Questions Beseler 45 Blue

[KyleAHPhotog]

Note before reading
I'm a complete novice to darkroom.

I found a Beseler 45 Blue in good working condition!
Is there anything I should know before I invest in it.

What lens came standard with it?
Do I have to buy a special bulb for it?
Whats the largest print I can make with the standard stand?
Any thing special about the 45 Blue compared to the standard 45, other than it being blue?

And if any one knows
Why blue?

 

[Finder]

The lens depends on the format of film: 50mm for 35mm; 80mm for 6x6; 90mm for 6x7; 150mm for 4x5.

By blue, I assume you are taking about the frame color. That would be an older model. There are gray Beselers. The modern enlargers are black.

 

[Dwig]

...
By blue, I assume you are taking about the frame color. That would be an older model. There are gray Beselers. The modern enlargers are black.

The ancient models were also black. Most blue ones date from the late '60s through the late '70s or very early '80s. Other than the bellows, nothing on these really ages.

As to the lens, no lens came standard with the Beseler 45 enlargers and they shipped with no negative carriers either. They were sold a-la-carte. The retailer would sell the necessary pieces to fit the customer's needs. Only the lower end to middle of the line was ever bundled with lenses and carriers.

Beseler, themselves, never offered any really decent lenses. When I sold them, I generally paired them with EL-Nikkors of the appropriate focal length for the customer's format. Less often I sold Schneider Componons or special ordered Rodenstock Rodagons.

 

[Finder]

Beseler, themselves, never offered any really decent lenses.

I believe the Beseler HD lenses were rebadged Rodenstock.