Valoy II - how to create an Anti Newton covering?

[M.Hilo]

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For the Valoy II with the clear condensor I would like to make something to prevent Newton rings. Apparently, in one of the Valoy II or early Focomat 1C manuals, there is a drawing of how to cut it out of either film or paper, including the position of the pins of the negative holder.

 

It doesn't look too difficult to figure it out anyway, but the original drawing would be handy. Perhaps it rings a bell with someone?

 

Second question is if the anti Newton ring for the Focomat 1C is also meant to work on the Valoy II? Including the brass ring that needs to be installed under the condensor inside the head of the enlarger.

 

Thanks a lot ! Machiel

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[Cedric Agie de Selsaeten]

For the Valoy II with the clear condensor I would like to make something to prevent Newton rings. Apparently, in one of the Valoy II or early Focomat 1C manuals, there is a drawing of how to cut it out of either film or paper, including the position of the pins of the negative holder.

 

It doesn't look too difficult to figure it out anyway, but the original drawing would be handy. Perhaps it rings a bell with someone?

 

Second question is if the anti Newton ring for the Focomat 1C is also meant to work on the Valoy II? Including the brass ring that needs to be installed under the condensor inside the head of the enlarger.

 

Thanks a lot ! Machiel

 

Never heard of such a solution.

The anti Newton ring is simply a scratched surface of a piece of transparent glas with a fine diamond tool. Check the diameter of both condensors to be sure.

[MarkP]

Also useful for scanning.

 

You can buy anti-Newton glass from appropriate suppliers - a quick look on the internet should identify someone local

[250swb]

Anti Newton ring glass is a specialist product that needs a finely controlled surface applied to one side of the glass. If on the other hand you simply want to diffuse the light a little bit you can make your own glass 'filter' using carborundum powder, like making a ground glass screen for a large format camera. Alternatively you may be able to get away with some thick tracing paper if it doesn't get too hot.

 

Steve

[M.Hilo]

Hi, thanks for the replies.

 

I think I was not very clear in the original post: It is to avoid Newton rings that I want to find a solution for the Valoy II with the clear condensor. The later Valoy II models have the solution built in: the condensor is frosted and acts like an anti Newton glass.

 

Two solutions:

 

1) I put a Focomat 1C anti Newton glass on the condensor of the Valoy. It fits, but the ring's thickness then prevented the head to come down as it should. Then I took the 3 mm brazz ring from inside the Focomat 1C's condensor house and installed it in the Valoy. Bingo! That does the trick.

 

2) This solution, or a variant, has been done by many others, I am sure: I cut from 0.75mm tough pvc sheet something to go on the negative holder (of both Valoy and 1C btw). Attached some pics of my first try, still a bit rough but this already works fine. You slip the negative under the pvc piece, which gives just enough space to prevent the Newton rings - this is the solution that Leitz supposedly described in one of their brochures, with a example drawing included . . . never needed this for the 1C's I have (they have the AN glasses), but recently I was taken by the small Valoy II . . .

 

Needless to say this is also a solution for those who have a Focomat 1C but not the Anti Newton glass . . .

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[tobey bilek]

The AN glass from a IC fits, but the extra thickness prevents the head from swinging down fully.. I rigged something inside to allow the condenser to move up further and it did not involve borrowing parts from my 1C. It has been 20 years now and I have forgotten the exact procedure.

 

There was a thin brass "filter" also sold that had a cutout to expose the neg and the thin brass prevented the contact.

 

You might etch the condenser with abrasive from a telescope mirror macking supply house ( grind your own mirror ) a from a company that sells grinding abrasives such as those for polishing metallurgical samples . Fine but not super fine abrasives are required.

 

Guessing around 1 to 5 micron size. Too fine and you get polish gloss no better than what you have. Too course and you get a pattern that shows. A 1000 grit emery wet paper might work if on flat glass. In all cases work wet, not dry.

[M.Hilo]

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The AN glass from a IC fits, but the extra thickness prevents the head from swinging down fully.. I rigged something inside to allow the condenser to move up further and it did not involve borrowing parts from my 1C. It has been 20 years now and I have forgotten the exact procedure.

 

Thanks !

 

In the mean time I found some of those brazz rings, so the 1C is complete again I actually had them myself . . . you are not the only one who forgets.

 

Also, the later Valoy II with the AN condensor is not difficult to find, with a little patience one can get them at nice low prices. Very little for such beautiful machines. I use them to introduce students to printing.

 

Should anyone have a spare Valoy II redfilter, and wants to let go of it . . . I would appreciate hearing about it.