Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 1999/04/17
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Bill, Welcome to the club Focomat I owners! I use mine when I want the classical black border around prints. Mine has a Focotar lens, and is as good as my IC. >Leitz/Leica gear). Specifically the enlarger column is wobbly. I suspect >that a pin (screw?) that stabilizes the column has been sheared off. I had the same problem, and replaced the screws that mounts the column to the plate. I just used any bolts that would go through the holes, so I could tighten from both sides with screwdriver and a small wrench. I also replaced the electical wire, as it was too old to trust. There was no red filter, so I had to buy a red filter in a photo shop. It was made for photographic use, but works in the darkroom too. >lens appears to be a 39 mm mount, but because of the barrel extension on the >lens, I cannot get it to focus on any other enlarger that I presently have. I You will need a special distance adaptor, in order to focus. These do not need to be Leica originals, there are lots of them on the used market, of different sizes. They can also be used in combinations, to get correct distance for the lens. Shops that sell used enlarger lenses, usually have these adaptors in stock. Maybe you will buy a Focotar lens later, and the one that will fit is the original Focotar (the Focotar II came in 1974). Some info will be found in Morgan & Lester's Leica Manual and Theo Kisselbach "Das Leica Buch" from 1957. But I think you will manage without any manual. The autofocus adjustment is made in the same way as on the newer Focomat IC. I think my sample is 40-50 years old, but still going strong! Although I have a IC and V35 as well, I still like my old 'beast'! Good luck, Hans