Melico Model TD-2 densitometer experiences?

[Tom Kershaw]

Hello,

I've come across this densitometer (http://tinyurl.com/ylxhrky) on the SDS ltd website. Does anyone have experience with the Melico TD-2 unit? A web search brings up a UN report from 1984 but not much else.

Tom

 

[Mike Wilde]

I have an early/mid 60's melico exposure analyser/timer, and second late 60's/early 70's melico unit, a colour analyser. They are quite old now. My first unit uses tubes, and the second is solid state except for the photomultiplier tube. They appear to be well made by a low volume Britsh based manufacturer. The company name was somelthing like medical equipment limited company prior to the melico moniker.

I presume that this is their second generation transmission denisitometer. No sign of turn in/out filters for measuring colour films , so I would bet it is just for b&w work. A transmission step wedge should be able to be used to get it calibrated if it is out of whack; all the trimmer potentiometers are right out on top rready to be adjusted, if required.

 

[Tom Kershaw]

The X-Rite '810' and '310' models seem to be suggested as good models to look for; although getting hold of one would be more difficult compared to the situation in the USA, however I did see a Barbieri unit on eBay UK a few months ago.

Tom

 

[Shaggysk8]

I Have just got one of these, works great, I have calibrated it and its maxed out, but is spot on.
Mike do you know anything about the bulbs for these? I guess they lose brightness with time.

I have no idea how it works but I assume the calibration is sensitivity based?

 

[Mike Wilde]

I don't recall any bulbs, but I dont have it in front of me, or use it often.

One thing I just noted in an old Omega/Essco analyser that came my way last week, was dim bulbs on some indicators. It turned out after disassembly that the bulbs were #47 neon indicators bulbs, with a mask to let light out the front only, and then a coloured rubber sleeve over all of that. The cyan and magenta dyes in the different rubber sleeves had darkened, so that barely any glow escaped.

I took the darkened rubber sleeve off, and taped a couple of layers of theatrical gel of the right hue from an old Lee sample swatch book over the back of the window hole the light normally was viewed through, and now the bulbs function can be seen again.