Re: [Leica] Need VALOY II info....

["Dan Post" <dpost@triad.rr.com>]

Gracious goodness me!
Thanks for all the information!
Indeed, I have tried the lube on the heliz- I cleaned the old grease off
with some of that citrus solvent, and the helix focus is as smooth as the
proverbial baby's butt!
I took the carrier off an older VALOY and it seems to fit- the one that is a
single piece of metal with some small projections to guide it in the the
negative stage!
I have been using the HALOGENA bulb in the older VALOY- I used the 150watt
one, but that VALOY had a sceondary vent and didn't over heat! Got really
printing times with that! The Halogena buls ar sold under the Philips name,
and are made in france. I think they have a double jacketed bulb, no
trademark on the end, smooth white envelope, and when I tested it with a
meter to see if the illumination was even, it was more even than a no. 212
bulb!
They are rated to last an average of 3 years.... under regular use, so
heaven only knows how long they'd last in an enlarger!
They come in 75 and 100 what sizes, too. I tried the electronic flourescent
bulb, but the distace to the condenser is too short and there are hot spots-
I may try the spiraled ones that GE makes- they look shorter and may work. I
like the idea of the flourescents- they supposedly have the 'actinic' rays
that the paper is sensitive to, and the eletronic ones- once tyou let them
warm up do not flicker, and come on immediately with the timer- usually, the
time it takes to compose the image, and focus is sufficient to warm up the
bulb for a printing session!
I must have been very good last week- and I can see why you like the VALOY
II- it is small, light (compared to the V35!) and built like a brick
outhouse! The one I got, once the years of crud and dust were cleaned of is
a nice blue-gray color, and looks  like it came out of the box yesterday! It
came with a 50mm Focotar- I bought it for the lens- I thought I'd have to
junk the enlarger for what I paid for it- didn't have a photo, and figured
at that price, the lens was what the seller was really selling!
Well, I think once the lens has been CLA'd then I will have something that
will last me another 30 years! I can see your enthusiasm is not misplaced!
Dan ( happier'n a pig in a mudhole!) Post
- ----- Original Message -----
From: "Richard Comen" <rpcomen@mcn.org>
To: <leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us>
Sent: Wednesday, August 02, 2000 11:30 AM
Subject: Re: [Leica] Need VALOY II info....


> Dan,  I have three Valloy IIs in my darkroom. I have used many enlargers
in
> my 65 years in 35mm B&W photography and have found no better enlarger than
> the  Valloy II. It is impossible to get out of allignment, the helical
> focusing cannot be matched for accuracy as with a good grain focuser one
> can actually focus up and down within the grain. I use Tech Pan film that
I
> rate at ASA 100 almost exclusively and the grain is very small as you
might
> know and the helicle handles it beautifully. As far as your condenser, all
> three of mine are clear on both sides but I have known people who have the
> bottom surfaced lightly etched to the avoid the possibility  of newton
> rings. I have never had a newton ring problem, why I cannot say except
that
> perhaps I live in an area of low humidity ( Northern California ) except
> for the winter rains when the humidity stands at 100 %. Even during our
> winter storms I have experienced no newton ring problems. As to cleaning
> your condenser surfaces, they should be treated as you would your lenses.
>
> As to your missing carrier, I have two out of three. They are difficult to
> find. There is a person who makes them to order. His address is
> Roger H. Pelham
> PO BOX 26395
> Trotwood, OH 45426-0395
> Voice: 937.854.1455
> Fax: 937. 854.3570
>
> I made a third carrier by getting a wide plastic spatula at a paint store
> and filing an opening to fit the 35 mm format.
>
> As to your lubrication of the helical focusing, my three feel very smooth
> with no attention thru the years but if I were to try a bit of lubricant I
> would remove the enlarging lens, turn the focusing ring to its furthest
> opening down and look in there and you will see brass threads that I would
> place a  very little bit of oil that watchmakers use on clocks, etc. This
> can be done with a Q tip.
>
> Until recently I have been using a 75 watt enlarging bulb but I have been
> experimenting and found improved prints using an ordinary 40 watt frosted
> GE bulb ( I found that a damp sponge removes the logo from the top of the
> bulb ).
>
> The Valloy II with the El Nikkor 50 mm enlarging lens cannot be equalled
> for 35 mm work in my opinion.
>
> Good Luck with it.    Richard
>
>
> At 12:16 PM 8/2/00 -0700, you wrote:
> >I thought I'd bounce this off a few of you that may have VALOY II
enlargers.
> >One- I am looking for an original negative carrier. I have come across a
> >really nice VALOY II, even the baseboard looks good, and I'd like to
restore
> >it to the original condition.
> >Two- it has what appears to be an anti-newton condenser- it is 'frosted'
and
> >seems to have a very smooth matte surface. I would like to know the best
way
> >to clean both surfaces of the condenser- both the smooth top and the
matte
> >finished bottom surface.
> >ANy other tips on making the focusing helix smoother, and lubrication
> >recommendations would be more than welcome!
> >Thanks for all replies!
> >Dan
> >
> >
> >
>