[Leica] OT Zone VI Type I VC questions in Portland OR

[Lucian Chis <chis@ece.orst.edu>]

Hi Groups,

I have the following questions:
Does anyone use this beast? Especially in Portland OR?
Who does the actual manufacture? (Calumet sells it, I know, but they
bought the business from someone who retired)
Do you get enough low contrast out of the VC head? 
A friend here thinks his enlarger is defective, as he can't get the VC
head to soften enough for his needs! Any known problems? He says these
come with a lifetime warranty! and Calumet doesn't know too much about it!
Do you have any way of checking this item?
Thanks,

Lucian