

Those are awseome....I don't need a $300 timer but the enlarging meter/densitometer is really attractive.

MTGseattle · Nov 29, 2022

I keep waiting for a "deal" on a Saunders/LPL 4550. I don't think it's going to happen.

redbandit · Nov 30, 2022

Chuck_P said:
Those are awseome....I don't need a $300 timer but the enlarging meter/densitometer is really attractive.

yeah have to agree that does seem like a nice thing to have, but still need to keep the gralab 300 cooking if i read the quicky FAQ section.

but even "drugstore" prints wouldnt be a bad thing at times.

Sirius Glass · Nov 30, 2022

Chuck_P said:
Oh man that does deserve a kick in the rear......

More than one.

mehguy · Dec 4, 2022

Chuck_P said:
Just sharing my frustration here.......................Ten years ago when life was hitting hard I gave up the darkroom and sold some things as a result of that decision. Of all the items that I sold, this is the one that bites the most. Although I can't remember what the price of this was "new" in 2008 or '09, I'm certain I did not pay near $345 for what someone now wants to sell it for used on ebay. I know this timer is not in production anymore, I guess it is "rare". THANK GOD!! I did not sell my Omega LPL/4550 XLG enlarger or the Schneider lens.

RARE 240vac Saunders LPL ET 500 Digital Enlarging Timer | eBay

Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for RARE 240vac Saunders LPL ET 500 Digital Enlarging Timer at the best online prices at eBay! Free shipping for many products!

www.ebay.com

That's just ebay though. Locally you can still find this stuff for pennies, although it'll a bit harder to find them as most people who wanted to get rid of them, already did.

The early to mid 2010s were ripe with darkroom deals. Definitely a buyers market back then.

Kicking myself in the a** !!

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