After much coveting and scheming, my first and only Beseler/Minolta 45A head arrived today. I remember drooling over one of these 25+ years ago and wishing that I had been born to a wealthy family... When I set up the darkroom last year, I had two Beseler 45M frames on the bench; one with the Dichro S head, and another with the standard condensor head. My intent all along was to add a 45A, and after some muddling about watching the prices constantly run over $200 on fleabay, took the second frame down.
RULE #17 OF PHOTOGRAPHIC HOARDING--Do not store things in an unconditioned section of the basement, regardless of how dry you think it is.
That said, there was a lot of cleanup to do, and the need to replace the chipboard due to swelling and fungus. Final setup and alignment of the frame and stage will be done with the condensor head later this week. I am thinking of mounting the controller vertically on the horizontal stage support bars for greater visibility and access. Has anyone else done this?
Likely this enlarger will be used almost exclusively for the new foray into color work. But, how do I squeak a CPP through the budget without my wife making unconventional use of a frying pan???
RULE #17 OF PHOTOGRAPHIC HOARDING--Do not store things in an unconditioned section of the basement, regardless of how dry you think it is.
That said, there was a lot of cleanup to do, and the need to replace the chipboard due to swelling and fungus. Final setup and alignment of the frame and stage will be done with the condensor head later this week. I am thinking of mounting the controller vertically on the horizontal stage support bars for greater visibility and access. Has anyone else done this?
Likely this enlarger will be used almost exclusively for the new foray into color work. But, how do I squeak a CPP through the budget without my wife making unconventional use of a frying pan???
