Beseler 45a Manual

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Beseler 45a Manual

Beseler 23C Enlarger Last Update: 29 January 2014
Jun 15, 2000 Has anyone had experience with either the Beseler/Minolta 45A or the more standard 45S (computerized or non-computerized version)? How do they compare with each other, are they effective, can they be used for smaller negatives like 35mm or 2 1/4. The Minolta 45A is the one with the computerized, pulsed Xenon flashes. Charles Beseler Company Photographic Equipment Division 2018 West Main Street P.O. Box 431 Stroudsburg, PA 18360 Phone: 800.237.3537 570.517.0400 Fax: 800.966.4515 Get Directions.
My trusty 23C Series II grey enlarger, circa 1966 with the new 23C III VC Head
Shown below with the rare Power Elevation control 8140 & 8' extension base # 8118.
The Beseler 23C enlarger is one of the best enlargers made. Introduced in 1956, it is still in 
production today. They are easy to find and use. eBay is full of them.
You can contact Beseler at their website:
Beseler 45a Manual PartsVideo on how to use a Beseler 45 Enlarger with a Condenser Head and a Dichro Color Head.
Flashbulbs in perfect condition -System controller needs capacitor change (easy fix) -Beseler 45a MXII stand in perfect condition -Beseler lamp customized cooler -All instruction manuals included -Selling because I got a smaller enlarger -Can print from 35mm to 4x5 negatives -35mm,35mm slides, 6x6, 6x7 film holders included.
Maximum Baseboard Print Size
The maximum size print you can make with a 23C on the baseboard depends upon three factors: type of 23C (regular or XL), the negative size and the focal length of the lens. Here are the maximum print sizes for the 23C enlargers:
Regular 23C enlargers (non-XL)
35mm negative with 50mm lens: maximum print size is 15 x 22 3/8 inches
6x6 negative with 80mm lens: maximum print size is 19 1/4 x 19 1/4 inches
2 1/4 x 3 1/4 inch negative with 100mm lens: maximum print size is 14 x 20 1/8 inches
XL 23C Enlargers:
35mm negative with 50mm lens: maximum print size is 18 x 27 inches
6x6 negative with 80mm lens: maximum print size is 24 1/8 x 24 1/8 inches
2 1/4 x 3 1/4 inch negative with 100mm lens: maximum print size is 18 1/8 x 26 1/4 inches
Understand that these are full frame sizes with no cropping.
Since the 23C heads can be flipped to a horizontal position for wall projection, you can enlarge to any size only limited by the size of your darkroom!
History of the basic 23C Models:
23C Introduced 1956 - light green color then changed to grey color
23C Series II Introduced mid 1960's - grey then blue/grey color
23CII Introduced mid-1970's - black color
23CII-XL Black color (note additional braces inside front of column) 
23CIII-XL Introduced mid-1990's - Black color - Still in production with three different heads (VC, condenser, Dichrocolor).
23C Color Heads:
There were numerous different color heads available from Beseler over the years for the 23C enlargers: 
 Dichro 23dga
 Dual Dichro 23
 Dual Dichro 23 S
 Beseler/Minolta Color Head (used with a 23C adapter)
 Dichro 45 (used with a 23C adapter)
Dichro 45S (used with a 23C adapter)
 23C III Dichro Color head
Beseler 45a Manual DiagramNote: Some Series II condenser heads are marked 'Universal Color Head' on the filter door. Theses are intended for use with gelatin filters and are not true color heads. They are condenser heads that Beseler marked as 'color' for marketing reasons in the 1960's.
The best heads are the current 23C III series heads.
Older 23C enlargers CAN be converted to use the new 23C III heads. Click here for parts list. I use the 23CIII VC head on my mid-60's 23C Series 2 chassis (it now has the 8118 eight inch extension base to make it an XL and it has the rare 8140 Power Elevation/motor lift unit!).
Beseler 23C Accessories:
Here's a list of the Beseler accessories made for the 23C enlargers over the years. Most have been 
discontinued; see your Beseler dealer for current availability. Ebay is a good source for these parts.
If you know of an item that I don't have listed, please email me! Thanks!
Negative Carriers:
Cat #.....Item
8048.....2¼ x 1 5/8 negative carrier (645 on 120 negative)
8049.....Disc film negative carrier
8050 Minox negative carrier
8051.....8mm negative carrier
8052.....35mm 1/2 frame (18x24mm) (235NCS)
8053.....35mm (24x36) negative carrier
8054.....35mm mounted slides
8055.....35mm full frame (25x37mm)
8060.....2¼ x 2¼ negative carrier

....2¼ x 3¼ Film Pack negatives
....2¼ x 3¼ roll film negative 120/620 (2434 RNCS)
....2¼ x 3¼ sheet film negative carrier (2434CMC)
...16mm x 12.5mm negative carrier (Minolta 16)
....126 negative carrier (28 x 28mm)
....1 5/8 x 1 5/8 negative carrier (4x4 cm Super Slide size) (158RNCS)
....2¼ x 2¾ negative (6x7)
....Universal Glass anti-newton carrier
....70mm Negative carrier for Hasselbald 2 1/8 x 2 1/8
....Universal Glass negative carrier
....2' x 10' negative carrier (2' x 2' image, 10' strip)
2 1/4 Glass negative carrier
....35mm Negatrans (older model)
....35mm Negatrans
....2¼ x 2¼ & 2¼ x 2¾ Negatrans
....2' extension cone - blank
....2' extension cone - Leica 39mm
....2' extension cone - 32.5mm
....645 adapter for 2¼ Negatrans
.... 2 1/4 x 2 1/4 Negatrans (older model)
.....16mm (16GNC?)
.....1 5/8 x 2¼ horizontal for 127 film 8 exp (127NCS)
....24mm x 24mm 35mm film Robot negative carrier
Other Accessories:
....Voltage Stabilizer
....Beseler 23C Enlarger Refurbishing Kit
....23C Enlarger (early) same # as 23CII
....23CII enlarger (early) same # as 23C
....23CII-XL w/0 baseboard
....23C Enlarger (early) with extender base
....23CII-XL baseboard
....23CII-XL condenser 110v
....23CII-XL condenser 220v
....23CII Dichro-XL Diffusion Enlarger

8014.....35mm mixing Chamber on 23CII Dichro
8015..... Flat lens board with 1/4' hole

8016.....Flat lens board, no PL
8020.....5/8' Recessed lens board - blank

....Lens board 39mm counter bore on face, w/PL
....5/8' Recessed lens board 39mm, w/PL
Beseler 45a Manual Pdf8023.....Lens board 39mm counter bore on rear, w/PL
....Flat lens board for 150mm El-Nikkor
....5/8' Recessed lens board with 25mm hole
....5/8' Extended lens board with 25mm hole
....5/8' Extended lens board with 32mm hole
....5/8' extension lens board 39mm, w/PL
....Flat lens board with 64mm hole, no PL
....Flat lens board with 52mm hole, no PL
....Flat lens board 42mm opening, w/PL
....Flat lens board 50mm opening, w/PL
....3¼' extension cone
....Portrait filter
....Red safety filter
....Heat absorbing glass

....2¼ x 3¼ Film Pack negatives
....2¼ x 3¼ roll film negative 120/620 (2434 RNCS)
....2¼ x 3¼ sheet film negative carrier (2434CMC)
...16mm x 12.5mm negative carrier (Minolta 16)
....126 negative carrier (28 x 28mm)
....1 5/8 x 1 5/8 negative carrier (4x4 cm Super Slide size) (158RNCS)
....2¼ x 2¾ negative (6x7)
....Universal Glass anti-newton carrier
....70mm Negative carrier for Hasselbald 2 1/8 x 2 1/8
....Universal Glass negative carrier
....2' x 10' negative carrier (2' x 2' image, 10' strip)
2 1/4 Glass negative carrier
....35mm Negatrans (older model)
....35mm Negatrans
....2¼ x 2¼ & 2¼ x 2¾ Negatrans
....2' extension cone - blank
....2' extension cone - Leica 39mm
....2' extension cone - 32.5mm
....645 adapter for 2¼ Negatrans
.... 2 1/4 x 2 1/4 Negatrans (older model)
.....16mm (16GNC?)
.....1 5/8 x 2¼ horizontal for 127 film 8 exp (127NCS)
....24mm x 24mm 35mm film Robot negative carrier
Other Accessories:
....Voltage Stabilizer
....Beseler 23C Enlarger Refurbishing Kit
....23C Enlarger (early) same # as 23CII
....23CII enlarger (early) same # as 23C
....23CII-XL w/0 baseboard
....23C Enlarger (early) with extender base
....23CII-XL baseboard
....23CII-XL condenser 110v
....23CII-XL condenser 220v
....23CII Dichro-XL Diffusion Enlarger
....35mm mixing Chamber on 23CII Dichro
.... Flat lens board with 1/4' hole
....Flat lens board, no PL
....5/8' Recessed lens board - blank
....Lens board 39mm counter bore on face, w/PL
....5/8' Recessed lens board 39mm, w/PL
Beseler 45a Manual Pdf8023.....Lens board 39mm counter bore on rear, w/PL
....Flat lens board for 150mm El-Nikkor
....5/8' Recessed lens board with 25mm hole
....5/8' Extended lens board with 25mm hole
....5/8' Extended lens board with 32mm hole
....5/8' extension lens board 39mm, w/PL
....Flat lens board with 64mm hole, no PL
....Flat lens board with 52mm hole, no PL
....Flat lens board 42mm opening, w/PL
....Flat lens board 50mm opening, w/PL
....3¼' extension cone
....Portrait filter
....Red safety filter
....Heat absorbing glass
....Varigam filter set above lens
....Plastic filter frame
Beseler 45a Manual Download8045.....Polycontrast Filters above lens
....Calibrated strip
....Dust cover
.....Extension control shaft for Negatrans
....25mm jam nut
....39mm jam nuts
Beseler 45a Manual User8098....Special Replacement filter holder for condenser head
....75W 120V for condenser head (new style)
....75W 120V for condenser head (Old Style)
....200W 24V lamp for Dichro Head (old style)
Beseler 45a Manual Pdf8108.....250W 82V lamp for Dual Dichro S Colorhead & 23CII Dichro (New Style).