Well, I got rid of my enlarger today.... (Page 4): I still have a Bell & Howell Cube slide projector collecting dust somewhere. From what I remember the slides seemed to jam fairly...

srt101fan

BebuLamar wrote:

Since I never shoot B&W and when I got rid of my enlarger I shot slides instead. I don't scan them but rather project them.

I still have a Bell & Howell Cube slide projector collecting dust somewhere. From what I remember the slides seemed to jam fairly often. Also got an old Kodak Carousel from my dad. Good projector but what an inefficient way to store slides!

srt101fan

wingclui44 wrote:

I'm still keeping my two enlargers and the other darkroom accessory for collecting item, but I adapted the enlarger lenses for macro photo on my digi. cam.

That sounds interesting. I'll have to check into that, since, and I'm not quite sure why, I kept one of the enlarging lenses...

srt101fan

JayRay wrote:

You are brave! I am still hanging on to my enlarger and B&W dark room equipment. Can not let go, too many fond memories! Have not used the enlarger (as an enlarger) in many years. Probably the pack rat in me! Still scanning some of my old B&W negatives.
I did remove the enlarging head from the enlarger stand, made an attachment with an arca-swiss plate that I can attach a camera to and use it as a copy stand.

I thought about using it for a copy stand. But then I realized I was probably never going to use it that way. Besides, there is the spousal pressure to downsize!

BebuLamar

Tim Stapp wrote:

Amazing, I also have a CB-7. Fantastic enlarger that I paid the pricey sum of $20 for. In the last three years I have outfitted my entire darkroom for less than $500 with two 23C IIs (one is equipped with a new/in the box color head), the CB-7, a Jobo, trays, timers for each enlarger (I actually have 6, but use only 3 enlargers-one for each format that I shoot).

My CB-7 I paid $100 for it and was in relatively bad shape but included a color head which I do need as I only do color work. I rebuilt the thing to perfect condition. Modify the timer circuit to a 24V system and I can start the Gralab 900 timer from the enlarger baseboard. The color head has 2 200W bulbs and 2 separate sets of filters and it's bright. I added a color measuring system to measure the color and intensity of the light via a fiber optic cable inserted into the lamp house. It would function similar to that of the 45 computerized color head with LED display for filtration. It works very well but when I moved to the new house my wife no longer allows me to set up the darkrom so I sold it on Craigslist.

spaceytracey Loc: East Glacier Park, MT

Ah, the smells of the darkroom! I miss that so much, almost as much as just getting lost in there. True, digital never comes close to the tonality of a "real" b&w print. Wish I still had my equipment.

srt101fan

zebra 357 wrote:

Think I'll invent an air spray which smells like darkroom chemicals. Use it around your computer during photo processing.

I wonder how today's young folks would react to that!

srt101fan

Silversleuth wrote:

After just finishing a B&W film and darkroom c... (show quote)

Good to hear, Ed! And the best of luck and enjoyment in your venture.

srt101fan

Crad1998 wrote:

I am recently retired and am taking a film class at the local community college. I am starting to really like developing film. Of course we have only developed one roll. The college is giving away some of its old film equipment. Is it worth it to take the enlarger and buy the other equipment and set up a small darkroom my house? I think I would enjoying shooting and developing film.

If the gear is free, and you have the room, I'd say go for it!

Tim Stapp Loc: Mid Mitten

Crad1998 wrote:

... Is it worth it to take the enlarger and buy the other equipment and set up a small darkroom my house? I think I would enjoying shooting and developing film.

Where are you located. Some folks local (me for example) might be able to help you set up things.

srt101fan

elee950021 wrote:

I feel your pain! In 2008 my wife and I retired f... (show quote)

Sounds like a major undertaking! I'm glad I didn't have to go through that...

kmocabee

srt101fan wrote:

I still have a Bell & Howell Cube slide projector collecting dust somewhere. From what I remember the slides seemed to jam fairly often. Also got an old Kodak Carousel from my dad. Good projector but what an inefficient way to store slides!

I was selling photo equipment back in the 70's when the B&H Cube projectors were getting hot. Really nice design, but then Kodak pulled a nasty by altering the thickness of their mounts so as to jam the Cube projectors! Of course, they didn't affect the Carousels.

srt101fan

korat wrote:

I'm curious. How do you get rid of an enlarger? I still have my late husband's Minolta Mod III color enlarger. I know I'll never use it, and I'd love to sell it, but I have no idea how to go about doing it. For that matter, is it even worth anything?

I took mine to a local camera store that buys some used photo gear. They do not buy enlargers (not enough room) but they have connections with schools and students that they donate to. So I just gave it to them.

srt101fan

CamB wrote:

A few years ago I organized everything into two co... (show quote)

I had forgotten the hands smelling like fixer!

srt101fan

spaceytracey wrote:

Ah, the smells of the darkroom! I miss that so much, almost as much as just getting lost in there. True, digital never comes close to the tonality of a "real" b&w print. Wish I still had my equipment.

I tend to agree with you on the tonality thing. And we had so many papers and surfaces to chose from. I don't dry print much, so I don't know what kind of photo paper options you have for printers these days, but I suspect it's a lot more limited...

srt101fan

kmocabee wrote:

I was selling photo equipment back in the 70's when the B&H Cube projectors were getting hot. Really nice design, but then Kodak pulled a nasty by altering the thickness of their mounts so as to jam the Cube projectors! Of course, they didn't affect the Carousels.

Interesting, I didn't know that; explains a lot!