Comrade Conrad
Member
I posted this over on APUG, but it's probably even more apropos here...
I just received a nice Focomat 1c and noticed that the condenser did not lower fully to contact the negative carrier as it's intended to do. After disassembling the condenser assembly I found that the condenser still was not seating fully in its housing. The issue turned out to be a spacer ring in the housing which kept the condenser from fully seating. The spacer is metal and is about 3mm thick. It appears to be intentionally put there. I removed it and the condenser works normally.
Has anybody seen this before? What would it be for since it keeps the condenser from closing onto the film? I thought perhaps it might be used with the hinged double glass plate (because of the increased thickness), but there is no mention of it in the Leitz instructions.
Ed Z, if you're in the house, this is right down your alley.
I just received a nice Focomat 1c and noticed that the condenser did not lower fully to contact the negative carrier as it's intended to do. After disassembling the condenser assembly I found that the condenser still was not seating fully in its housing. The issue turned out to be a spacer ring in the housing which kept the condenser from fully seating. The spacer is metal and is about 3mm thick. It appears to be intentionally put there. I removed it and the condenser works normally.
Has anybody seen this before? What would it be for since it keeps the condenser from closing onto the film? I thought perhaps it might be used with the hinged double glass plate (because of the increased thickness), but there is no mention of it in the Leitz instructions.
Ed Z, if you're in the house, this is right down your alley.
Michiel Fokkema
Michiel Fokkema
The spacer is needed when you use the AN glass. Your Focomat was equipped with the AN glass but is now missing. The AN glass is very convenient to have but is quiet rare and tends to be expensive. At least you have already the spacer ring which is not always supplied with the AN glass. You can however also use the AN glass without the spacer ring.
Cheers,
Michiel Fokkema
Cheers,
Michiel Fokkema
PMCC
Late adopter.
The Focomats were one of the finest lines of 35mm enlargers ever made, and the Ic was its highest expression. Built to last, engineered to a fault, a zillion little parts, each with a specific function, part of an integrated whole that when properly set up and maintained, functions and performs like no other. As these beasts become extinct, knowledge of their anatomy will be lost. A great pity that there appears to be no readily accessible repository -- except in the heads of a diminishing number of analog souls -- where the knowledge can be preserved. Contemplate the beauty of the impermanence of all things.
Comrade Conrad
Member
Michiel,
The AN glass is not missing; I have it. It was packed separately for shipping. But I was examining the enlarger after unpacking and had not yet installed the AN glass.
Your answer makes perfect sense, although when I had another Focomat 1c with the AN glass several years ago, it did not have the spacer. Hence, this was something new to me. Thank you for your clarification.
The AN glass is not missing; I have it. It was packed separately for shipping. But I was examining the enlarger after unpacking and had not yet installed the AN glass.
Your answer makes perfect sense, although when I had another Focomat 1c with the AN glass several years ago, it did not have the spacer. Hence, this was something new to me. Thank you for your clarification.
Comrade Conrad
Member
You haven't seen my living room!
Seriously though, your point is appreciated. I've thought for several years that we live in a unique time when we can enjoy and appreciate (and maybe finally afford) the craftsmanship, engineering and aesthetics of a past time. These things won't be around forever and they won't be made again. Future generations won't have the same opportunity to enjoy them. Open sharing of information is what forums like this are about. That will hopefully help to preserve our collective knowledge.
N
Nikon Bob
Guest
I have a 1c but not used it. I just checked and the lamp house/condenser when lowered does not contact the neg carrier. There is a lever on the side that will lower the condenser lens to contact the carrier fully. Page 5 of this link may be of some interest http://members.cox.net/leitzleica/Manual.html . The manual says nothing about having to add a shim to be able to use a Leitz NEWOO anti newton glass.
Bob
Bob
Michiel Fokkema
Michiel Fokkema
Correct, you don;t have to use the spacer. But I found that without the spacer and the AN glass on, the glass sits very close to the negative with the condenser up. With the spacer you have a bit more space and are sure your negative does not get scratched when slided through eh negative carrier.
Michiel Fokkema
Michiel Fokkema
Check here for some other people who have the spacer ring too.
http://photo.net/black-and-white-photo-printing-finishing-forum/007Qh7
Michiel Fokkema
Michiel Fokkema
BTW, the device in the manual is not the AN glass. It is a spacer mask to lift the condenser just a little bit in order not to touch the film.
I guess the AN glass was introduced later.
I guess the AN glass was introduced later.
N
Nikon Bob
Guest
Michiel
Thanks for the link and info, the manual had me wondering for a bit about all this. I did not want to confuse things more but wondered about the manual.
Bob
Thanks for the link and info, the manual had me wondering for a bit about all this. I did not want to confuse things more but wondered about the manual.
Bob