R.I.Pieces - Monster Enlarger

[Sean]

We're trying to sell the house and some moron built a room around an ancient megaton enlarger. Yes, it seemed like a good idea at the time! The beast never did get running due to it requiring 3phase power and a lot of rust. What started out as a neat project to resurrect a giant enlarger failed. At least it made for a nice conversation piece

In a strange way I'll kind of miss seeing the beast in the darkroom but she had to go..

 

[Barry S]

What? You mean a massive non-working enlarger doesn't add value to a house?

 

[PeteZ8]

Sad to see something like that go But I'm sure something like that is rather hard to pawn of on someone these days.

 

[resummerfield]

I've been following your project for..... I think about 5 years now. And now it's over. At least this particular project is over. But I'm guessing it's only a matter of time before you find another LARGE enlarger.

 

[nick mulder]

I've seen it !

Theres another one waiting in dunedin too - yes, 3 phase ...

gah

 

[Tom Kershaw]

Is 3-phase generally available to domestic houses in New Zealand?

Tom

 

[Sean]

well, she's off to the scrap metal dealer as of a few mins ago. The biggest hurdle to selling the house is now gone. The Realtor will definitely be pleased. It took us months to find someone to remove it, and bonus is they didn't want much more other than petrol, materials and the scrap itself. I am now looking forward to the next darkroom and taking a minimalist approach. For now I'm back to 35mm, and a single Leica V35 enlarger. John McCallum is the new owner of my other beast the 4x5 Durst Pictochrom..

 

[Sean]

Is 3-phase generally available to domestic houses in New Zealand?

Tom

I think you need a special transformer..

 

[Whiteymorange]

I think you need a special transformer..

You do, and it's very expensive.

 

[MattKing]

well, she's off to the scrap metal dealer as of a few mins ago. The biggest hurdle to selling the house is now gone. The Realtor will definitely be pleased. It took us months to find someone to remove it, and bonus is they didn't want much more other than petrol, materials and the scrap itself. I am now looking forward to the next darkroom and taking a minimalist approach. For now I'm back to 35mm, and a single Leica V35 enlarger. John McCallum is the new owner of my other beast the 4x5 Durst Pictochrom..

Sorry about your loss, Sean .

I've managed to convince my wife that a 4x5 enlarger is an interesting decorative accent for our bathroom. If you had asked, I would have been happy to try something similar with your realtor.

I hate to say it though - you are going to have to change your avatar.

Good luck with the sale.

Matt

 

[PeteZ8]

You can always run anything 3ph off of a rotary phase converter. I ran an entire machine shop off of one. To boot, you don't have to pay the hugely expensive rate for commerical power.

What is 3ph on that? Just a focusing motor and controls?

As long as you have access to 220/240v single phase you have pretty much all you need. If the loads are small (small motor, for example) you don't even need a transformer, just a spare 3ph motor to act as a pony motor.

 

[nick mulder]

The one is Dunedin requires 3 phase for 10K of Xenon bulbs - with no logs taken as far as I could gather - pop (BOOM)

 

[richard ide]

You could rewire the lamps to run on single phase without too much trouble. Champagne brunches for the utility company management though. :>)

 

[alanrockwood]

You can always run anything 3ph off of a rotary phase converter.

Ditto that. You can even find pages on the web that tell you how to make a phase converter, in case you are feeling adventurous.

 

[PeteZ8]

The one is Dunedin requires 3 phase for 10K of Xenon bulbs - with no logs taken as far as I could gather - pop (BOOM)

Gotcha. That can always be re-wired to single phase fairly easily.

So am I correct in my math that it uses nearly 50 amps of light bulbs at 240 volts??? I don't think I'd be doing any dodging or burning without suntan lotion!!!

 

[nick mulder]

Even more:

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Electronics-photography/Film-cameras/Vintage/auction-250281237.htm

"could be made for example into an impressive reception desk"

ha ha

 

[arigram]

I think Sean is trying to gently serve us the news that he went digital...

The Beast needed a proper funeral, along with a dozen minstrels singing an epic poem and women in black and loose hair crying in pain.

Rusty metal trunk
cut to pieces while laying defeated
house now empty

 

[Tom Kershaw]

Didn't Sean go over to using a Leica R8?

Tom

 

[John McCallum]

Indeed, the end of an era. Will be good to start afresh, and what better than with the V35 etc?