Kicking myself in the a** !!

[Chuck_P]

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]

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]

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

 

[tih]

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

 

[Joel_L]

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]

Nice timer!

 

[gone]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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

 

[guangong]

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]

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]

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]

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

 

[redbandit]

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]

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

More than one.

 

[mehguy]

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.