Beseler Printmaker 67

Darkroom check

Light, carriers, bellows and lens

Light source and lamp

The plain Printmaker 67 has a condenser lamphouse with two 4 in condensers and a PH140 75 W opal lamp, which Beseler and KHB still sell. The Printmaker Dichro 67 has a color head instead. The Dichro 67S version dials 0 to 200 of each color from a built-in power supply and takes Beseler's 85 W 82 V quartz lamp (#6728), still in Beseler's catalog. Ask which head it has and for a photo of it lit.

Carriers and condensers

It takes Beseler's 67-series carriers, listed for 35mm, full-frame 35mm, 645, 6x6, 6x7 and 2x2 slides, which aren't the same as 23C carriers. The two 4 in condensers cover everything up to 6x7, and a Printmaker 35 has a single smaller condenser instead. The color head needs its 6x7 mixing chamber, and a 35mm chamber was an option for brighter small-format printing.

Column and bellows

It's a compact single-column enlarger with a spring counterbalance, a carriage lock knob and one bellows for focus, and the focus knob fits on either side. KHB says the plastic carriage lock knob is a common failure, especially on school enlargers. Ask for a photo of the lock knob and for the seller to lock the head high up and check it holds.

Alignment

Beseler's 1982 brochure says the negative and lens stages are die-cast for permanent rigidity and alignment, so there's little to adjust. Ask whether the column, carriage or stages have been knocked or bent. A level reading the same on the baseboard and lens stage is a good sign.

Lens

Lenses mount on a small 2⅝ in square lensboard that isn't threaded, so the lens needs a retaining ring. Beseler's 1982 Printmaker 35 and 67CP packages came with or without a 50mm f/3.5, and it still sells a 50mm lens kit for the Printmaker. For 6x7 you'll want a longer lens, so check what's included.

Timer and power

The condenser head plugs straight into an enlarging timer. The Dichro 67S head has an integral power supply, while the older Dichro 67 used an external power supply and an 80 W 30 V lamp. Ask for any power box that came with the head.

Shipping and pickup

It's Beseler's compact model, made for small and temporary darkrooms, so it's an easier ship than a 23C. KHB lists the 14x19 in baseboard alone at 3.3 kg, and we couldn't find a weight for the whole enlarger. Ask for the lamphouse and condensers to be packed separately from the column.

Should come with it

• Lamphouse with two 4 in condensers, or the Dichro head with its 6x7 mixing chamber
• At least one 67-series negative carrier
• A 2⅝ in lensboard with retaining ring
• Baseboard and carriage lock knob

Hard to find if missing

• The 85 W 82 V quartz lamp for the Dichro 67S (#6728)
• 6x7 mixing chamber for Dichro heads
• 67-series 645, 6x6 and 6x7 carriers

Check the listing photos against these lists, and ask the seller about anything you can’t see. A missing carrier, condenser or lens board should come off the price.