Salthill fiber optic enlarger

MTGseattle · Feb 26, 2023

Is or has anyone used one of these?
I’ve got some early issues of View Camera magazine, and there are ads for Salthill equipment. The enlarger sounded intriguing.

I don’t think I’ve ever caught an R H Phillips view camera on sale anywhere either but that’s for a different thread.

Sal Santamaura · Feb 27, 2023

MTGseattle said:
...I don’t think I’ve ever caught an R H Phillips view camera on sale anywhere either but that’s for a different thread.

They come up from time to time, often at absurd asking prices. Here's one, the current status of which I'm unaware:

Large Format Photography Forum

A discussion forum on large format phtography http://largeformatphotography.info

www.largeformatphotography.info

None of my three (4x5, 8x10 and 11x14) are for sale.

BeekeeperWA · Feb 6, 2024

@MTGseattle or anyone interested. I own a Salthill Enlarger with lots of accessories and spare bulbs that I should sell as I no longer have a darkroom and I am near retirement. It and the lens stages, neg carriers, alignment tool, etcetera are in boxes. I purchased it from Joe Saltzman in the 1990s. I’m new to the site, I can open the boxes and post photos if anyone is interested. Is that okay on this site? Would it be in this thread? I am in Washington State. Thanks.

mshchem · Feb 6, 2024

BeekeeperWA said:
@MTGseattle or anyone interested. I own a Salthill Enlarger with lots of accessories and spare bulbs that I should sell as I no longer have a darkroom and I am near retirement. It and the lens stages, neg carriers, alignment tool, etcetera are in boxes. I purchased it from Joe Saltzman in the 1990s. I’m new to the site, I can open the boxes and post photos if anyone is interested. Is that okay on this site? Would it be in this thread? I am in Washington State. Thanks.

You can advertise in for sale. I think you'll need to subscribe.

Kino · Feb 6, 2024

BeekeeperWA,

I am sure there are people on here who would be at least interested in seeing what you are offering, but there are some forum rules about minimum posts required and I forget if you have to subscribe to place an ad in the classifieds.

I will report your posting to the moderators for consideration (not punishment!), as sometimes they can waive the minimum posting requirements, but I am unsure about the subscription requirement. However, it might be worth the subscription fee to sell such an esoteric item.

BeekeeperWA · Feb 6, 2024

Thanks, I registered and will look up the subscription.

MattKing · Feb 6, 2024

mshchem said:
You can advertise in for sale. I think you'll need to subscribe.

Correct.
Although if you do, you may find that the advice here will have you re-considering not using it yourself .

andrewkleinfeld · Feb 7, 2024

I have one and have been using it for30 years or so. They’re spectacularly good and very pleasant and easy to use. Very expensive when salthill (one guy actually). Made them, but I’m glad I got it when they did

ic-racer · Feb 7, 2024

I'd be interested in seeing pictures of the fiber optic enlarger. I recently mistook the Vivitar "light pipe" enlarger for fiber optic, so I'd like to see what they are doing with the fiber optics.

MTGseattle · Feb 7, 2024

@BeekeeperWA Yes, please post some pictures, or a scan of a brochure or instruction sheet or something.

I feel like this would be a hard item to assign a value to as I'm not sure when/where the last used one popped up.

BeekeeperWA · Feb 7, 2024

I used it for about 30 years, mostly for “ split grade” printing with Illford multi contrast paper. It had a yellow and magenta range that was beyond most color printers at the time. Maybe 200cc or 220cc if I remember correctly. I’m unpacking boxes after moving the studio home and will shoot some good images to post. I have the brochure and instructions, it’s just a matter of finding the right box so it may take me a few days. After showing some photos I’ll post it in the classifieds, having subscribed as directed by the site rules. I’d like to see it get a good home, It is an exceptional enlarger. The light source and fan are separate from the enlarger, resting on Sorbathane pads and the fiber optic cable connects to the enlarger mounted on the wall. No vibrations, especially while changing the filter settings. I have the Schneider APO Componon HC lenses in 45, 50, 90 and 150mm that were his preferred lens brand. Mine have adjustable apertures. The Schneider HC lenses Joe of Salthill sold have a fixed aperture of f8. He was a perfectionist. The fact that the enlarger arm swings out and rotates vertically allows for making larger prints on the floor or wall with a vacuum easel. The alignment tool provides re alignment of the negative, lens and easel. Unfortunately, Joe Saltzer passed away in 2008.

mshchem · Feb 7, 2024

mshchem · Feb 7, 2024

These enlargers seem to be a solution in pursuit of a non-existent problem.

MarkS · Feb 7, 2024

Well, according to Mike Johnston, "The Online Photographer", that enlarger bankrupted its inventor, Joe Saltzer.
I remember the ads from the '90s, but never saw any of the gear.

DREW WILEY · Feb 21, 2024

I've seen one. It was a well-made novel concept, but probably very few actually sold; and for the price, there were more versatile options out there. His alignment kit was efficient and affordable.

BeekeeperWA · Jun 17, 2025

Hello There. Well after over a year I finally have images to show. I plan on posting this for sale in the classified section. Here's a preview.
It's complete except for a paper easel.

I did a lot of Split grade printing with it. It was a big benefit to change filtration without touching the enlarger head.
Enlarger with the control box
Neg carriers - 4x5, 6x12, 6x7, 6x6, 135 panoramic for (Noblex 135U), and 35mm
Three Lens stages
Schneider Apo Componon HM MC 150mm, 90mm and 45mm lenses
Salthill Trilinear alignment Tool with two mirrors and instructions
11 spare ELC bulbs
Salthill enlarger Instruction manual and a catalog.

It needs to go back to use in a darkroom.

Any recommendations?

BeekeeperWA · Jun 17, 2025

The lenses have the full range of working aperture, I bought them from my local Schneider dealer. Salthill sold a modified SEO version of the same Schneider lenses with a fixed aperture of f8.

mshchem · Jun 17, 2025

DREW WILEY · Jun 18, 2025

The enlarger itself would be more of a conversation piece today - still quite useful, but nothing technologically superior to numerous other options. The lens set itself probably has more monetary value. The little alignment gadget was probably the best of its kind, that is, short of a research grade equivalent. I hope this all finds a new home. Good luck.

Kodachromeguy · Jun 18, 2025

mshchem said:
These enlargers seem to be a solution in pursuit of a non-existent problem.

What was this enlarger trying to do or achieve? What was the non-problem?

DREW WILEY · Jun 18, 2025

The idea was perfectly even illumination with little heat due to a remote color mixing unit, and the mixed light piped in by a then novel fiber optic bundle. I recall seeing one at a trade show and chatting with them.

This novelty still wouldn't have corrected for falloff issues inherent to lenses themselves. And the other selling feature - no fan vibration - would mean zero in competition against true commercial enlargers much more heavily built to begin with, and effectively vibration free themselves.

Then there was the marketing era issue, which happened to coincide with the Ciba heyday when much more powerful colorheads were still needed. People looking for a big budget enlarger had more serious choices. And in terms of b&w, graded papers were still predominant.

Kinda like what happened with the Carbon Infinity view camera - a novel concept in its day, yet with a very limited demand, combined with huge production expense.

MTGseattle · Jun 18, 2025

Thanks for the update. The pivoting head assembly is a neat idea.

BCM · Jun 18, 2025

I had some involvement in this product development - specifically the panel and some of the control systems. I'd agree that it is a wonderful example of a snapshot in time that from a functional (and support) point of view has been superseded. Joe was a great guy and was really trying to change the industry. The products by Heiland are much more advanced at this point in time.

Atomic_03 · Jun 29, 2025

@BeekeeperWA, if you get a chance, send me a DM regarding this enlarger.

Salthill fiber optic enlarger

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