Leitz easel question

[Robbie Bedell]

OK, I just got a Leitz easel. It is white with four blades. I thought it was an 11x14 easel but it is actually 10x12. Apparently that is/was a European paper? My normal prints are made 9x13 inches on an 11x14-inch piece of paper, which means there is a half inch border on either side. My question is for those who have actually used this type of easel. Will I be able to cheat a bit and squeeze and extra half-inch on an 11x14 piece of paper to get my image size? I hope this makes sense! Please let me know your experiences. Thank you! Robbie..

 

[Robbie Bedell]

Here is a link to the one I got: http://thecameracollector.skynetblogs.be/archive/2015/04/08/leitz-masking-easel-8417295.html

 

[~andi]

Yes, that's the one I thought of (hammertone). Not used it before. But it has a image area window of 24x30cm, the blades allow for border about 2,5cm i guess. That would make the baseboard capable of holding paper up to 32,5cmx26,5cm at least (with a 2,5cm border on the bottom and right) without the paper overlapping the frame. By this calculation, you'll probably not make the 13 inches (33,02cm).

However, you just might just do so anyways. The "amateur" 18x24cm (metric standard size) metal easels for example also take the next larger imperial standard size. Since 11x14 is the "a little bit larger" imperial version of the metric 24x30cm standard, it might just work for 11x14 paper.

All conjecture though. Just try it when you get it.

Oh, and believe there's no spacer required for that easel. They are very similar to the Kaiser ProMask easels (actually I think Kaiser even manufactured them for Leitz or Leitz designed the ProMask for Kaiser - though I'm not 100% sure). Those are exactly 2,5cm (1 inch) tall an don't require the spacer.

Andi

 

[Robbie Bedell]

Andi, THANK YOU! I had just assumed I would need the spacer. That is going to save me a ton of time trying to make one...actually two, as I would be using this same easel on both my 1cs. I AM going to try it....got my fingers crossed! I will let everyone know. It just has to get here in the mail..The reason for making the easel change is that as much as I like my Saunders VT1400 it is just too big!

 

[~andi]

You're welcome. If you're using mainly one size, you might benefit from a fixed-format easel with precision laser cut masks. There are building plans out there including CAD data you can sent to laser cut services. Here's the thread in a german forum, but you'll figure out the email address easily (some posts down, it's not me I just recently got the plans and they're good). Just mail the guy:

https://aphog.de/forum/index.php/Thread/40300-eLsa-der-Festformat-Maskenrahmen/

It's a simple and effective system. You only need a couple of metal parts and a the baseplate from a carpenter or home depot (or whatever the local large-type hardware store is named).

Andi

 

[Robbie Bedell]

Andi, No I don't do just one size. I just do the 9x13 on 11x14 for portfolio and prints to sell. I also do 8x10 and even 5x7 on occasion. With the Saunders I have found that if am cropping a photo in a certain way sometimes the top of the easel bumps up against my enlarger column and I can't do it.. I then have to go to the smaller Saunders easel. I really don't like switching easels especially with the auto-focus all set right.

 

[~andi]

Ah, I see. If the Leitz works with 11x14 paper and 9x13 image size, it might just be the perfect solution for your needs. I hope it turns out fine!

 

[Robbie Bedell]

Thank you Andi...That is my hope! I will let you know....

 

[Robbie Bedell]

Well, I got my Leitz easel today and it has turned out to be a bit of a disappointment. It is in very nice overall shape but the problem is that the black metal paper guide on upper the left, which I beleive is supposed to raise up from the base as the frame is raised, seems to be stuck in it's groove. With a flashlight I can peer down inside and it looks at if the base is made not of solid wood, as one would expect from Leitz, but fiberboard. So it looks as if the board has swelled a bit and is 'biting' the metal guide so it can't raise up. At this point I really have not decided on what to do. I bought it from Canada and the shipping is nearly half the cost of the easel..I don't want to force anything.

 

[Hilo]

Try pulling the paper guide out and give it a bit of vaseline on both sides. Then close halfway and push it gently in. Open again slowly while pulling it . . . repeat this a while, you may get it to work.

 

[Robbie Bedell]

Thank you Hilo. Actually I did try a few things but it is still resisting. The seller has agreed to take the easel back so today it is being returned. I found a like-new Beard 11x14 which will arrive tomorrow. Hopefully it will be OK and I will sell off one or both of the Saunders. Thank you again Hilo and Andi for all your help on this! Robbie

 

[~andi]

I'm sad to hear that your easel is damaged. Unfortunately the modern easels, as well as the baseboards of the modern Leitz enlargers, are built with particle board. Very disappointing indeed. But its just a board which can be changed (not worth the effort though if you can sent it back). The RRB (the 2bladed that is) will be on particle board too and probably very thin one prone to warping especially if its the latest "Photon Beard" version. But they are easy to replace with a multiplex board or as a quick fix: glue a multiplex board on the bottom to make it torsionally rigid and raise the construction. However this is probably needed with large ones only (16x12"+). The 4-blade RRB is made entirely of metal and each blade has 2 adjustment points. Very clever design (basically the same as the Kienzle easels).

Andi

 

[Hilo]

Apart from the Leitz 2-bladed easels, I also have the Beard 2-bladed 24X30cm and the 50X60cm (20X24). I like the Beard easels a lot, find them a little easier than the Leitz easels in terms of placing the paper. The stoppers are not step-less like Leitz, but it is not a problem. When the blades are not precisely rectangular they're easy to adjust. A couple of years ago I could still get parts.

 

[Robbie Bedell]

Thank you Hilo, I am looking forward to the Beard. I should have it today. I have several Saunders and a 16x20 Beseler and a Leitz small one. I find easels are like tripods. Some are better than others but none are perfect. The best I have is my Saunders VT1400 but it is too large on my Focomat 1c baseboard. I am hoping the Beard is a bit smaller all the way around and will be perfect. I have heard Beard is a good product and your endorsement is heartening. Thank you!

Andi, Thank you. My Beard is the two-bladed 11x14 one. It looked to be in pretty good shape. Hopefully I will know soon. And hopefully it will be perfect. I am getting easled out. I must have worked on the Leitz one for six hours before finally sending it back. How will I know if it will be the 'Photon Board' version?...

 

[~andi]

Hi Robbie, its written on them. "Photon Beard". I have an older two blade 16x12 (borderless image area) which only says "Master Pro", its quite old with some rust on it but the board is thick MDF and it works perfectly. The two blade 16x20 (image area) one is a newer one and has "Photon Beard" written on it. Quite thin particle board for that size but the metal parts are exactly like the old one. I doubt you're going to have board problems with a 11x14. They're great easels.

 

[Robbie Bedell]

OK..It just arrived. It says RRBeard on it. It is truly as new so I am feeling a bit better than the arrival of the Leitz. Thank you Andi...This will be perfect. Now I have to decide which of my Saunders 11x14 to sell..if not both. But I may keep one for my D2...