Question on Beseler 23C2

[Gerry M]

When changing from the condenser head to a dichroic head, what connects the light source to the filter box? Do I have a part missing, as there is about a 1.5"-2" gap now. This is with the head down as far as it will go. When the condenser head is installed, the condenser housing/tube fills this gap. The bellows slide up and over the housing. Help please.

 

[Luseboy]

I'm not positive as i don't have the dichro head, but I believe you just put the condenser housing back in... maybe you take out the condenser lenses though, i'm not sure. try just putting it back in with the condensers and seeing how it looks. that should solve the problem.

 

[John Koehrer]

I don't have one of these but as I recall, the one's I have seen don't have the filter drawer with the color head mounted.

 

[Rick A]

It appears to me, you are missing the diffuser with light baffles. It slides into the filter drawer and the upper bellows slides up onto it. It is a tube with a square top that replaces the filter holder. I have a manual that I could possibly scan in and send you.

 

[Klainmeister]

Ah, that's the beast!

 

[Gerry M]

It appears to me, you are missing the diffuser with light baffles. It slides into the filter drawer and the upper bellows slides up onto it. It is a tube with a square top that replaces the filter holder. I have a manual that I could possibly scan in and send you.

Rick,
That must be the missing piece. If you could scan it, that would be great. I have the exploded view, but only of the condenser head.
My email: onetransient@gmail.com.
Thanks,
Gerry

 

[Ian C]

With the dichro head attached you have two options:

1. dichro head + conic integrator (installed on bottom of dichro head) + condenser unit

2. dicro head + honeycomb (installed on bottom of dichro head) + diffusion unit

Option 1 gives you diffuse light but the lamp house must be placed as low as the adjustment permits to give maximum light at the negative. Otherwise the printing time is too long. The diffusion option tends to suppress scratches or dust on the negative and gives a lower contrast result. Some users prefer this for portraiture with color papers.

Option 2 gives crisp contrast and the lamp house needs to be adjusted via the upper bellows and scale to focus the condenser unit to concentrate the light over the negative for the particular format in use. This gives the strongest light and shortest printing times.

Most 23C users with the dichroic head installed prefer option 2 as it gives good contrast and relatively short printing time due to the light efficiency of the condenser unit. This is especially useful if large prints are wanted to keep the printing time practical.

The diffusion unit is about the same size and shape as the diffusion unit, but contains a pair of large glass condenser lenses to concentrate the light efficiently over the negative. The condenser unit projects a converging cone of light.

That’s why the upper bellows and lamp house height adjustment are provided. That allows positioning the light source and condensers at the required position so that the cone of light projects a circle of illumination that just covers the diagonal of the negative for the brightest image of the negative at the print.

The unit is placed at its highest position to concentrate the light over small 35mm films, while it is lowered close to the film for the maximum 6 x 9cm format.

 

[Gerry M]

With the dichro head attached you have two options:

1. dichro head + conic integrator (installed on bottom of dichro head) + condenser unit

2. dicro head + honeycomb (installed on bottom of dichro head) + diffusion unit

Option 1 gives you diffuse light but the lamp house must be placed as low as the adjustment permits to give maximum light at the negative. Otherwise the printing time is too long. The diffusion option tends to suppress scratches or dust on the negative and gives a lower contrast result. Some users prefer this for portraiture with color papers.

Option 2 gives crisp contrast and the lamp house needs to be adjusted via the upper bellows and scale to focus the condenser unit to concentrate the light over the negative for the particular format in use. This gives the strongest light and shortest printing times.

Most 23C users with the dichroic head installed prefer option 2 as it gives good contrast and relatively short printing time due to the light efficiency of the condenser unit. This is especially useful if large prints are wanted to keep the printing time practical.

The diffusion unit is about the same size and shape as the diffusion unit, but contains a pair of large glass condenser lenses to concentrate the light efficiently over the negative. The condenser unit projects a converging cone of light.

That’s why the upper bellows and lamp house height adjustment are provided. That allows positioning the light source and condensers at the required position so that the cone of light projects a circle of illumination that just covers the diagonal of the negative for the brightest image of the negative at the print.

The unit is placed at its highest position to concentrate the light over small 35mm films, while it is lowered close to the film for the maximum 6 x 9cm format.

Ian,
Great info. Now, where to find these parts?
Thanks,
Gerry

 

[Ian C]

You need a manual for your enlarger and one for the Dual Dichro Head. Check eBay, Charles Beseler Company, or KHB Photografix of Mississauga, Ontario for the manuals.

Sometimes folks on APUG will email you copies of the manuals saved as PDF files. The above sources have the parts you need. On eBay you might have a wait until the part you need is offered for sale. Condenser units are common and cheap. The Conic Integrator and Honeycomb are less common, but show up on eBay occasionally.

If you check the bottom of your color head it probably already has either the Conic Integrator or the Honeycomb unit already installed. If so, then you only need one part to change configuration.

The manuals will make all of this seemingly confusing information clear.

 

[Rick A]

I am attempting to make a pdf file(never done it before) of the dichro head assembly instructions for you, will email it when finished.

 

[Gerry M]

I am attempting to make a pdf file(never done it before) of the dichro head assembly instructions for you, will email it when finished.

Thanks, it will be appreciated. Also, sent you a PM.
Gerry