Leitz part ID? What is it?

[Jon Shiu]

I got this in a box of darkroom junk at an estate sale. I am wondering what is for or if is part of another piece of equipment. It's about 7 inches wide and weighs about 3.5 lbs:

 

[voceumana]

Looks like a heavy duty easel--the glass might be fore borderless prints, and the design might have been for an autofocus enlarger, as they want a fixed height on the easel.

 

[AgX]

Borderless easel. The glass pane can be exchanged for dedicated masks.
The slit at the bottom is said to fix the easel to the enlarger baseboard. Though I do not know of the appropriate fixtures to go into the corresponding slits at the board of some older enlargers. The slit might also be used to attach the easel to the older type swivelling head (for rectifying).

 

[choiliefan]

That's a beauty.
As said, the dovetail on the bottom enabled the easel to be positioned precisely and clamped to the base of the older Focomats such as the 1C with a lever operated t-nut in the center of the table.
Yes, there was a tilt/swivel base as well for correcting perspective, converging lines, etc.

 

[Jon Shiu]

Thanks all for the info!

 

[AgX]

Some Leitz enlargers had 3 T-nut groves to take nuts with a simple plate that is used as a stop (not clamp) for the easel in plain working and with the easel tilted.:

http://images.ntpl.org.uk/hppa-zooms/00000000627/cms_102420_1_.bro
http://glennview.com/jpgs/leitz/easel/clamps/small_1.jpg


One Focomat version hat a central slit with an clamping mechanism for a dovetail nut running in a groove within the easel, operated by a lever at the left side of the baseboard:

https://www.picclickimg.com/d/w1600/pict/123545919238_/Baseboard-for-Leitz-Focomat-IIC-Enlarger.jpg
https://www.picclickimg.com/00/s/MT...eboard-for-Leitz-Focomat-IIC-Enlarger-_57.jpg

 

[Hilo]

Nice old Leitz item ! The size is roughly 5X7 inches or 12X18cm?

I think the previous comments are correct that this would be a border-less easel. In addition this item may also have to do with making reproductions. Leitz made connecting pieces between for instance Focomat 1c and Valoy II, in order for the Valoy II column to be attached to the 1c column. The Valoy II arm could take brackets for cameras and by attaching to the 1c column you could reproduce larger originals.

Leitz made several other parts to go between their enlargers and the early Reprovit copy stands.

I have Focomats 1c and 2c with this clamping device and a couple of easels which can be attached. It works well and it is particularly useful with the small wooden Leitz easel. That one can easily move . . .

 

[AgX]

The dove-tail nut can be raised out of the recess, guided into the easel and then be swivelled and also pushed along the long slit at the baseboard. By this the easel can be rotated as well moved along an x- and y-axis over the baseboard. Thus the easel can be moved to countless positions at all orientations, before being locked by friction by pulling downwards that nut.


The OP's easel is designated by Leitz as model "Borderless". (Only one size, with as accessories masking inserts for 6 formats for 3mm border printing.)

 

[Hilo]