Shipping a Beseler 45MXT - anyone done this successfully?

BHuij · Mar 18, 2023

A few years ago the planets aligned and I managed to grab 3 working Beseler 45MXT enlargers with various heads, lenses, etc. for a song on my local classifieds. One of them has been in use in my darkroom since then, and the others in storage.

I have a good friend about to take the plunge into large format, and his enlarger won't handle 4x5, so I figured I'd hook him up. Problem is, I'm in UT and he's in GA.

So I need to figure out how to get it to him (including the condenser head). Obviously the chassis can be removed from the baseboard, the head from the chassis, and I believe with some finangling, I could get the negatives stage off the chassis as well. So aside from the head, the whole thing can be made reasonably flat.

But the baseboard is quite heavy, and the condenser head both heavy and fragile.

Has anyone pulled this off before? How did you go about it?

randyB · Mar 18, 2023

Back when I worked at a large photo store that sold 4x5 enlargers they never bought just one unless the buyer paid the freight. The company usually bought several (8-12) because the freight for 12 wasn't much more than the freight for 3. I would think that the shipping cost from UT to GA would be more than the cost of a used enlarger in GA. BUT, you could always do a road trip, GA is pretty in the Spring.

mshchem · Mar 19, 2023

The entire bellows lens stage etc comes off in one piece, condensers one piece, lamphouse one piece. Run the motorized carriage all the way down. You need to immobilize the carriage, strapping tape or equivalent, don't let one side get out of sync with the other.

If you remove the 4 machine screws from the outside of the sides, 2 on each side this will detach the 2 baseboard rails from the carriage.

Making separate boxes for the pieces makes it UPS capable. If possible have your friend make a baseboard rather than paying for shipping, then the rails can ship in with the carriage.

If you pay UPS to package the unit it will be well cared for, otherwise pack it so it can take a fall. If you are good with cardboard it will all ship nicely. Any kind of protruding knob etc needs extra cardboard. Lots of cast aluminum so, it needs careful packaging. Shipping the bellows and the rest in smaller boxes helps. The condensers are crazy heavy.

mshchem · Mar 19, 2023

To take everything off the carriage there's a single 1/4" bolt. This leaves both bellows negative stage intact, obviously first remove the lamphouse and the condensers.

BHuij · Mar 19, 2023

Yeah I have it fully disassembled at this point. I think I may just walk into the post office during off-peak hours and see what they can do by way of boxes and packing materials to help me out. If they won't, it's probably worth paying UPS to do the job right.

xkaes · Mar 19, 2023

As mentioned, take as much of it apart as you want/can. Then it's pretty easy to put it in three or four boxes -- the columns in one long box or tube, the baseboard in one thin flat box, etc.

Take pictures/video of taking it apart, and/or write instructions on putting things together -- marking what goes where with masking tape.

AnselMortensen · Mar 19, 2023

Road trip!

Um, I mean 'photo expedition'.

BHuij · Mar 19, 2023

AnselMortensen said:
Road trip!

Um, I mean 'photo expedition'.

If only! Family obligations are such that a sponteanous 3700-mile round trip is pretty well out of the question

mshchem · Mar 19, 2023

I've taken a couple road trips for darkroom stuff. Embrace the drive. 3700 miles for me would be 2 weeks in both directions

M Carter · Mar 22, 2023

I'll just throw in my "packing large stuff" advice - use a hot glue gun vs. packing tape. You can really beef up a box with glue and extra corrugated, and keep the lid and flaps from popping apart. (I'm in Texas with a kid in Geneva, and she always wants big darkroom prints and cans of Mexican food ingredients... )

Nicholas Lindan · Mar 22, 2023

BHuij said:
If only! Family obligations are such that a sponteanous 3700-mile round trip is pretty well out of the question

Then it needs to be a very well planned photography trip and dropping off an enlarger on the way is just a little side jaunt.

BHuij · Mar 22, 2023

M Carter said:
I'll just throw in my "packing large stuff" advice - use a hot glue gun vs. packing tape. You can really beef up a box with glue and extra corrugated, and keep the lid and flaps from popping apart. (I'm in Texas with a kid in Geneva, and she always wants big darkroom prints and cans of Mexican food ingredients... )

This is excellent advice.

glbeas · Mar 22, 2023

Other piece of advice, take the condensor lenses out and wrap them individually, packing them away from any other surface that can bang against them. Maybe styrofoam blocks as wedges.
Where in Ga. is he located? I might be able to help if he has problems reassembling.

choiliefan · Mar 23, 2023

Last I checked Fastenal will ship large heavy packages from one store to another store at a decent price. If you and your friend have Fastenal locations nearby, this may be a viable option. Of course, your enlarger has to be extremely well packed no matter who you go with. Steer clear of FedX though as they are the most enept

BHuij · Mar 23, 2023

choiliefan said:
Last I checked Fastenal will ship large heavy packages from one store to another store at a decent price. If you and your friend have Fastenal locations nearby, this may be a viable option. Of course, your enlarger has to be extremely well packed no matter who you go with. Steer clear of FedX though as they are the most enept

This might just be the exact solution I was hoping I might find. We both do have Fastenal locations close by. I'm going to have to give them a call today.

bernard_L · Mar 23, 2023

https://www.fastenal.com/fast/blue-lane-freight#

"Shipping services are not available between the East and West Zones shown in map above."
Hopefully you can find another "less than truckload (LTL)" service.

choiliefan · Mar 24, 2023

Damn, that's a bummer...

Someone once mentioned Greyhound as a possibility.

redbandit · Mar 25, 2023

choiliefan said:
Damn, that's a bummer...

Someone once mentioned Greyhound as a possibility.

Going by the SIZE of that enlarger... id think you would need at least 2 great danes.

Shipping a Beseler 45MXT - anyone done this successfully?

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