What is this thing on a Focomat 1c?

[John51]

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/262563344507?_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT

To the side of the column, shaped like an electric motor. The finish suggests that it's part of the original kit.

 

[baachitraka]

Transformer. I believe.

 

[Hilo]

That is an enlarging scale indicator. In the pics you see a cloth cord that should be attached between the parallelogram and this indicator. Inside that black thing there's an illuminated scale with numbers that change when you bring the enlarger up and down. It is an early version 1c, the later scale indicators do not have the cord and work better. Having said that, both my 1c and 2c have these indicators and I have never used them in over 30 years . . .

 

[Ronald Moravec]

It is a late color model, egg shapped GREY head with push stick on the right to to push out filters. Can not tell column height.

Early black round heads require short neck enlarging bulbs which are almost impossible to find. If you use long neck ones, you can not get even light distribution.

 

[Hilo]

Ronald, not that it matters much, but look at all the photos in that listing. This is a black 1c, and yes with the egg shaped head with filter tray.

But you were right in a sense that I confused things: I meant the scale indicator is an early version that does not work half the time because the cord is broken. The later version scale indicator is attached to the parallelogram and it came optionally with both the black and grey versions of the Focomat 1c and 2c. I attach a photo of these enlargers, the scale indicators are positioned on the left at the bottom of the parallelogram . . .

 

[Ronald Moravec]

Very nice picture Hilo. The picture the add/post linked to is garbage and it is hard to discern much of anything . I missed any other photos.

I have never seen an oblong black head 1c or a grey 2C.. The really nice one in black is a 2 model, probably 2c. This is the nicest one I have ever seen. I had a chance to buy the last one Leitz had in stock in the mid 80`s and it was offered to me by the Leica rep who I saw almost weekly. That is when Leica had real reps, not someone who covered 10 states. Unfortunately I did not not have $3000+ to spare at the time. Maybe you were fortunate enough to snag it.

I am going back to recheck the add to see what I missed.

Yes the full enlarger photo is grey, but the detail shots are black crinkle, obviously a different machine.
So I guess oblong black heads were made. I learn every day

 

[Hilo]

Ronald, I think the picture just has too little contrast and the wrong light on the enlarger head, making it look grey.

I was fortunate in this sense that a dear friend left his 2c to me. He bought it new but never used it. Another friend (ex Leitz repairer) serviced it about 15 years ago and it still works beautifully. Over the years I have gotten many parts for it, often new. Negative holders, a condenser, Bowden cables . . . the thing is that nothing ever breaks down. These enlargers are so well made !

 

[Ron789]

This picture shows how this enlarging scale indicator should work:
http://farm9.static.flickr.com/8329/8104746853_820e3ba396.jpg