Want to Buy WTB: Thomas Duplex Super Safelight

StoneNYC · Nov 16, 2014

Looking for Thomas Duplex Super Safelight for my new darkroom.

Would like it to have the amber filters in working condition.

Please let me know if you have any sitting around and lets talk about a purchase and open for some trades.

They look like this.

Thanks!

mgb74 · Nov 16, 2014

Have one, will send PM in a bit. But if you're looking at one for a small darkroom, you may want to research whether it may be too much light.

nsurit · Nov 16, 2014

Don't have an extra and I can't imagine not having one in my darkroom which is about 170 sq. ft.

Mark Crabtree · Nov 16, 2014

Great safelight. My darkroom with low ceiling is less than ideal for it, but it still beats anything going for overall illumination. I have the vanes barely cracked open on mine since I use a wide variety of paper and don't want to take chances. It is hard to imagine a room too small with the vanes closed. I got mine after getting out of color printing, but a friend ran one for color and said he could have very nice illumination level even with that.

I will say it is best with a light color ceiling. You could always put a small panel of something white above it if that is an issue; I'm planning to do that to expand my darkroom out into an area with only rafters.

StoneNYC · Nov 16, 2014

Thanks guys, my darkroom will have 12ish foot ceilings and I won't be able to use a wall safelight so this hanging one is ideal and I like the illumination it gives.

Tom Kershaw · Nov 16, 2014

I use an old ceiling mounted safelight with a 25W lamp that provides plenty of illumination, although with a lower ceiling height.

Tom

Mark Crabtree · Nov 16, 2014

StoneNYC said:
Thanks guys, my darkroom will have 12ish foot ceilings and I won't be able to use a wall safelight so this hanging one is ideal and I like the illumination it gives.

Give it a go; I think you'll like it. Maybe one of the naysayers will sell you one cheap. I assume you saw the lengthy thread here on these; lots of good information on filter replacements, etc.

ParkerSmithPhoto · Nov 16, 2014

I have one I can sell you. The filters are cracked but can easily and inexpensively be replaced using the (there was a url link here which no longer exists) on Thomas Duplex.

PM me if interested. It's gonna cost to ship it!

FYI, my darkroom is about 100SqFt. I've added black foam core in the top vanes to allow me to damp down the light. It's perfect, totally controllable.

StoneNYC · Nov 16, 2014

Mark Crabtree said:
Give it a go; I think you'll like it. Maybe one of the naysayers will sell you one cheap. I assume you saw the lengthy thread here on these; lots of good information on filter replacements, etc.

No actually I didn't, it's what they had at school, never fogged any paper that I could see, so I trust it and hear others are less bright.

Newt_on_Swings · Nov 16, 2014

Great light. I have one in my darkroom as well. Just replaced the sox35 lamp last year. Still going strong.

fotch · Nov 16, 2014

I thought of getting one but then I heard they are noisy, is that true?

Ken Nadvornick · Nov 16, 2014

Mine is completely silent. But then I also purchased mine new before they were discontinued.

I've read that the ballast in older well-used samples does tend to hum, in some cases annoyingly loudly. Since the sodium bulb is standard LPS and widely available, I don't see why the ballast could not also be inexpensively replaced?

Ken

Mark Crabtree · Nov 16, 2014

StoneNYC said:
No actually I didn't, it's what they had at school, never fogged any paper that I could see, so I trust it and hear others are less bright.

Well worth looking through. I think it is the thread that ParkerSmithPhoto gave a link to. A real wealth of information there on these safelights.

KennyMark · Nov 16, 2014

I'm collecting information about the filters that are found in the Super Duplex safelights. Sharing the same here: (there was a url link here which no longer exists)

Please contribute and I'll update that post as I receive news.

Thanks all

gleaf · Nov 17, 2014

Hum is from the laminations of the transformer shaking with the magnetic field as it thrashes through the transformer doing its thing. Either the lamination itself is making the noise or the structure supporting it having some part resonant with the line frequency. Make sure the mounting screws are tight and it may quiet down. Mine is about silent.

raincat · Mar 28, 2015

are you still looking? might have one that needs a little work but you can have for cheap. let me know

Want to Buy WTB: Thomas Duplex Super Safelight

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