35mm Enlarger

 Circa 1966-1972

At first glance, the Custom-Lab A-6 enlarger looks much like other Omega enlargers of the 1960s, but in fact it's very unique. It came with a double rail column and zoom condenser lamphouse, both unusual for a 35mm enlarger. But it was the light system that was most unusual. Instead of the standard PH111A or PH211 75w incandescent lamps, the A6 used a 150w projector lamp and a ceramic reflector to provide very bright, semi-diffuse light. The power supply for the lamp was incorporated in a box at the base of the column. The high light output required some means of attenuation, so push buttons were provided on the power supply to increase or decrease the light output by one and two stops from normal.

It also boasted rack and pinion elevation and dual range focusing. Intended for the professional photo lab, the deluxe nature of the A6 meant that it was rather pricey - more than 3 times the price of a B22 - though it did share negative carriers and lens mounts with that model. 

It was sold in only the XL column length and no colourhead was provided for it. The high price, plus the fact that it was limited to 35mm and smaller formats, meant that the A6 never achieved significant sales figures. 

Used Advice: This is a relatively rare enlarger, so although negative carriers and lensboards will not be a problem, the power supply and ceramic reflector in particular should be checked, since these items will be difficult, if not impossible, to replace.