Beseler Minolta 45A Flashtubes --and ideas?

[johny_d]

Anyone have any leads on where to find flashtubes for the Beseler/Minolta 45A colorhead? I like this enlarger but am running out of tubes...

[Gary Beasley]

I have a 45A head with spare tubes. I wonder if the parts could be cross referenced to a similar tube. Xenon tubes are fairly simple construction so it may be possible.

[ic-racer]

Anyone have any leads on where to find flashtubes for the Beseler/Minolta 45A colorhead? I like this enlarger but am running out of tubes...

Where have you already looked? Any of these places?

https://www.xenonflashtubes.com/linear-flash-lamps_11

https://www.alibaba.com/product-deta...810521335.html

https://www.aliexpress.us/w/wholesal....home.search.0

[xkaes]

I see them all the time on EBAY.

[johny_d]

I have a 45A head with spare tubes. I wonder if the parts could be cross referenced to a similar tube. Xenon tubes are fairly simple construction so it may be possible.

Interesting... Gary, direct message me if you're ever interested in selling your 45A and/or any spare bulbs!

[johny_d]

I see them all the time on EBAY.

Yes I used to see them all the time... now all that seems to come up are "used" bulbs where you can see blackening on the glass...

[johny_d]

Where have you already looked? Any of these places?

https://www.xenonflashtubes.com/linear-flash-lamps_11

https://www.alibaba.com/product-deta...810521335.html

https://www.aliexpress.us/w/wholesal....home.search.0

Originally I was still hoping to find some new old stock...
But yes, I am in touch now with a couple manufacturers to explore having replacements made. Not sure if it will be cost effective though... I'll let you all know if I get anywhere with this!

[Gary Beasley]

I saw on aliexpress some tubes for hair removers that looks pretty close. If you could get the manufacturers site and find specs on what they have there may be a close match.
https://www.aliexpress.com/i/3256804...apt=4itemAdapt

[johny_d]

Hey, as I'm looking into options for having some new bulbs manufactured I was taking measurements, and I've discovered that there appear to be two different kinds of exposure tube bulbs in my unit... Now, I know this unit is designed to work with five exposure tubes (part #8125) and one focus tube (part #8126)... the focus tube is longer total tube lenght and has a longer wire lead coming off of it. But this isn't what I'm talking about... among the exposure tubes themselves there are two types: one has a thinner glass tube than the other (just the glass not the metal electrodes). Significantly thinner. According to my mic the thin one is 0.1825" and the fatter one is 0.2425". Otherwise they are both approximately the same in all dimensions. (See attached PDF with my measurements and photos). To be clear these are all #8125 exposure tubes... so are supposed to be the same part. So either Beseler changed the bulb design at some point (perhaps declining in quality as they fell on hard times), or perhaps one of these is a 3rd party generic bulb... perhaps even manufactured after Beseler discontinued making these? So my question is --does anyone know what the deal is? Are these really interchangeable? Which one is the "original", presumable better, bulb?

If a had to guess my money is on the fatter ones being original... just from looking at the general build quality... but thats just a guess. Anyone know something more about this than just guessing?

[Gary Beasley]

Interesting... Gary, direct message me if you're ever interested in selling your 45A and/or any spare bulbs!

Sent you a message the other day about the shipping quote, no answer.