AchimBauer
Hello,
I’m fairly new here; I came across the forum whilst searching for spare parts. I’d like to get back into black-and-white photography; my dream would be large format, but unfortunately that’s out of my price range. However, 6×9 would be fine, and when I recently came across an old Beseler (my dream camera is the 45 with a U-frame) that ended up in my possession for reasons unknown. It was probably inherited from someone I was helping clear out a flat, and I never took a closer look at it.
The problem with the 230 V connection is that it requires an adapter for the original US socket, which is 110 V – or apparently 80 V versions used to exist as well.
I’ve already sourced missing parts like the image stage from eBay in the US – dirt cheap but with hefty postage. It’s just the lighting I’m having trouble with. It needs bayonet bulbs, and I can only get those in 110V, so I’d need a transformer, though that wouldn’t improve safety either. There’s no space for an E27 socket. I’ve considered making a lampshade myself, but I don’t have access to a welder. The only option would be to buy a modern lampshade from B&H or somewhere similar in the US, possibly change the socket, wire the whole thing with three wires, and attach a protective earth to the housing. I just don’t know if standard opal bulbs would fit in terms of size, or how the adjustment and illumination would work out. It would be great if anyone had experience with this.
There’s no rush either; the project has been put on hold for the long term. I’ll start by getting back into it with KB at the end of the year – it’s cheaper to test things out on film. And I’ll then gradually build up the 6x9 system on the side, perhaps with a new (second-hand) enlarger, as the Beseler myth has been rather tarnished for me, just as I no longer believe in the US as a service paradise. I’d also be interested to know what’s become of the old importer Teufel – I think he was based here in Swabia.
Kind regards, Achim
Wolfgg
Hello Achim,
Using a transformer does indeed improve safety; you just need to use one with isolation (i.e. not an economy transformer), and then you’ll have the safety you need. You can often find 230V to 110V transformers on eBay.
Best regards, Wolfgang
AchimBauer
Thanks for the tip,
but I’d prefer a conversion solution, because that way I could still use the 110V bayonet bulbs that B+H sells for 63.95 USD – that’s about 44 euros excluding postage; I don’t know how much that will cost, plus customs and bank transfer fees, as PayPal only works for the US, Canada and the UK. There’s also a 230V condenser head for 437 euros, and the lamp housing for 110V costs 96 euros; I can’t get the lamp housing in 230V. Beseler refers customers to dealers for spare parts, and dealers don’t want to know about spare parts.
The 110V part would cost around 150 euros including freight, customs and other charges; that would be worth it to me if I knew the conversion would work, because the modern screw-in bulbs for the Beseler look a bit odd – not like ours. I reckon I’ll have to fork out about 300 euros and a fair bit of time, as not all the second-hand parts sold for the 23 series fit, and our local supplier seems to have run out of new parts.
Cheers, Achim
cfb_de
There’s also a 230V condenser head for the 437
If you can find someone who can do the conversion for you in under 8 hours and is only asking for fifty euros an hour (including VAT), the conversion might be worth it. In all other cases, it’s worth waiting and looking on eBay, for example, or buying the right part new.
Best regards,
Franz
AchimBauer
Thanks for the reply, Franz,
I’d rather convert it myself, because if I have to pay someone, I might as well just buy one myself. The problem with waiting for something on eBay is that most of the units on offer in Germany are US models, and I just don’t know if they can be converted to 230 V – electrically it’s no problem, but will there be room for the bulbs? The new Beseler lamps with screw bases look like clubs, not bulbs. And on eBay US you can get almost anything very cheaply, but again they’re 110V and with the delivery costs, it’s worth buying a new one.
But maybe something’s happening – Beseler has a new website and a contact form, so you no longer have to send a separate email to Vicky, that rather snappy lady. Now a Margarete has replied and she recommends FOTOIMPEX.
A few days ago I discovered a site that’s apparently being set up: FOTOIMPEX Beseler de or something like that. Are these old, abandoned construction sites whose traces are still there, or is something in the pipeline thanks to new management at Beseler?
cfb_de
A few days ago, I came across a website that seems to be under construction – FOTOIMPEX Beseler de or something like that. Are these old, abandoned sites where traces still remain, or is something in the pipeline thanks to new management at Beseler?
This one: http://www.fotoimpex.de/Labor/Beseler/index.html?
These are remnants of the old FOTOIMPEX website.
Best regards,
Franz
AchimBauer
No, that’s not it.
The search results list ‘Welcome to FOTOIMPEX-Berlin’ in 7th place.
A new website is currently being developed here:
www.beseler-foto.de
I’ve never come across this site before, and unfortunately I’ve only found things like the user manual available to download as a PDF in English.
But now the 220V top cover is suddenly available to buy from b&H for €98.62 – I don’t know how much shipping and customs will add on top of that, and then there are the money transfer fees. The only cheaper option is the top cover without the inner workings, to wire yourself, for €16.92.
I’ll try to get hold of one of those when I get the chance. As the Beseler would be put on the back burner – I’ve still got a Kaiser KB that’s been on the shelf for 20 years – I’ll be getting back into film photography with the KB towards the end of the year because it’s cheaper for testing out films and developers. But I’ll stick with the Beseler too, even though there have been times when I’ve felt like throwing it against the wall – or perhaps precisely because of that.
Regards, Achim
