[Leica] Leitz Focomat Ic and Saunders easel

["Leslie E. England" <engl6914@iamerica.net>]

I just got a new Saunders easel so I could try 11x14 and 16x20
enlargements on my Leitz Focomat Ic.  The problem is that the condenser
head doesn't jut out far enough over the baseboard to use the Saunders
easel (or the Saunders easel won't allow the paper close enough to the
support pole of the Focomat)  11x14 works okay by slipping the paper
into the anchoring slot on the easel intended for 16x20 paper.  That
gets it close enough to the pole for the projected image.  But 16x20
paper has to be put all the way to the pole side of the easel where it
can't be anchored or pressed down.  It is pressed down by the blades on
the other three sides.
    Also, the only way I could get even this done was to put the
enlarger on a counter and the easel on a lower set typing table.
    There must be another way.  This easel was $400, and I have two
weeks to try it before I run out of time to get a refund.  Is there
another easel that works better on a Focomat for 16x20?  Does the
Saunders easel work better on a Saunders enlarger?  Was the Focomat Ic
never intended for 16x20?
    Help.
    The enlargements, by the way, are really good.  Pyro on Ilford HP5
plus apparently stains in between the grain so well, there's really no
noticeable grain, even at 16x20 with ASA 400 film.  I was thinking of
trying some medium format, but now I don't know.

- -Lee England
- -Natchez, Miss.
- --
To unsubscribe, see http://mejac.palo-alto.ca.us/leica-users/unsub.html