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Vivitar E54 enlarger (Son of Grabber) manual sought

mmecca90

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Jun 10, 2022
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Location
wisconsin
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looking for a manual for the vivitar E54 enlarger. scan OK.
 
Welcome to Photrio.
I changed your thread title, because I am guessing you aren't looking for a "son of grabber manual".
Isn't auto-correct grand?
And changed it again - thanks Andrew.
 
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I have not the slightest idea wat "Son of Grabbers" means, let alone refers to in this context.
And I admit I got no idea who actually manufactured this enlarger.
 
Reference to the link will reveal that one raises or lowers the head by "grabbing and squeezing" the locking mechanism, and then manually lifting or lowering the head.
 
AgX said:
"Son of Grabbers"
Click to expand...

It has a decidedly strip joint ring to it. You wouldn't want to be known by that title in one of those. Bruno the security guard would have something to say to you. Outside.
 
Enlargers of that vintage are pretty easy to figure out. Is there something specific you need to know?
 
Got it Momus, thank you. But what then is the link to that enlarger? Looked at the respective Ollinger page, but what is a "squeeze-handle"?
Yes, I am slow on the uptake again...


Maybe something like an old truck handbrake lever? I got such at an enlarger of my own.
 
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I had a "Grabber" I remember printing Ektachrome prints from slides when I was 16 years old. The paper and process required a lot of light, I substituted a photoflood for the PH 111, added mechanical cooling, a old bonnet type hair dryer blower, hose connected to the lamp house. Worked great.
 
AgX said:
what is a "squeeze-handle"?
Click to expand...

A handle connected to a lock. You grab it, squeeze it (and hold it), the lock releases, you reposition the enlarger head and then release the handle, which re-engages the lock.
At the risk of increasing the cross cultural confusion, some hand operated lawn mowers have something similar - a sort of "dead man's switch".
 
On second glance mine was a "Son of Grabber" only went up to 6x7, I had a 6x9 press camera.
 
These are (were) great amateur enlargers, had a spring to raise the head. Vivitar made most of these in the US, had a filter drawer that took 3 inch square filters.
 
So these were enlargers of their own design, or designed for them, non rebranded enlargers.

Thank you for that ad.
 
AgX said:
I have not the slightest idea wat "Son of Grabbers" means, let alone refers to in this context.
And I admit I got no idea who actually manufactured this enlarger.
Click to expand...

manufactured in the 70s by Vivitar. the Grabber tag line is the feature to "grab" the handle behind the light fixture an squeeze to raise and lower the whole head very easy and quick.
 
Thank you and welcome!

Vivitar was no manufacturer in the true sense, thus my remark.

Actually I got an even older Kienzle enlager which got such un-locking grip too. I once bought it for some project, partially too for that squeeze-grip, but forgot about it...
 
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