I am thinking of buying some darkroom equipment from Glenn Evans of Glennview.com in the Chicago area. Can anyone in our group give a reference, good or bad? This form can protect its members from bad business practices. I would appreciate the help.

Thanks,

John Powers

All I know is the prices seem quite steep. He has/had some part I wouldn't have minded for my enlarger but the cost would have made it cheaper to buy a whole brand new enlarger.

i bought a recommar ( 35mm kodachrome) back from him, and he made a graflok "plate" so i could use it on a 4x5 camera of my choice. while it did cost quite a bit of money, it didn't really matter because i have only seen one or 2 that exist, and neither had a plate ( with light trap-bead ). when i sold it, i got more than i paid for it ( FEEbay :) )

i never had a problem - he knows the things he sells ( unlike FEEbayers who say " a friend gave this to me to sell, and he found it in his attic, i don't know what it is, or how to operate it, but it seems to work fine " )

- - john

Thank you John and Nick and the several who have PMed me. If anyone else has thoughts on this, but feels uncomfortable putting them on the Form, please send a PM.
I will respect your privacy. I am only trying to avoid being taken for a ride.

I realize his prices seem high, but I have been looking five months for an 8x10 enlarger for B&W that will fit under a seven foot ceiling and be possible to move down stairs into a basement. All the cheap, working ones don't seem to have my phone number.

Thanks,

John Powers

IIRC a couple of months ago an Elwood 8x10 table top enlarger went on Ebay for about $150. The seller does a lot of photographic surplus. If it wasn't for the shipping from LA to Canada I would have bid on the thing.

I have traded photographic goods with Glenn a number times. He has always been honest and courteous, and his machine-work is first rate. That said, his prices are frequently (but not always) very high.

Glenn has always been very professional and knowledgeable whenever i have had questions regarding his stuff online...i was once thinking about getting a modified tripod head made by him and he sent me jpgs of many ideas and options. He did the same thing for me when i had a question about a custom film regsitration gizmo i wanted to get made. His prices are a little on the steep side but in many cases he's the only one around with the item in question. He is a speedy and good communicator over email too.