Beseler 23c Enlarger - Convert to XL

This may be a dumb question, but since it will not be the first one I

have ever asked, here it is:

I have an opportunity to by a used Beseler 23cII enlarger which

has the standard column, not the XL column. The difference between

standard is apparently only a few inches, so it would be possible to

make the standard column the equivalent of an XL by adding a small

wooden box between the column and the baseboard (it may be necessary

to make a new, larger baseboard) to raise the column the required

distance. My question is: "Is this as easy as it sounds? Are there

other considerations, such as the length of the bellows, which make it

impossible to focus at the new, extended column height?"

Tony.

<p>

Building such an extension is possible, but I don't think it would be stable.

<p>

There are several ways to get bigger blowups with the standard column.

<p>

- Reverse the column on the board(I don't know how much of a hassle that is with the 23c), place a weight on the baseboard and project on the floor. The danger is that the enlarger may fall over! Not good.

<p>

- Wall mount the enlarger. I'm sure beseler sells such a wall mount.

Cost for this?? A good alternative is to build one yourself if you are handy and take care to insure that everything ends up aligned.

<p>

- Purchase an XL column from some one (beseler?)

<p>

- Get a wide angle enlarging lens. These tend to be expensive.

<p>

The bellows should not be a problem. As you go to bigger enlargements, the lens has to move closer to the negative. If this should become a problem, there are inverted cone boards available to move the lens closer to the negative. Invert the cone and you can get closer, i.e. very small enlargements!

<p>

The last alternative is to buy a new XL enlarger and don't worry about all of the above.

Its been about 15yrs since I used a 23C so correct me if I'm wrong but doesn't the whole head tilt 90 degrees, using the standard column, so projection onto a wall is possible?

db

http://members.tripod.com/~dbdigital/

Both enlargers I own can do wall projection. Both have XL capability, one is a new omega and the other is an old spiratone enlarger that I XL'd for $3.00 (it is an old pole type and I went to the hardware store and got a 4 foot piece of pipe to replace the orginal pole). It is just not very convenient to hang print paper on the wall. Floor projection is a bit easier, but still not the easiest way to go. Wall mounting the existing girder or getting an XL girder is the best bet.

Another way to do this is to build a enlarging table with a movable base board. I checked with bessler a while back and they want $1,600 for an enlarging table, so building one is much cheaper. I'm currently building a new home with a darkroom and print handling room, so I've explored a lot of these options in the last few months.

Beseler made an XL extension for the standard length 23cII enlarger.

It is a metal frame that is 6 1/2 inches tall that you bolt onto the

baseboard then bolt the twin columns of the enlarger onto it. I

purchased one used a couple of years ago for about $20. I was

considering doing what you are doing when I found the extension. I

was going to use one or two pieces of wood with holes drilled through

them, then using long bolts to tie everything together.

One other thing to consider is that the XL baseboard is longer than

the standard baseboard, so you may wish to use a piece of plywood to

make a longer baseboard both for stability and for centering. You

might also try Midwest Photo Exchange (http//www.mpex.com/) for an

extension. I have had luck in purchasing used Beseler enlarger parts

from them.

An easy conversion is to add an extension block of wood, but otoh the lens axis wouldn't be as far out from the base as it would be with an XL column. Or iow, you couldn't get quite as big an easel in place with the paper centered.

Also an extension may make the enlarger somewhat less stable; you may need to wall-brace the top of the column.

Since Besseler does not make a wall mount for the 23CII, I got the

extension mentioned earlier and mounted it to the counter [it has an

indention in the top permitting you to do that]. Then I mounted the

enlarger to that and had the best of both worlds - the extended

focusing distance and a relatively free counter upon which to print.

This combination is very stable and the extension doesn't take up too

much room on the counter.

Probably the simplest and cheapest way to go is just to build an enlarger table with a moveable baseboard like Mr. Crumpler said. You'd even have more flexibility because you could adjust the lens to easel distance all the way to the floor. Just make sure you have enough clearance to fit the image/easel as it approaches the floor.

<p>

Ken Eng

In 1977 or 78 Petersons Photographic published the plans for an

enlarger stand with a drop away easil table. The plans were for the

thing to be cut out of a single piece of 4' X 8', 3/4" plywood. I was

in the Army serving in Germany at the time and I went to the local

wood hobby shop and built it. I even purchased a 135mm enlarging

lens that gave me sharper prints but needed the drop table to be

fully compatable. When I left Germany I gave it to a German Friend

because I was overweight for shipping household goods. I also lost

the plans. As an alternative I purchased Besslers XL kit. The metal

box mentioned above. But I always wanted another drop table stand and

I will probably design and build my own when I have more time for

darkroom work. To make this long story short, if you are going to

build something, dont build a stand that will lift your enlarger a few

inches when you can build a stand that will allow the table to drop

all the way to the floor. By the way if anyone reading this knows

where I can get a copy of that old magazine please let me know. This

stand was FANTASTIC and very easy to build.