Rayham Prefect Enlarger

[David Nash]

I've just been lent/given a (very) old enlarger. It's somewhere between a floor and counter standing enlarger, and looks capable of formats a bit larger than 5 x4" - maybe half-plate. It says "Rayham of London" "Another Prefect Product" (Y es, that's Prefect).

It's missing a couple of parts, namely a proper negative carrier, although there is a pull-out drawer for the carrier to sit it. Also, the lens plate is missin g, although someone has fabricated one out of plywood and tape...

It also appears to have a cold diffused light source (white perspex panel).

Has anyone used one of these before, and do you think it would be possible to bu y the negative carrier and lens board from somewhere?

[Doug Paramore]

David, I haven't used one, but it should be relatively easy for you to build a negative carrier and lens board. I suspect it had a glass type neg carrier, which isn't too difficult to build. Lens boards are easy to fabricate for enlargers.

Regards,

[Pete Andrews]

Enlargers with the "Prefect" name were sold quite widely. I don't know about the Rayham of London bit, that may be a supplier's badge.They seem to have gone out of production in the late 1950s or early '60s, so I don't think your gonna get original manufacturer's spares for it. Sorry.