Found an Automega E-5 Autofocus enlarger body

[tomwilliams]

I've come across an incomplete Simmon Bros (Omega) Automega E-5 5x7 autofocus enlarger. There are also a very few loose parts (lens and lensboard, lens mounting cylinder,cable, 2 magnetic clamps) , and a raggedy manual. There is no motor (which I assume is required on account of the 'autofocus' designation), and no controller. I'm not sure that this enlarger is worth pursuing: I've perused the www and found close to no information on the enlarger itself. I saw that KHB Photografix listed the enlarger, but with very few parts available, and I see no other parts sources online.

Can anyone advise on the quality of this enlarger, about problems I'm likely to encounter if I undertake restoring it, and about sources for parts and/or expertise? Any information appreciated.

cheers
Tom

[Tin Can]

You may have most of the parts, no motor used, looks like round fluorescent bulb head

If not bent it is usable

Get it, fix it, use it

[Chauncey Walden]

I have one. The "autofocus" function is done by the large disc riding on one or the other of the long aluminum blades down the center. Each blade is specific to a different focal length lens (marked on the blade) and causes the focus to maintain itself as the carriage is raised or lowered by the crank (no motor involved). I think I can just make out the follower disc in your second image riding on the lower rail. What I don't see for sure are the balance springs that support the weigh of the head as it rides up and down the carriage. Maybe your model with the light (weight) cold light (luminance) head did not require them. Mine has a heavy condenser head and I have replaced the light source for it with a medium format Nikor color head. There was a special base plate attached to the base board that received the round plate on yours and allowed the enlarger to be swiveled such as from over the base board to over the floor. It would be simple to drill holes for screws (bolts with washers on the back of the board would be better) in your plate to mount it fixed to a baseboard. It's well worth setting up. It's possible a Circline tube will fit in the saucer.

[tomwilliams]

I have one. The "autofocus" function is done by the large disc riding on one or the other of the long aluminum blades down the center. Each blade is specific to a different focal length lens (marked on the blade) and causes the focus to maintain itself as the carriage is raised or lowered by the crank (no motor involved). I think I can just make out the follower disc in your second image riding on the lower rail. What I don't see for sure are the balance springs that support the weigh of the head as it rides up and down the carriage. Maybe your model with the light (weight) cold light (luminance) head did not require them. Mine has a heavy condenser head and I have replaced the light source for it with a medium format Nikor color head. There was a special base plate attached to the base board that received the round plate on yours and allowed the enlarger to be swiveled such as from over the base board to over the floor. It would be simple to drill holes for screws (bolts with washers on the back of the board would be better) in your plate to mount it fixed to a baseboard. It's well worth setting up. It's possible a Circline tube will fit in the saucer.

Thank you, Chauncey. I posted the same thread in the current APUG forum, and there it was suggested that a lamphouse conversion to LED sources might be a better option than replacing the current circular fluorescent bulb (it does look like a Circline). Any thoughts on that? I think that either option is manageable.

There were two parts with the enlarger that I thought were magnetic clamps at first, but I saw similar items on the KHB Photografix web site that named them as counterbalance springs - perhaps those are the "balance springs" that you noted were missing in the photos that I posted...?



Though I'm lacking the round receiver for the base that you mentioned, KHB lists some "rim clenching clamps" (KHB part number 9-112-0054#) meant to clamp the column base to the baseboard. I think these might be workable (also easy to jimmy), and necessary, as the column base on the enlarger I'm looking at doesn't have a flange wide enough to house bolts adequate to anchor the enlarger.

[Tin Can]

The balance springs are most likely more valued than the entire enlarger

Try with the correct cheap lamp

https://www.amazon.com/Light-Bulbs-C...n%3A6105692011

Thank you, Chauncey. I posted the same thread in the current APUG forum, and there it was suggested that a lamphouse conversion to LED sources might be a better option than replacing the current circular fluorescent bulb (it does look like a Circline). Any thoughts on that? I think that either option is manageable.

There were two parts with the enlarger that I thought were magnetic clamps at first, but I saw similar items on the KHB Photografix web site that named them as counterbalance springs - perhaps those are the "balance springs" that you noted were missing in the photos that I posted...?



Though I'm lacking the round receiver for the base that you mentioned, KHB lists some "rim clenching clamps" (KHB part number 9-112-0054#) meant to clamp the column base to the baseboard. I think these might be workable (also easy to jimmy), and necessary, as the column base on the enlarger I'm looking at doesn't have a flange wide enough to house bolts adequate to anchor the enlarger.

[tomwilliams]

I have one. The "autofocus" function is done by the large disc riding on one or the other of the long aluminum blades down the center. Each blade is specific to a different focal length lens

Chauncey - or anyone else who has an enlarger using autofocus rails compatible with an E-5 - I have one rail unmarked for focal length, and unmatched to a lens. If you have one of a 161mm, 180mm, or 190mm lens/rail pair, I would be eternally grateful if you could give me a measurement of the skinny part of the rail. By 'the skinny part' I mean the section that doesn't have a graduated contour - from the very bottom of the rail to the point at which the rail begins to curve into a wider profile.
cheers
Tom

[Doremus Scudder]

I've got an Omega E 5x7 Autofocus chassis sitting in my garage, complete with baseboard that has the transformer for the "flying saucer" cold-light head, which came with it. I've never bothered to set it up and get it working (bellows may be in sad shape anyway) since I have as many enlargers in my darkroom as possible anyway.

Still, it would be a shame to toss it. I'm hoping to find a good home for it someday.

Doremus

[Seadiver5]

I may be interested in this enlarger if you still have it available.

[tomwilliams]

I may be interested in this enlarger if you still have it available.

Seadiver5, greetings. I'm mid-restoration on this enlarger, and haven't decided yet that I will incorporate it into my darkroom or pass it on. If the latter, I'll bear your interest in mind. At this moment, the lamphouse is out for sandblasting (interior only) - I couldn't remove the cracked paint chemically, or with the most forceful scraping (with wooden and plastic tools) that I dared.

My initial preference was to find a stock base clamp kit, but the parts I located were pricey. I cobbled together a decent base clamp system (see photo below) that seems adequate, but clugey. I'll send you a private message (PM) about your base.

If you happen to have spare gears, I'm in the market for a pair. Both nylon gears on this E-5 have a broken tooth, at the same location. I rotated one of the gears 180 degrees on the shaft (there are 12 teeth, so the 180 degree rotation doesn't desynchronize the mesh of the gears) , so I can crank the head up and down without skips, but that is surely a short term solution.

I appreciate your comments on the usefulness of the cold head. I've had some feedback on the Omegalite coldhead, and most of the criticism referenced the unsuitability of the light source for modern VC papers.

cheers
Tom

[Seadiver5]

Can you tell me what the diameter of the base is. As it is your soloution is not far from the factory way of mounting without the actual plate that the factory used. It looks just like the D2/3 style mount so if it isn't any larger I'm sure the mounting plate will be the same.

Kevin

Seadiver5, greetings. I'm mid-restoration on this enlarger, and haven't decided yet that I will incorporate it into my darkroom or pass it on. If the latter, I'll bear your interest in mind. At this moment, the lamphouse is out for sandblasting (interior only) - I couldn't remove the cracked paint chemically, or with the most forceful scraping (with wooden and plastic tools) that I dared.

My initial preference was to find a stock base clamp kit, but the parts I located were pricey. I cobbled together a decent base clamp system (see photo below) that seems adequate, but clugey. I'll send you a private message (PM) about your base.