Zone vi type I enlarger questions

[jasonchampagne]

Hi there everyone! I was recommended this blog by the manager of the community darkroom in my city (Ottawa, Canada) as a great resource for information and knowledge. As it happens I need some.

I recently inherited from what appears to be (I have done a good amount of research) a Zone VI type 1 5x7 enlarger. http://www.ebay.com/itm/Zone-VI-5x7-Enlarger-Negative-Carrier-Lensboard-Variable-Contrast-Control/252315256207?_trksid=p2045573.c100033.m2042&_trkparms=aid=111001&algo=REC.SEED&ao=1&asc=35959&meid=ec4a75523cef4f7599bf4ebf78b9af87&pid=100033&rk=3&rkt=4&sd=331658603704 this is the model I have.

I have tested it throughly and it appears to be working fine, but I have had a few issues and problems that I can't seem to sort out on my own. I'm hoping to get some guidance. First off, the enlarger came with (I will take pictures if needed for the sake of specificity) a zone vi compensating timer, and a zone vi cold light stabilizer. So far, it seems I can only connect one in at a time, because the Type I enlarger only has jack on the head to plug into. It seems stabilizing the light is important, my question is: Is there any way of plugging both in simultaneously? will just running the timer which has a built in brightness control knob the same thing? should I care?

Furthermore, I am missing the lens board, and negative carriers. Again, after a good amount of research and roaming the web, it seems like both are in short supply/very hard to find. So, does anyone have any good leads on the enlarger lens boards? can they be made? same goes for the negative carriers. I have made negative carriers before from old mat boards. I have found a few negative carriers for zone vi enlargers online but the enlarger lens boards seem to not exist, especially for a type I enlarger

I am not able to get rid of this enlarger or buy a new one, so i am determined to make this one work! this will be my first home darkroom, and I will make this happen!

any and all advice would be greatly appreciated!

 

[TimVermont]

Hi Jason,

Welcome to APUG. I am a type II owner and I use a Heiland splitgrade timer, so I can't help with your specific questions below but I suggest you contact Richard Ritter, http://www.lg4mat.net/index.html Richard worked at Zone VI and may have parts or know where to find them.

 

[resummerfield]

I have a Zone VI type 2 with the Zone VI compensating timer, which I believe compensates for the light output, thus eliminating the need for a dedicated stabilizer.


The Ebay ad shows what looks to be a type-2, with the dual lensboard stabilizing arms. The type-1 only have one stabilizing arm.

 

[resummerfield]

Concerning the negative carriers and lensboards… I have made several lensboards. They are simple sheet steel, about 18 gauge, and can be easily cut with tin snips. Just as good as the overpriced factory item.

I also made several negative carriers by cutting and hand filing some 0.120 aluminum plate.

Then I devised a better idea, using a sheet of glass (plain for anti-newton) for the bottom carrier and a piece of black mat board, cut with the appropriate size hole, as the top carrier to hold the neg flat. I found this better and easier to use than the factory model (and much less expensive).

 

[jasonchampagne]

I have confirmed that what I own is type 1 enlarger. It appears the lens board is some sort of pronged bolt turn and lock system. Also i have been told there are several models, a VC and a single light enlarger. Any ideas how to tell which is which? there are no markings or indications on the enlarger itself.

 

[resummerfield]

Yes, the lensboard is a very simple flat steel plate... very easy to DIY.

The VC head on my Zone 6 has a separate control box to adjust the separate blue and green tubes in the head. The single tube head doesn't need that control box, so it wires directly into the timer (or stabilizer).