Can a NuArc 14x18 Process Camera be Converted into a ULF enlarger?

[sperdynamite]

I've been offered a complete and working NuArc process camera that is 14x18 for basically no money. Can this be adapted into an 11x14 capable enlarger? It certainly 'looks' like it could...

[LabRat]

You would need a light head that can mate to top platen and a neg carrier... And a convenient way to focus/enlarge/operate from floor level... And has limited column extension...

But possible!!!

Steve K

[Oslolens]

Center filter, wide angle process lens and a light table.
An antinewton glass to put the negative on.

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[nolindan]

The way these things normally work is the baseboard has a backlight. The negative is placed under the glass platen at the baseboard and the sensitized material - in this case photographic paper - is held to the vacuum back.

The cameras had a ground glass extra-cost accessory. But the camera was made to be focused 'blind' using the handwheels, the positioning indicators and the table of reproduction ratio to indicator setting table printed on the back of the vacuum easel. The indicator/table method is plenty accurate enough. As these were made for pre-press use the reproduction ratio was the operative number the operator worked from.

The camera had a very wide angle lens (165mm sticks in my head) that only covered over a 1:3 to 3:1 ratio; that sounds like plenty but remember that if the original is ~14x18 then the smallest copy is 5x6"; and if the original is ~5x6 then the largest copy is ~14x18. If the original is 11x14 what you have here is more a 'reducer' than an enlarger. The largest you could get to is indeed 14x18" from 11x14. You won't get it to enlarge 11x14 to 33x42 - with the lens close to the 11x14 side it won't have enough angular coverage for the negative.

You could really go at thing with an angle grinder and try and make it into a horizontal enlarger. You would need to get hold of a 17" lens. The camera would provide a focusing track, bellows and lensholder. I'm not sure there is much else salvageable.