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Minox
Equipment
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The
very first enlarger from Minox was the Riga enlarger. The smallest of
them was a tiny 20 cms
The Minox Model l enlarger, pictured above, is also extremely rare and difficult to find. It was only produced between March 1950 and the beginning of 1951. The serial numbers range from 100 to 791. This is the first of the post-war enlargers from Minox.
Next came the Model ll Enlarger. These are the most common and therefore the most used of all the enlargers. The Model ll had a much longer production run from June 1951 through until March 1963. The serial numbers range from 1000 to 10088. The price for this enlarger is much more reasonable but you still have to search a little to find one. They are easy to recognise by their canted post.
The Model lll, pictured above, is the newest of all the enlargers, entering the scene in May 1963. Itsī production was discontinued in 1987. Serial numbers ran from 11001 through to 20334. The Model lll is popular amongst users as it is more modern and easier to use with itsī removable lens board that allows the negative masks to be changed easier as well as simplifying the cleaning of both the lens and condenser. Expect to pay a higher ransom for this enlarger as owners rarely part with them!
The picture above shows one of the real rarities of Minox equipment. Made in less than 1000 examples, it is almost never offered to collectors. It is also a highly usable piece of equipment and many examples were originally sold to shops to use for developing purposes. If you ever get a chance to own one of these, leap at it! The odds are stacked highly against you ever getting a second chance! Below is a table which shows the specifications of the various enlargers that were produced:
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Another incredibly smart and well thought out device is the Minox Daylight Developing Tank which allows itsī owner to develop film without the neccessity of a darkroom. Below are the original instructions for itsī use:
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A whole range 8 x 11 format film is now available, not only from Minox but many of the major film producing companies. Over the years the quality of film has got better and better and this has only helped to make the standard of subminiature photography even higher.
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The Minox Slide Projector is a small compact projector which shows slide individually and must be manually controlled.
The Minotact Projector was first produced in 1963. It is similar in appearance to the Minomat but is actually quite different. It is a semi-automatic projector that uses a 12 volt/100 watts lamp and uses convection cooling and the slower special 35 mm Minostar f 2.7 lens. The Minotact uses Minomat film magazines.
The HP 24 is the latest of the Minox Slide Projector models. It entered the scene in 1970 and was taken out of production in 1988. It comes with or without autofocus and with remote control. It is the best of the projectors for using because of its modern features. It is also a nice collectors item and commands a somewhat higher price tag than its predecessors.
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These allow you to store your negatives in a safe and orderly fashion.
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Seibert Wetzlar Magnifying Loupe
Wonderful and rare magnifying loupe by the genius of lenses, Seibert Wetzlar. This is a prized item amongst subminiature users and collectors both for its' rarity and practical usability. [Top] |
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This is the ultra-rare copy arm attachment. It slots in to the main post of your model II or II enlarger; the camera, in turn, slots into the attachment and you may then use your enlarger as a copy stand. These are virtually impossible to find and will rarely ever be offered to collectors. |
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Apart from the above you will need the following items to complete you own personal darkroom: · Three 8 x 10 inch
(17 x 22cm) trays You now have your complete darkroom and are ready to start developing your own film!! [Top] |
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Hers is another extremely rare Minox item: the film viewer. Instead of pawing over rolls of negatives with a loupe, this machine allows you to easily view them on a full screen! It folds down and is very portable, like all Minox items. This particular machine was apparently not exported to the States, making it rather hard to locate. [Top] |
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Designated trademarks and brands are the property of their respective owners. |
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This
site was originally designed and produced by Duncan McMorrin.
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