What should I do with my broken old enlarger?

[MkII]

By old I mean 1890s. It's a William Hume (Edinburgh) India model. I've just asked the National Media Museum (Bradford, UK) whether they would like it, but I suspect they won't (the National Museum of Scotland didn't).

If the museum doesn't want it, does anyone have any advice on what to do with it. As it was my great-grandfather's I don't just want to put it to the mercy of fleabay.

Thanks, Mark

[MkII]

[jordanstarr]

Anyone who buys it on eBay would likely have an interest in preserving it if that is of any positive advice. Associations, societies and museums locally are my best bet (photographic, historical, etc.) for the optimizing the educational preservation I think you are looking for.

[horacekenneth]

that's very cool. I like the note about resisting the attacks of insects. Not something we look for much anymore with our equipment

[tkamiya]

That's a very neat piece of gear.... If I had it, I'd restore it and hold on to it. May even try to use it to print a few.... I'd be interested if you weren't the other side of the pond.

[Sirius Glass]

Put it on eBay with the words "rare" "hard to find" "highly sought after" "cherished" "antique" and ask $100,000US and see what you can get for it.

[Chan Tran]

it's old enough. may be you should have it appraised by a professional.

[jnanian]

duct tape a black trash bag instead of bellows
use a CF bulb/ LED source
and print a bunch of photos with it projecting the image
on the wall or wherever .. then
look for a contemporary museum / gallery or university gallery
tell them about the enlarger, &c and have a show and enjoy yourself.


who knows maybe appraised it will be worth $$ but only to a collector ( if they know about it )
having a show and using duct tape and a trash bag is "reversible "
so you will gain interest maybe a buyer ...

good luck !

john

[Thomas Bertilsson]

Have you considered talking to the 'Fotografiska Museet' in Stockholm, Sweden?

[m1tch]

Keep it, perhaps make it into a lamp or something if you don't want to fix it to be used for its original purpose.