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Thrift store score - beseler 45MXT

donkee

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May 3, 2011
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219
Location
Mid Michigan
Format
Multi Format
Arrived at one of the local thrift store yesterday and walked over to the electronics area. Lo and behold sitting there was a Beseler 45MXT with four negative carriers, a paper safe, and a lens board with a 50mm lens. Sign says the motor works but sold as is.

So I plunked down the $30.00 they were asking for it and moved it to home the basement.

I'll post pics later when I start going over it to see what I have to do to get it going and place it next to my 23C.

I have been getting skunked for weeks at the thrift stores, this makes up for it!
 
Yee-haw!! Heck of a score.
 
You are doubly lucky. Most thrift stores will not take enlargers, and you were there to spot it.
If the motor doesn't work, very unlikely, there is a possibility it is plugged into the wrong receptacle. At any rate, an electrical repair shop can get it going at very low cost.
 
that's nothing, i found a leitz focomat Ic with lens not too long ago $35 -- almost didn't buy it because i already have one, but remembered a friend whose 35mm enlarger was not of the same quality and grabbed it. He is now a most happy man.
 
Congrats! I've owned one for over 30 years and its still as the good as the day I bought it. You can do chin-ups on it.
 
Wow, what a great find, congrats! Many times these kind of finds have the neg carriers, board(s_, and other need-to-have's-that-cost-sad-amounts - missing. Glad to hear it's all there! Look forward to hearing how it works out for you!
 
Paul Goutiere said:
B&H has this enlarger for sale for $1816.50, new. Chassis only.
So you probably got an $898.50 head with it as well.
All for 30 bucks!!

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/3991-REG/Beseler_8227_45MXT_Enlarger_Chassis_Only.html


You done good!
Click to expand...

No one in their right mind is paying $1816.50 just for the chassis unless they are buying for a school or the gub'ment. That's the tough part about buying enlargers. Every once in awhile some hardass tries to tell you their used enlarger is "worth" $500. I just tell them good luck finding someone to pay that much.

Enlarger prices are so low it actually makes more sense to just buy entire enlargers if you need a negative carrier. When I needed a particular size negative carrier instead of buying one used for $50 I just bought an entire late model enlarger with a bunch of accessories for less than $40.
 
summicron1 said:
that's nothing, i found a leitz focomat Ic with lens not too long ago $35 -- almost didn't buy it because i already have one, but remembered a friend whose 35mm enlarger was not of the same quality and grabbed it. He is now a most happy man.
Click to expand...

You have no clue.
 

It's true. I was just trying to make donkee feel even a little bit better than he already does.
 
I got a motorized Beseler 4x5 w/color had and carriers to fit every format from Instamatic to 4x5 for $40 from a lab. I'd rather have condensers though, so one of these days I'll look for them. Alsohad a mint 150mm El-Nikkor N given to me by a friend. I don't even shoot 4x5 (I go up to 6cmx7cm) but I couldn"t resist all this.
 
I was also given (by the same friend) a mint cond. big Kodak Precision Enlarger, w/heat-absorbing glass & 2 brightly polished neg carriers-35mm & 6x9. The cord is shot, though.
 
Pics coming. Picked up a rescue dog Friday, the girlfriend had her birthday Monday, the oldest son is graduating so I get to work on the open house (the yard needs some TLC!). Too much going on right now. I really want to get moving on setting that puppy up but you know how it goes......
 

Excuses excuses....




Congrats!
 
^haaaaa! Yeah get that graduate to take a camera phone of the new beast and upload to photobucket or somewhere.....kidding....congrats on all the goodness to your family. Sounds like you've some good fam/pet pics to print on the new rig to boot...
 
Ok, finally I set it up on a table in the basement and grabbed a couple quick shots with the little PnS. See it did happen!

The carriers are 35mm, 4x4 (127), 6x7, 4x5.

The paper safe has a bunch of wrapped paper but it is cracked pretty badly. Hopefully at least some of the paper is usable. I'll get to find out in a couple months when I can actually print.

Now, to start looking for a 4x5 camera.



 
Last edited by a moderator:
Have you done a "I am a winner" dance?
 
Looking great! Sometimes the tail wags the dog just fine (in ref to now looking for a 4x5)...
 
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