Want to Buy Looking: Large Format Darkroom Setup in Connecticut, USA (CT)

Hi everyone!

So as many of you know I just started going back to school for photography officially, and although the darkroom at the school is very useful, there are a few things that it's lacking as well as the fact that I can't be there late into the evening or on weekends.

Through a miracle I've been granted permission to set up a dark room at my mothers house.

A few years back I acquired a 4x5 D2 enlarger from a member here that lived in New Jersey, having no darkroom experience at the time I wasn't sure what he did and didn't give me and I stored it in the basement for a time when I understood it all better.

Now having had some darkroom experience at school and experience using enlargers just like the one I had been given, I realize that a lot of the parts on the enlarger that I have are a little bit broken, plastic gears that are stripped, and the Bellows need some work. I'm thinking that it would be better to pick up one in better shape rather than try to tinker and fix it with parts, and I know that there are many large-format enlargers out there that are looking for homes to be used rather than sit around collecting dust.

In order to make this simple, and understandable, I'm going to just make a list so if you have any of the stuff and you don't want to use it anymore and would rather not throw it away I'm more than willing to come to you to pick it up, I'm willing to travel to the following states.

CT (obviously ideal)
MA
RI
NH
VT
NY

I'm also headed to MD and PA at the end of the month for a wedding and could pick stuff up then.

The school itself has some normal sized equipment that I am able to use there including trays and print washers for up to 11x14 however, they don't have larger print equipment but I would really be interested in doing some larger prints and so I'm also looking to pick up larger trays and larger print washers and larger everything basically that would set me up for things I can't do there.

I shoot mostly 6x7, 4x5 and 8x10 (but until recently I scanned everything) and also 11x14 with a pinhole which I'm in the process of converting to a fixed process lens camera for x-ray film use.

So in an ideal world I would LOVE an 8x10 enlarger, I know they are heavy and require a team to move but I could borrow my moms trailer and I have a few strong friends to help. So I'm just putting it out there.

Otherwise of course an in better shape 4x5 would be better than the broken on I have.

Also looking for the following that would accommodate anything bigger than 11x14 to as big as 20x24

-Drying racks
-Trays
-Print washer
-Paper safe
-Traditional easel or even better, Vacuum easel
-Darkroom SS sink
-Water temp control systems and filters
-Safelight
-Vent system (even just the elections part not the actual vents).

In a dream world I could maybe afford an inexpensive...

JOBO CPP2/ATL (I know... But I have lots of tanks I use on my very old CPE (original) but the larger tanks for 20x24 won't fit so if I can't easily get trays and a sink to accommodate 20x24 prints I'll be using the tank and would rather have a processor).
-any kind of print processors would be awesome
-color ANYTHING as I've worked a deal with the professor to teach me color printing even though they have stopped teaching traditional color work so larger color print processors or even B&W type would be a blessing.

Because I've just started full time school, obviously I don't have a lot of cash, I would never ask for money like a "kickstarter" to buy stuff, BUT receiving equipment that isn't being used is another story.

For certain items I think it's only fair to buy in some way so I'm not saying everything has to be free but a humble offering and maybe some prints that I make with the stuff would be acceptable?

I've started looking on craigslist as well of course and I'll post if I've already received anything. If you think of anything important that I'm missing please let me know.

Glad you hear you're in school. How do you like it so far? So, does this mean you'll upload a scan of a print you made soon? It doesn't have to be good - it's just that people have been telling you to do it for so long, I'm sure they'd enjoy seeing some of your work.

I can't be of help with the equipment. I did see a reasonably priced 4x5 dichroic on Craig's List in Huron, Ohio, but that's a bit too far. However, the enlarger you have likely has some good parts, so you might do well to try to get another like it. That way your extant enlarger can be useful for spare parts if needed.

There is an active thread here on building a sink, you may try that if materials are cheap enough.

During my undergrad (some time ago) our darkroom was open as long as the main classroom building was - so I often lost track of time and didn't get out until 10 or 11 p.m. (living in the dorms helped).
It's good to hear your mother is letting you build a darkroom. Sounds like she is supporting your education. If she ever nags or disparages your schooling, just remember the darkroom she let you setup. There is a difference between opinion and support, and she is obviously supporting your decision.

Truzi said:

Glad you hear you're in school. How do you like it so far? So, does this mean you'll upload a scan of a print you made soon? It doesn't have to be good - it's just that people have been telling you to do it for so long, I'm sure they'd enjoy seeing some of your work.

I can't be of help with the equipment. I did see a reasonably priced 4x5 dichroic on Craig's List in Huron, Ohio, but that's a bit too far. However, the enlarger you have likely has some good parts, so you might do well to try to get another like it. That way your extant enlarger can be useful for spare parts if needed.

There is an active thread here on building a sink, you may try that if materials are cheap enough.

During my undergrad (some time ago) our darkroom was open as long as the main classroom building was - so I often lost track of time and didn't get out until 10 or 11 p.m. (living in the dorms helped).
It's good to hear your mother is letting you build a darkroom. Sounds like she is supporting your education. If she ever nags or disparages your schooling, just remember the darkroom she let you setup. There is a difference between opinion and support, and she is obviously supporting your decision.

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Yes I'll scan the contact prints I made yesterday but the school isn't open on weekends so all my prints are sitting on the drying racks at school waiting for me to pick them up Monday morning! I can't wait! Another reason for my motivation to get some of my own equipment...

StoneNYC said:

Yes I'll scan the contact prints I made yesterday but the school isn't open on weekends so all my prints are sitting on the drying racks at school waiting for me to pick them up Monday morning! I can't wait! Another reason for my motivation to get some of my own equipment...

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I would talk with the school and offer to work the darkroom on Saturdays if they would let it be open. I'm sure there would be a few other students who would be willing to do the same.

Light Guru said:

I would talk with the school and offer to work the darkroom on Saturdays if they would let it be open. I'm sure there would be a few other students who would be willing to do the same.

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I don't think you understand how low the enrollment is for the photography degree... My entire freshman class has 3 students including myself... No one wants to go there for photography (presumably partly because they teach a lot of traditional darkroom and not enough digital?) so... They certainly don't have the money to hire me to keep the darkroom open, and I'm not sure the darkroom is long for this world if enrollment doesn't increase...

On the plus side I don't have to fight over the 8 enlargers they have in the darkroom ...

StoneNYC said:

I don't think you understand how low the enrollment is for the photography degree... My entire freshman class has 3 students including myself... No one wants to go there for photography (presumably partly because they teach a lot of traditional darkroom and not enough digital?) so... They certainly don't have the money to hire me to keep the darkroom open, and I'm not sure the darkroom is long for this world if enrollment doesn't increase...

On the plus side I don't have to fight over the 8 enlargers they have in the darkroom ...

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How am I supposed to understand when you never explained it in the first place.

I didn't say you should ask to be payed.

With a class that small I would be surprised if the program lasts long enough for you to graduate.

StoneNYC said:

Also looking for the following that would accommodate anything bigger than 11x14 to as big as 20x24

-Drying racks - Easy to build your own.
-Trays - For 20x24, not cheap, but they'll last a lifetime.
-Print washer - An archival 20x24 is $$$. Start with a tray siphon.
-Paper safe - Not necessary. Have people save you empty paper boxes.
-Traditional easel or even better, Vacuum easel- 20x24 easel is $$$. Vacuum one is $$$$$ (unless you make one yourself), but unnecessary.
-Darkroom SS sink- Nice, but not necessary. You can build one, or just use a table.
-Water temp control systems and filters - also not very necessary for printing.
-Safelight - Can be found inexpensively.
-Vent system (even just the elections part not the actual vents).- Important.

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Glad to hear you've started school...

I have an Arkay Loadmaster stainless print washer you can have for free. I am in NH. I believe it would do 20x24 if not larger, even. It uses a fair bit of water, from what I understand. Maybe not the best washer but hey, it's free. ;-)

Ed, thanks I'll PM about travel plans, will be about a month before I can get up there.

Have stainless steel sink, zone VI 16x20 washer, temperture control system in sink, selection of saunders easels. let me know if you are still looking. am in NYS

Have a 16x20 easel ($45) and 16x20 vertical print washer (10 slots for washing plus 2 for clearing agent) ($325, in great condition) . I've moved up to 20x24 prints Also have 11x14 easel ($10).
AND, I have an 8x10 Elwood enlarger with a 300 mm Componon lens, neg carrier, second lens board, and two heads. Needs a bit of integration, which it looks like I'll not get to myself now that I'm shooting mostly 120 film. Would like to get what it cost: $420 but, will consider an offer.
I'm in VA, near DC, but will be passing through CT for the Labor Day weekend. Can bring easels and the washer, but the Elwood needs a van or trailer, which I don't own.