Omega - Sphere - D enlarger head/lamp house?

[gorbas]

Just browsing thru Craig list and noticed Omega - Sphere - D enlarger head/lamp house? Never seen one before? Do you need to use it above condensers or its diffusion light source right above negative. I see there are 2 lamps on it. Strange contraption? Anybody using it?

 

[Dmosher]

Its a diffusion lightsource for B&W. Pretty much the same as the Chromega lamphouse without the filters. Doesn't have a drawer for filters to use with VC papers might be a bit harder. Looks like they were only made for a few years.

 

[gorbas]

Thank you Dmosher! It has been more than 20 years since I printed with Omega. I found this head very cute and it's design inspired by space program for sure. Under the lens filtration for modern MG papir is way easier.

 

[gorbas]

This make sense: http://www.khbphotografix.com/omega/Specialty/Omegasphere.htm
And original add with other Chromega parts:https://bellingham.craigslist.org/pho/d/omega-enlarger-parts/6755265129.html

 

[mike c]

I had one of these, it was the Chromega light source with built in acetate filters.

 

[mike c]

I had one of these, it was the Chromega light source with built in acetate filters.

You could replace the filters with a green and yellow Rosco filters for variable contrast paper, but the gel filters fade fast. The light was very soft as I remember.

 

[gorbas]

I was very supposed to see gelatin filter wheel on Chromega color head in the add. That must be way before dichroic filters took that roll in colour heads?

 

[mike c]

I do not know when Dichroic filters became popular but in high school we used the various colored gels to make up our filter packs for color and boy they did not last long before they were scratched up badly. That was in the mid 60's , the dichroic filter was a God send.

 

[darkroommike]

I have one, no longer working, looks like it came right off the set of Metropolis! Maybe by way of The Jetsons. As others have said, it is a diffused light source, very nice as I recall, with a regulated power supply. Mine quit and I replaced it with an Aristo head.

 

[gorbas]

For me, it become totally un interesting item when I found about it's lamps: No. 100T8/1 SC, 20V, 100W. Where do you find those today?

 

[MattKing]

For me, it become totally un interesting item when I found about it's lamps: No. 100T8/1 SC, 20V, 100W. Where do you find those today?

Google is your friend: http://www.lightstoreusa.com/product/100t81sc-ansi-bulb-550.cfm
KHB has them for $38.00 CDN.
Their 3 letter designation appears to be BZA

 

[gorbas]

Thank you Matt! I will recommend buying lifelong supply of those bulbs for everybody venturing in this Omega head.

 

[darkroommike]

Thank you Matt! I will recommend buying lifelong supply of those bulbs for everybody venturing in this Omega head.

I have spare lamps to fit every enlarger head I own (except my dead Omegasphere, of course). Nothing worse than having to wait for a lamp to come so you can continue in the darkroom.