So Where's All These Cheap Enlargers When You Need One?

Well, I finally bought what I wanted (oh oh). First came Omega B600. Nice little enlarger, but I can't really get a good alignment on it as there's really nothing to adjust. So I bought a much bigger & heavier Omega B22 in the hopes of a better alignment situation. This enlarger ended up costing over $230 shipped, but it's complete w/ the right condensers, lenses, negative carriers for 35mm and 6x6, original manual, and some printing easels. The lenses are still in the boxes. Once I sell the lenses and extras some of the money will come back. Would love to print up to6x9, but when you get to those enlargers, the size and weight go up drastically.

It's amazing that people have to dump perfectly good enlargers. Our college uses their darkroom only for storage. I'll bet no one's throwing those Componon S enlarging lenses in the trash.

Craigslist. That's where I made my first blunder a year ago. Bought a nice Durst for $50, then another $50 to ship it. It came w/ lenses but they were nothing to write home about, so I had to buy lenses. Then, each lens required it's own special, expensive, and hard to find lens board (the new lenses wouldn't work w/ the old 25mm thread mounts that came with it). Just figuring out Durst's nomenclature for parts was difficult. eBay is full of Durst lens boards because I think people had to buy them twice to get what they wanted. The first one was sort of a surprise.

That Durst was a good enlarger, but the whole experience w/ the stupid lens boards soured me on them so I sold it. To another forum member, by the way.
 
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Saunders 6x7 LPL for $99 in excellent and complete condition. Added a Nikon 50mm/2.8 enlarging lens for my 35mm work for $40 (Like New). Both off Ebay, just be choosy and use a little patience.

Also purchased larger stuff Omega 4x5 (newest model) in mint cond, $150. Its there, you just got to look. Good luck.
 
I saw a bunch moving on craigslist two year ago but didn't have space. Last October, I was finally ready... and there was nothing. Either parts (several parents who'd bought partial darkrooms of their kids who never used them) or bits people had picked up at yard sales and wanted a fortune for beat up parts.

Watched for about 3 months before I managed to snag a 45MRX, 6 carriers, 4 lenses, lights, trays and task, etc.. basically 95% of what I needed for $100. Evidently the deals are now coming from the people who picked up cheap/free darkrooms when prices were at the bottom and didn't get around to using them.

I definitely got lucky as I the previous best offer had been about 30% as much gear for $350. Patience really paid off.
 
I have a room full of old enlargers and photo equipment that I got from second hand stores. I just couldn't bear to see them thrown away. Email me at angelog@aol.com and I will send you an inventory. I have lots of other photo junk that I bought for reasonable prices.

Angelo
 
Check Craigslist in your immediate and surrounding area daily (only takes a few seconds). It took some time but I was lucky with this approach.

Last year I picked up:

A Beseler 23C with color head, including power supply, PM1A analyzer, electronic timer, several lens boards and negative holders, several speed easels, all like new, for $60.

A Beseler 23CII XL with Rodenstock Rodagon 50mm lens, 2 lens boards, negative holders for 35mm, 645, 6x6 and 6x7, Ilford b&w contrast filter set, Saunders adjustable easel up to 16x20, trays, SS reels and tanks, all in great condition, for $100.

Ebay has been good for 6-element enlarger lenses (50mm and 80mm, Rodenstock Rodagon and Nikon), running $50-80 each.
 
If you're near a major American city, Craigslist is the way to go. I was patient and got a great deal on a V35 with a color head. I've been picking up the other stuff on Fleabay or at used photo stores gradually. A little patience goes a long way on this project. A few things I've bought new: tongs, thermometer, safe light.
 
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