Saunders 4500 Enlarger

[parker_db]

I am hoping someone may have some information that can help me. I recently purchased a Condit modified (pin registration) 4500. I want to un-modify it. There were two shims between the lower negative stage and the main body of the head. There was also a negative carrier housing between the lower and upper portion of the negative stage. The carrier came out, no problem. The shims came out, no problem. But when I bolted the lower portion back onto the head, there is about 3/8" more space than the standard negative carrier. Is it possible that there was something removed from the lower portion of the negative stage? If so, what is it that fills up the balance of this space?

Any help, or even a picture of an unmodified enlarger would be great. So far I have not been able to find detailed information or photos of an unmodified enlarger.

Thanks!

 

[Kirk Keyes]

I think therre is a metal plate that sits on the bottom side of the opening. I can check at home this evening if you get no other replies.

Do you have the Condit stuff and any plans for it? The 4x5 carrier perhpas? I bought the Condit parts to modify my Saunders to be like yours, but I have not gotten around to installing it.

 

[Frank F]

I am hoping someone may have some information that can help me. I recently purchased a Condit modified (pin registration) 4500. I want to un-modify it. There were two shims between the lower negative stage and the main body of the head. There was also a negative carrier housing between the lower and upper portion of the negative stage. The carrier came out, no problem. The shims came out, no problem. But when I bolted the lower portion back onto the head, there is about 3/8" more space than the standard negative carrier. Is it possible that there was something removed from the lower portion of the negative stage? If so, what is it that fills up the balance of this space?

Any help, or even a picture of an unmodified enlarger would be great. So far I have not been able to find detailed information or photos of an unmodified enlarger.

Thanks!

I have been this route.... you need to disasemble most of the head to get to the spacer that is causing the problem. I forget the details, but I do remember the head being totally disassembled.

The Condit mods were somewhat permanent... you use the Condit carrier or modify the head to use the LPL/Saunders neghative carriers. You can not easily go back and forth. ( I had a D5, that was easy to go back and forth between the COndit and the Omega carriers.).

Ask questions, which will probably make me remember the cause and effect....but be prepared for a lot of disassemly and reassembly with a single part removed!

The bad news is that you need to get a stage from Saunders ( now Omega, BTW) that will accept the LPL carriers. It is a metal plate with 2 plastic guides. ( maybe I am starting to remember the details). Or use the adjustable masking plate. Either will work. Without this plate you are SOL.

I got my parts from Omega just after they took over from Saunders. They were not expensive, but every little part needed to be ordered separately.