mystery omega enlarger

ok, so I'm putting together two omega enlargers. i thought both were D-3s but are now unsure. One i bought for cheep off craigslist. the other i am building from found parts. the one i bought looks like it was modified to fit a 4x5 variable condenser head. there are homemade arms that taper in to connect to the standard 9 inch wide head but it looks like it could hold an 11 3/4 wide head. the bellows that are on it have a 6 3/8 hole for the negative carrier and the bottom where the lens board goes looks to have been shimmed in because the arms that hold the bottom of the bellows are wider than normal. Shimmed in from 7 to the 6 1/8 it is now. the column is wider than the D-3 as well. 7 3/4 as opposed to 7 1/4.

 

Was this an omega E series 7x10 modified to be a 4x5? or were there D series enlargers that were a little bigger to take slightly larger than 4x5 negatives?

 

Mystery 2. one of the parts i have is a veritable condenser head that fits 7 inch variable condenser lenses rather than the standard 6 1/2. but the distance of the arms for it to be mounted are still the standard 9 inches same the other 4x5 heads i have seen. Cant find any info on the larger size. condensers for 4x5 are 6 1/5 and ones for 5x7 are 9 inches. so what kind of odd ball condenser lens is 7 inches?

 

please refer to the images for reference if needed

 

 

 

 

The column is similar to my "E" clone, but I`d say it looks like there are also missing parts (joints, cams).

... "the column is wider than the D-3 as well. 7 3/4 as opposed to 7 1/4..." I actually cannot distinguish proportions in the photos, and I don`t have a "D" (used them years ago), but I have the idea that the "E" column is way bigger than the "D" column (1/2" seem very little difference).

The lens stage and focusing system also seem quite close to mine. I don`t have this head, my first though is that is a 4x5" adaptation.

I`m sorry I cannot distinguish anything else. Not so clarifying, I know.

someone suggested it was originally made for a dichroic head and modified to fit a Black and white condenser head. which is possible i guess. both the E and D series are so similar its hard to tell the difference. knowing the actual sizes of particular components for both D and E enlargers and verifying against what i have is the only way to really know. as long as i can find parts and make functioning enlargers is all that matters really. thanks for the response!

What do you do with it once it is assembled?

That might be a D-3 lift kit fitted to a D2?

That might be a D-3 lift kit fitted to a D2?

Sorry, other way round D2 kit on a D3

i am starting a community print studio to include a darkroom. so aside from making my own prints (i got a 4x5 camera) they will be available for rent and education use.

 

was the distance between lift arms drastically different from the D-2 to D-3? shouldn't the spacing be the same on both as the heads are interchangeable?

John, you may be right. I have just measured the width of my 5x7" all original enlarger, and it is close to 7-1/4" (actually 7-1/8", I`d say).

there is one thing that makes me think that the first enlarger pictured is a 5x7 rather than a wider lift arm kit to take a color head. if you look at the home made lift arm extensions in the first photo they just don't taper in from 11 3/4 to 9" they also have to extend out further to center the head and condenser lens. knowing nothing about the dichroic head that might be how they are but everything on the enlarger seems a little bigger. what size is the hole where you put the negative carrier on your 5x7? sorry for not know the correct name for the metal part at the top of the bellows but i have attached a photo to clarify. most 4x5 enlargers that i have seen that have a circle instead of a square hole here the circle is just smooth but this one has little notches at the corners. don't know if that means anything but its different than what i have seen before.

 

 

 

 

Right. Although mine is not exactly as yours, it looks quite close, the hole diameter is 8-5/8", aproximately. I see it`s the right size to work with 13x18 negatives (just a tad bigger than 5x7" ones).

BTW, I tend to think 7" condenser lenses are way small for 5x7". On 4x5", I think it may work with great fall off (I don`t know). In my enlargers, they use to be considerably wider (diameter) than the format... e.g., my 6x9 enlargers use 6-1/2" condensers. They work great.

Edited May 27, 2017 by jose_angel

As you mention, my "upper hole" is smooth, just a clean circle. No notches at the corners. There is a part that holds the film carrier who freely fits inside that circle. Don`t you have it? I`d think the notches are designed to hold something in place (but not the film carrier).

Also, in my enlarger, the "hole" is almost the same diameter as the bellows side (from inside). I can see the bellows almost reaching the border of the "hole".

Cannot check it in yours, but I`d say there is a gap between the border of the hole and the bellows.

Think that there are many plate sizes. Don`t know how old is yours (mine is quite old), so it may have parts designed to work with glass plates (e.g. "half" or "quarter plate").

Edited May 27, 2017 by jose_angel

i haven't measured my d3v but it too is bigger than the normal 4x5 enlargers.

according to harry taylor ( classic enlargers . com fame / RIP ) these larger

than normal d3v's were for the war effort. he had one too and told me that

they were made "military contract" to print aerial film. "normal" d3 negative carriers

( glassless and glass )

will work without too much light leak, and rapid shift roll film negative carriers will also work ...

because they are bigger than the normal negative carriers. the standard omegalite

i can't remember it it works, i never had one for 4x5, the one for my E is too big though,

the aristo cold light heads made for the omega d2/d3/d3v/bessler 4x5 works but because

the condensor collar is 6" + ( or whatever size it is ) the aristo head doesn't slide right in

as it does in standard omega enlargers. so, you have to figure something out.

 

good luck !

Good luck...i have all the necessary lenses you may need. I have the same projector/printer with no missing parts. I have 2 lenses that are around 177 mm that go with it in the tube. If u are interested give me a call....801-644-4520