PDA

View Full Version : De Vere Enlarger factory



pierre506
6-Sep-2016, 20:36
Visited De Vere enlarger factory yesterday.
Stunning findings there~

10x12
http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160907/66d1e87a4f66bbe152dc67a418c57458.jpg

8x10
http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160907/8a7ee6432d7894b3d1a58e24deec6dc5.jpg

Vacuum board
http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160907/d5b915c4cfdf7de069f7dc310a44f72b.jpg

通过我的 VIE-AL10 上的 Tapatalk发言

Tin Can
6-Sep-2016, 21:33
More story if you please.

Thank you.

pierre506
6-Sep-2016, 21:34
Dear Randy,
What story did you wanna know?


通过我的 VIE-AL10 上的 Tapatalk发言

Tin Can
6-Sep-2016, 23:39
The 5 W's like a news reporter.

Who
What
Where
When
Why

I mean, where are they made? Are they selling many?

Any improvements?

What sizes?

Are they using new electronics? iPhone Apps? Modern heads? LED? Old lenses?

Condensors? AN glass carriers?

Are they one offs, bespoke, singulaur examples from a custom house?

Not a critique, just details they supply.




Dear Randy,
What story did you wanna know?


通过我的 VIE-AL10 上的 Tapatalk发言

jack_hui
6-Sep-2016, 23:40
looks like this factory is in China?

pierre506
7-Sep-2016, 02:57
looks like this factory is in China?
Yes, it's in the north of suzhou( my city), very near Shanghai.

通过我的 VIE-AL10 上的 Tapatalk发言

pierre506
7-Sep-2016, 03:32
The 5 W's like a news reporter.

Who
What
Where
When
Why

I mean, where are they made? Are they selling many?

Any improvements?

What sizes?

Are they using new electronics? iPhone Apps? Modern heads? LED? Old lenses?

Condensors? AN glass carriers?

Are they one offs, bespoke, singulaur examples from a custom house?

Not a critique, just details they supply.

Where are they made?
China.
The important parts from the UK

Are they selling many?
Yes

Any improvements?
Yes

What sizes?
4x5
8x10
10x12
11x14

Are they using new electronics?
No

iPhone Apps?
No

Modern heads?
No sure, but like the old style

No LED?
No, because the LED isn't brighter enough.

Old lenses?
Up to the users

Condensors?
5x7 and 8x10 condensors for the 8x10 enlarger

AN glass carriers?
Yes

The price of 4x5 is about USD 3600.
The price of 8x10 wall model is about USD 4545.
The price of 8x10 vertical model isabout USD 5909.
80x110cm vacuum board is about USD 425.
140x180cm vacuum board is about USD 1516.
The manufacturer takes the charge of crating.
The buyer pays the shipping cost.

One of my friend wanted to buy an 8x10 enlarger. So I was with him to the factory yesterday.
I didn't ask the price of 10x12 enlarger. It's said someone had booked a 11x14 enlarger.

通过我的 VIE-AL10 上的 Tapatalk发言

Tin Can
7-Sep-2016, 03:42
Thank you Pierre for all your answers.

I consider this great news as it shows a market need is being met.

Which also means enlarging is not dead and China is interested in LF capture and traditional Lf enlargement onto SG paper.

Excellent report.

Roger Cole
7-Sep-2016, 03:47
Yes that's great and the prices aren't even bad considering today's prices in general and the market though I suspect shipping one would add enormously to those prices.

interneg
7-Sep-2016, 04:13
I knew that Odyssey Sales (the successor to DeVere) had been manufacturing in China about 10 years ago - I'd assumed (wrongly) that that had ceased & that reconditioning of already made machines was all they were doing. The 504 & 5108 are great machines - some of the most precise & well made enlargers ever.

bob carnie
7-Sep-2016, 05:44
I have the 515 11 x14 what a dream enlarger.

ic-racer
7-Sep-2016, 07:19
pierre506, thank you for sharing.

pierre506
7-Sep-2016, 10:17
The vacuum board looks like a series of computer fans on the bottom. Is that correct?

I don't know. But I knew the power was stronger and the noise was lower than the traditional pump.
I used to ask the manufacturer when I checked the board:
" Where is the tube for those pumps?"

通过我的 VIE-AL10 上的 Tapatalk发言

jesse
7-Sep-2016, 13:06
looks like this factory is in China?

Jack, you want to buy one?

MartinP
7-Sep-2016, 14:15
So the operation is assembly-from-parts? Presumably Odyssey Sales are involved, as they own the De Vere name world-wide(?). Interesting that it is more economic to assemble in China and then ship the machines, unless the factory/workshop is intended for the Asian market, when the distances and communication involved make more sense.

Peter De Smidt
7-Sep-2016, 14:31
This isn't the old Delight factory, is it? They made knock-off De Vere's back in the 90s. In any case, being the owner of a terrific 504 floorstander, I'm glad to see that the enlargers (and presumably parts) are still available.

Tin Can
7-Sep-2016, 14:31
Very few people in NA want a 8X10 enlarger, they are being given away or destroyed.

One I just got was worth more as scrap, luckily I convinced the owner I wanted to use and preserve it.

He gave it to me, just as it was given to him. He is a young man who realized he had a different calling, I think. He couldn't take a big enlarger with him. So he gave it up for adoption.

China may have a different scenario or an emerging photographic Art scene which values tradition.

That's why I am interested in De Vere production in China. I doubt many if any get shipped to NA.

pierre506
7-Sep-2016, 15:37
So the operation is assembly-from-parts? Presumably Odyssey Sales are involved, as they own the De Vere name world-wide(?). Interesting that it is more economic to assemble in China and then ship the machines, unless the factory/workshop is intended for the Asian market, when the distances and communication involved make more sense.

I believe that it's more accurate to call it "manufacture" than "assemble".
I don't know if Odyssey owned the brand name. But I am sure that it's belonged to a British company according to the communication with the manufacturer. The factory owns two senior technicians whom had been trained long time before in UK.

"It is more economic to assemble in China" ?
I'd rather to believe that it is more ideal & reasonable to manufacture in China because China owns the advantages of raw materials purchasing, machining, lower labor cost...

通过我的 VIE-AL10 上的 Tapatalk发言

pierre506
7-Sep-2016, 15:41
Very few people in NA want a 8X10 enlarger, they are being given away or destroyed.

One I just got was worth more as scrap, luckily I convinced the owner I wanted to use and preserve it.

He gave it to me, just as it was given to him. He is a young man who realized he had a different calling, I think. He couldn't take a big enlarger with him. So he gave it up for adoption.

China may have a different scenario or an emerging photographic Art scene which values tradition.

That's why I am interested in De Vere production in China. I doubt many if any get shipped to NA.
Randy, I call it as " a new LF photographic Renaissance emerged ( worldwide ) " .

通过我的 VIE-AL10 上的 Tapatalk发言

Luis-F-S
7-Sep-2016, 16:44
I have the 515 11 x14 what a dream enlarger.

The 5108 is not shabby either. Mine was bought new in 1996 so it's British made. Black case like the ones in the photos. Would not trade it for anything.

Post some more photos, or take some more when your friend picks his up!

Tin Can
7-Sep-2016, 17:35
Randy, I call it as " a new LF photographic Renaissance emerged ( worldwide ) " .

通过我的 VIE-AL10 上的 Tapatalk发言

:)

jumanji
8-Sep-2016, 05:19
Is there any 108s enlarger? Its the AF model of 8x10 enlarger and i'm having an incomplete one. Havent had time to fix it. Not sure if it would need some original parts.

Luis-F-S
8-Sep-2016, 06:30
Is there any 108s enlarger? Its the AF model of 8x10 enlarger and i'm having an incomplete one. Havent had time to fix it. Not sure if it would need some original parts.

Do you have the manual for it? Can you convert it to a manual enlarger? If possible, that would make sense as less to break!

interneg
8-Sep-2016, 09:25
Is there any 108s enlarger? Its the AF model of 8x10 enlarger and i'm having an incomplete one. Havent had time to fix it. Not sure if it would need some original parts.

I'd contact Odyssey Sales directly - http://www.odyssey-sales.co.uk/contact.asp - from what I've seen of them, they're fundamentally different from the 504/507/5108/515 design - even more massively built & aimed at the aerial photography market.

Luis-F-S
8-Sep-2016, 09:33
Is there any 108s enlarger? Its the AF model of 8x10 enlarger and i'm having an incomplete one. Havent had time to fix it. Not sure if it would need some original parts.

There were actually, two 108's on the 'Bay earlier this year! From Canada if my memory serves me right. L

jumanji
8-Sep-2016, 09:53
I guess there must be a way to manually operate it. Havent had time to investigate more. It's fcking heavy! I moved my house 4 times in the last three years and each time it's god damn nightmare to move it downstair and upstair! It didnt come with the manual. Next month I will move house again, hopefully this would be long term and I will contact the previous owner as well as Odyssey about how to fix it.

Luis-F-S
8-Sep-2016, 10:32
I will move house again, hopefully this would be long term and I will contact the previous owner as well as Odyssey about how to fix it.

Real incentive to Stay Put!

interneg
8-Sep-2016, 12:55
I guess there must be a way to manually operate it. Havent had time to investigate more. It's fcking heavy! I moved my house 4 times in the last three years and each time it's god damn nightmare to move it downstair and upstair! It didnt come with the manual. Next month I will move house again, hopefully this would be long term and I will contact the previous owner as well as Odyssey about how to fix it.

I think there were both automated & manual focus versions & I'd imagine they're pretty similar underneath - the regular DeVere's are highly modular - ie you can convert a 504/507/5108/515 into each other, essentially by exchanging the head module.

Len Middleton
8-Sep-2016, 15:20
There were actually, two 108's on the 'Bay earlier this year! From Canada if my memory serves me right. L

And I know who owns it, and still trying to find a buyer...

Luis-F-S
9-Sep-2016, 11:40
Had a pretty healthy starting bid if I recall. Hope they don't end up as scrap!

MartinP
15-Sep-2016, 05:23
I think there were both automated & manual focus versions & I'd imagine they're pretty similar underneath - the regular DeVere's are highly modular - ie you can convert a 504/507/5108/515 into each other, essentially by exchanging the head module.

The columns are, not surprisingly, larger as you go up to the large formats but there were adapters to downsize the neg-stage/head, if I recall correctly.

pierre506
25-Sep-2016, 01:02
Installation~
http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160925/a606349a5d589aed32cfbec9ffb7ef0e.jpg
http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160925/6b2a28df2b7a54ae9227b7a8fab25a81.jpg
http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160925/2a1f5a29556018a7c7d214766f045a79.jpg
http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160925/b5de565ff91d4f9df0a4cdb8686bafe1.jpg

http://v.youku.com/v_show/id_XMTczNzYxMDA0OA==.html?x&sharefrom=android

通过我的 VIE-AL10 上的 Tapatalk发言

stawastawa
25-Sep-2016, 01:40
congratulations! looks fun.

Tin Can
25-Sep-2016, 02:11
Very interesting.

bob carnie
27-Sep-2016, 11:00
I guess there must be a way to manually operate it. Havent had time to investigate more. It's fcking heavy! I moved my house 4 times in the last three years and each time it's god damn nightmare to move it downstair and upstair! It didnt come with the manual. Next month I will move house again, hopefully this would be long term and I will contact the previous owner as well as Odyssey about how to fix it.

The last time I moved the 515 I did not secure the head with cable to the base and we put the head in a low position on the rail to move.
As we were putting it onto the truck the head released , the complete head unit ran up the column and bounced into the truck, I almost had a stroke on the spot. If someone was at the top end it certainly would have knocked them out.
I can verify these units are well built, as when we set up it all went back together like magic.

I hate moving as well, I plan for the last move in 2018/19 and I will build my super darkroom to last the rest of my printing days, after that no more darkroom moving again.

Luis-F-S
27-Sep-2016, 11:56
Looks like you have the extra tall column. Is that right? Looks longer than my 5108 in the photos. L

pierre506
28-Sep-2016, 04:47
Looks like you have the extra tall column. Is that right? Looks longer than my 5108 in the photos. L
Yes, it's 6cm longer than the older version.

通过我的 VIE-AL10 上的 Tapatalk发言

pierre506
28-Sep-2016, 15:23
The original column could be used onto to floorstander and tablestyle( I don't know the exact word.) same time. So, they are the same size. But then the largest enlarging size was a little more 24in papers.
The longer column can provide larger enlarging and give 24in enlarging more cropped margin option.

http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160928/103855038dd6549568ac4120144a8784.jpg
The factory made the mount adapter for the lens onto the lens board.

通过我的 VIE-AL10 上的 Tapatalk发言

Luis-F-S
28-Sep-2016, 21:06
Nice lensboard. Any idea what one would cost shipped to the US? I'm attaching photos of my 240's, both the Apo and Rodagon mounted on DeVere Series 500 Inverted Panel. The Rodagon is mounted using an SKG custom Lapla on an adaptor board to take Durst Lapla boards, since most of my longer lenses are mounted on Durst boards, and that way I can use any of them on one DeVere board.

155648155649155650

pierre506
28-Sep-2016, 22:42
Nice lensboard. Any idea what one would cost shipped to the US? I'm attaching photos of my 240's, both the Apo and Rodagon mounted on DeVere Series 500 Inverted Panel. The Rodagon is mounted using an SKG custom Lapla on an adaptor board to take Durst Lapla boards, since most of my longer lenses are mounted on Durst boards, and that way I can use any of them on one DeVere board.

155648155649155650

I believe the shipping cost would be around USD 35 to 40 according to the shipping experience of Shanghai films.

通过我的 VIE-AL10 上的 Tapatalk发言

Luis-F-S
29-Sep-2016, 05:26
Any idea on the cost of the lens board or how to order?

pierre506
29-Sep-2016, 06:07
Any idea on the cost of the lens board or how to order?
I believe it's up to what the lens is.


通过我的 VIE-AL10 上的 Tapatalk发言

pierre506
1-Oct-2016, 06:44
Some of their products:
http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20161001/56bc3b69d7923e29cfd84f3bf86cd210.jpg
Film Dry cabinet
outside dimension:
600×800×2000mm

http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20161001/f129c2b61a9ba5fc7e9224e322b54163.jpg

Dry mount press
2 sizes: 24x30in & 24x36in



通过我的 VIE-AL10 上的 Tapatalk发言

Tin Can
1-Oct-2016, 06:57
Interesting Pierre.

Is this stuff selling?

Is there growing demand inside China?

pierre506
1-Oct-2016, 07:03
I might find a problem of their new vacuum board.
I felt the trivial shaking of the board if the fans were working.
After analysis, I found the reason was the way of the fans setting.
The old vacuum used a soft tube connecting with the board and the vacuum pump. So the board wasn't shaking.
The new vacuum board sticks those fans directly. So they caused the trivial shaking.
It said that it wouldn't affect the enlarging result. But I will test the board recently.
Hoping the test result will be positive.

通过我的 VIE-AL10 上的 Tapatalk发言

Peter De Smidt
1-Oct-2016, 07:42
It's great to see that new darkroom products are being made!

Fred L
1-Oct-2016, 08:04
exactly. the film drying cabinet (and dry mount press) is really surprising to me. but I'm guessing manufacturing there costs make this feasible.

sepiareverb
1-Oct-2016, 09:18
A very fun thread, thanks for this one!

pierre506
1-Oct-2016, 14:24
Interesting Pierre.

Is this stuff selling?

Is there growing demand inside China?
Yes, they must sell them as a manufacturer.
The demand of LF gears is growing.

通过我的 VIE-AL10 上的 Tapatalk发言

pierre506
18-Oct-2016, 16:28
156383
156384
156385156386

After a rough test & checking, I couldn't find any blur with the vacuum board.

Tin Can
18-Oct-2016, 16:52
Great!

Mlorenzetti
6-Apr-2017, 19:48
I own, and always use, a DeVere 108 to enlarge my 8x10 negs. It's a vertical 10x10 cast aluminum rare beauty- 8 250W halogens flooding a blinding mixing chamber- For parts, I use Kevin at KHB in
Canada-

Fr. Mark
6-Apr-2017, 20:57
2kW of light bulbs. Wow. Saves on darkroom heating cost I suppose.

jbrianfoto
7-Apr-2017, 04:27
Wow !

I am really impressed and happy that DeVere is still in business. I have an oddball electric 504 that I really LOVE. I'll take photos of it sometime and post here.

Luis-F-S
7-Apr-2017, 08:18
Have my 5108 lamped at 1000 watts. Plenty of light and toasty. Does anyone know the relationship between the factory and Odyssey sales in the UK?

calebarchie
30-Aug-2019, 01:39
Are they still manufacturing in China? Appears not

Luis-F-S
16-Jul-2023, 09:30
Are they still manufacturing enlargers? Direct contact info?

bob carnie
16-Jul-2023, 11:14
I have two mint enlargers, 5 x 7 and 11 x 14 both De Veres, I can get the correct parts for both from KHB in Ontario Canada, but I am not sure if De Vere is making them any more, IMHO they are the best enlargers ever made, only downfall in design is the negative carrier , which is where Durst wins out.

Tin Can
16-Jul-2023, 12:04
Agree, my 504 De Vere is also the most tuneable stages

I bought the wall mount chassis, no head 8 years ago

Then found the bench and long handles a year later

and moved it to my last and current studio

Last year I installed an Intreped LED head

with the unique design for De Vere

Very custom and very well done

I admire Intrepeds ability to deliver amazing products

Yes I sold my first Intreped 54 and broke even, no buyer complaint

and I really like my new 10 X 8 Series 4

Max, keep on Trucking!



I have two mint enlargers, 5 x 7 and 11 x 14 both De Veres, I can get the correct parts for both from KHB in Ontario Canada, but I am not sure if De Vere is making them any more, IMHO they are the best enlargers ever made, only downfall in design is the negative carrier , which is where Durst wins out.

Michael R
16-Jul-2023, 12:06
Are they still manufacturing enlargers? Direct contact info?

I believe Odyssey is doing it: http://odyssey-sales.co.uk/

Hopefully interneg (member here) will chime in - he has a lot more knowledge than I do regarding the state of things.

calebarchie
16-Jul-2023, 15:26
Agree, my 504 De Vere is also the most tuneable stages

I bought the wall mount chassis, no head 8 years ago

Then found the bench and long handles a year later

and moved it to my last and current studio

Last year I installed an Intreped LED head

with the unique design for De Vere

Very custom and very well done

I admire Intrepeds ability to deliver amazing products

Yes I sold my first Intreped 54 and broke even, no buyer complaint

and I really like my new 10 X 8 Series 4

Max, keep on Trucking!

Do you still have the wall mounted parts? Saves me having to machine my own bits and pieces.

Tin Can
16-Jul-2023, 15:33
Yes, but used on another wall mount enlarger

The bottom mount has all the weight

Top is easy








Do you still have the wall mounted parts? Saves me having to machine my own bits and pieces.

interneg
17-Jul-2023, 08:15
I believe Odyssey is doing it: http://odyssey-sales.co.uk/


Odyssey will happily sell you a new De Vere (504 or 5108) - if you have deep enough pockets. I recall they also have enough parts to build one more 515 if you really needed one.

If you ask John Boyce he'll give chapter & verse on how the China factory came to be. I would not be totally surprised if the Intrepid head came about from a similar wager - and a market that wants both colour & MG heads on the same machine (when a lot of De Veres were sold originally with Cathomag or Varicon heads).

Should probably get in contact with John again, got a floor stand (for a DVW) that's surplus to requirements - if you have a spare sub-baseboard casting for the DVB model, you'll probably get a good price for it from Odyssey (lots of wall mount De Vere 504's out there, but most demand today for 504's is for the bench version) - wall brackets are also available from stock.

bob carnie
17-Jul-2023, 10:44
Odyssey will happily sell you a new De Vere (504 or 5108) - if you have deep enough pockets. I recall they also have enough parts to build one more 515 if you really needed one.

If you ask John Boyce he'll give chapter & verse on how the China factory came to be. I would not be totally surprised if the Intrepid head came about from a similar wager - and a market that wants both colour & MG heads on the same machine (when a lot of De Veres were sold originally with Cathomag or Varicon heads).

Should probably get in contact with John again, got a floor stand (for a DVW) that's surplus to requirements - if you have a spare sub-baseboard casting for the DVB model, you'll probably get a good price for it from Odyssey (lots of wall mount De Vere 504's out there, but most demand today for 504's is for the bench version) - wall brackets are also available from stock.

I keep getting a person asking me if I want to sell my 515, ( not in my lifetime it seems) unless of course he makes me an offer I cannot refuse.

calebarchie
19-Jul-2023, 17:00
Yes, but used on another wall mount enlarger

The bottom mount has all the weight

Top is easy

No worries, was mainly after the handles and linking shaft/pulley but sounds like they are in use. I think I asked John yonks ago but either he didn't have all the bits or it was very expensive.

interneg
20-Jul-2023, 05:16
No worries, was mainly after the handles and linking shaft/pulley

Are you trying to turn a floor standing 5108 into a wall mounted one? The short handles & wall brackets are available from Odyssey & a few other places, but if you are going to completely re-string a DVF so that it effectively works as a DVW/DVB, that's a much bigger, messier undertaking ('hours' I was told). Easiest way (from what I recall from discussing with John about 5 years ago) was possibly to make handles that interface with the rotating bosses either side of the column - though they'll rotate the opposite way from normal. Never took it any further as I found a pin-reg 5108 DVW locally & already had the parts to turn it into a DVB in about as long as it took to do up the bolts.

Fred L
20-Jul-2023, 05:58
Just want to make sure I understand acronyms, DVF = floor mount, DVW=wall and DVB=baseboard ? My 5108 (currently needs some work done on it, it's a closed loop) doesn't have the front mounted handles that my 504 has. If I got it working again, would love to have front mounted controls but guessing that is a rather serious task ?

interneg
20-Jul-2023, 06:28
Just want to make sure I understand acronyms, DVF = floor mount, DVW=wall and DVB=baseboard ? My 5108 (currently needs some work done on it, it's a closed loop) doesn't have the front mounted handles that my 504 has. If I got it working again, would love to have front mounted controls but guessing that is a rather serious task ?

Acronyms are correct. Your 5108 sounds like a DVW on the floor stand - and yes, turning a DVW/ DVB into a DVF is a major undertaking, as the controls need to interface with the mechanics of the drop table used on the DVF models (so that the handles move). From what I've been told, the closed loop ones are a bit troublesome - at least the bulbs used allow for rewiring the system to allow more conventional control.

calebarchie
20-Jul-2023, 15:57
Are you trying to turn a floor standing 5108 into a wall mounted one?

Yes, I spoke to John around the same time and he mentioned the same thing. Its been in storage since, but last time I had a look at it I recall just needing to replace the shaft with the cog that drives chain for the floor mount chassis. In my case, the column is the later grey one that is capable of motorisation so may as well chuck on some steppers too then attach manual handles to opposite end of the new shaft. Big project but its what I like to do!

jack_hui
17-Oct-2023, 21:55
Agree, my 504 De Vere is also the most tuneable stages

I bought the wall mount chassis, no head 8 years ago

Then found the bench and long handles a year later

and moved it to my last and current studio

Last year I installed an Intreped LED head

with the unique design for De Vere

Very custom and very well done

I admire Intrepeds ability to deliver amazing products

Yes I sold my first Intreped 54 and broke even, no buyer complaint

and I really like my new 10 X 8 Series 4

Max, keep on Trucking!

Hi Tin,

How is the LED head from Intrepid compared to original color head?

Best
Jack

Tin Can
17-Oct-2023, 22:51
Hi Tin,

No idea

Never found OE head

I also never will need Colour head

BW only here


How is the LED head from Intrepid compared to original color head?

Best
Jack

jack_hui
17-Oct-2023, 23:09
Hi Tin,

I also print BW only. How is the performance?

BTW, does it come with any “weight”? The converter looks lighter than the original head, the back spring would pull up the head.

Best
Jack

Tin Can
18-Oct-2023, 00:58
They make a very heavy and complex steel adapter

Ask Intreped directly

Not me

mpirie
18-Oct-2023, 05:23
BTW, does it come with any “weight”? The converter looks lighter than the original head, the back spring would pull up the head.

From Intrepid's website: "It also weighs 8.5kg so there is no need to modify the counter weight on your enlarger."

Mike