Shipwreck Loc: Michigan

For some absolutely unknown reason, I have just moved my packed up color darkroom to my new digs. Understanding it has little or no value, I can't help but wonder if parts of it may have some worth. The enlarger is an Omega B66XL with a stabilized power supply which has its original instruction manual and even its original dust cover! There are 50 and 80m F4 and F5.6 enlarging lens and their original boxes (pictured), 35 mm Omega film and slide carries, a 120 mm Omega film carrier, Omega digital timer and instruction book (pictured), GraLab Timer Model 300 (pictured), extra Omega quartz halogen enlarger lamp (pictured), 11x14 Bogen blade easel (pictured), 11x14 speed easel, Kodak safelight with OC and #13 filters, four 22x26 developing trays, one 17x22 developing tray, two 12.5x15.5 developing trays, one 113x16 developing tray, and five 9x11 trays.

There also are film developing tanks and a host of other stuff.

Does any of this stuff have value?

If no one wants any of it, does anyone have any suggestions as to an organization that might be able to use it in a photo program??

All of it is in the Lansing, Michigan area. Forgive the photo and the background, but I shot it with my phone surrounded by as yet unpacked stuff.

burkphoto Loc: High Point, NC

Lots of film users here. List it all in the classifieds on UHH!

I have a lot of the same stuff... or similar.

PixelStan77 Loc: Vermont/Chicago

Yes it has value. I donated mine to a local University.

delkeener Loc: SW Rhode Island, USA

I actually sold a similar outfit on Craigs List for pickup at my place at $200 cash about 4 years ago to a young lady studying art and photography including film work. You might try advertising in some Lansing publication often read by the local university students in art schools.

Architect1776 Loc: In my mind

TriX Loc: Raleigh, NC

Certainly has value. Here in Raleigh, we have a camera store that has a large film section and takes nice enlargers and darkroom equipment on consignment or trade - do you have a similar store within reasonable driving distance? The alternatives are advertising on UHH or Craigslist as suggested, but it will probably need to be local pickup as shipping may be prohibitively expensive. Of course you could set up a darkroom again. Although I currently shoot mostly Digital, I still find film and darkroom work rewarding.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

How about ebay? Recent sales -

https://www.ebay.com/sch/Film-Photography/69323/i.html?_from=R40&_nkw=darkroom%20equipment&LH_Complete=1&LH_Sold=1&rt=nc&_trksid=p2045573.m1684
https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_odkw=darkroom+equipment&LH_Complete=1&LH_Sold=1&_osacat=69323&_from=R40&_trksid=p2045573.m570.l1313.TR0.TRC0.H0.Xdarkroom+equipment+enlarger.TRS0&_nkw=darkroom+equipment+enlargers&_sacat=69323

turp77 Loc: Connecticut, Plainfield

I just donated 5 enlargers and enough stuff to fully outfit 4 full dark rooms to a photographer that is starting a photography course at a high school.

daltonp Loc: Columbus, Ohio

I teach high school and although we do not have darkroom photography anymore, I occasionally get donations from friends and the community and pass the equipment along to students who are truly interested.

rpavich Loc: West Virginia

Yes!

Go to:

https://www.photrio.com/forum/index.php?categories/classifieds.150/

That is a fully analogue site. Lots of folks would love to buy your stuff.

GGerard

Looks like some nice stuff. If I didn't already have three enlargers, I would make you an offer. If it was a Focomat V35, I would be on my way from Kalamazoo with cash in hand! I second the craigslist idea. With State starting up big time right now, you might get some interest.

BebuLamar

I sold my Beseler CB-7 with dichroic head, several color analyzer, Gralab 900 timer, Omega critical focuser in 2014 for $200 on Craiglist.

EAM Loc: Milwaukee W

Great equipment. If you are an alumni of a local high school, university, give their fine arts department a call.
Check if they want your gear etc.
Make a visit to drop off the stuff and connect with some budding photographers. Attend their exhibits etc.
Getting involved and letting the school put a face with the donation establishes a nice friendship.

burkphoto Loc: High Point, NC

[Warning: Off topic rant follows...]

It's just as well that your school does not offer "darkroom (film) photography" any longer. The modern world has mostly moved on from film.

Don't get me wrong, there isn't anything intrinsically wrong with using film, but there's this irrational, persistent myth: that learning film photography first somehow makes one a better photographer, or forces one to learn more quickly. It doesn't. Set an adjustable digital camera on full manual (manual focus, manual ISO, manual shutter, manual aperture...) and record raw images... It's the same as using color negative film, but better, because you can process the images any way you like. And the EXIF table is proof that your student didn't cheat! Plus, using digital tools prepares students for the real world, where unless you are a starving artist or hobbyist, you use digital cameras, smart phones, computers, software, the Internet, social media, and other digital devices to communicate.

I have three kids. In 2006, when I was still doing training and training content development for a large school portrait company, my daughter wanted to take photography at her high school in Charlotte. When she found out it was all film-based, she asked me, "Dad, didn't your company just throw out millions of dollars worth of film cameras and darkroom equipment?" I answered truthfully, "Yes. And we're ripping out the film processors as soon as this school year is over!" She said, "They won't teach digital photography at my high school. The teacher says it's just a fad." She signed up anyway, but told me later on that they cancelled the course because there was not enough interest! She was the only prospective student.

My twins are 18. They grew up with mice in their hands. They were making videos and using digital cameras for school work when they were seven. They went to an arts magnet school here in High Point. They've made a couple of serious short films in the last year or so, and one of them is going to stage and screen school at Western Carolina University for a BFA. When we went for his audition and got to interview a panel of current students, I asked the guys from the film school, "Do you still use film?" The answer was, "Aw, heck no. We still have the cameras, but no one has used them in years. Digital video is so much more efficient." That sealed the deal for us.

I still have all my film gear from high school, and all of it still works fine, but I don't use it. A couple of months ago, I took the negative carrier off the B22XL enlarger and put it on a device I made from scrap wood and old parts from my garage. I'm refining it a bit, and will soon begin digitizing my old negative collection...

(Download)

AzPicLady Loc: Behind the camera!

Looks like lovely equipment. I had an Omega enlarger that was borrowed and used it extensively. The loaner decided she wanted it back (even though she didn't intend to use it). If I didn't love so far away, I'd come get all your stuff! Film isn't dead. Put it out there and someone will love getting it!