| In the 1930's and 1940's, large
hand-held cameras such as the Speed Graphic 4x5 and 3¼x4¼ cameras
were extremely popular with professional photographers. It was
natural for the Simmon Bros. to expand the Omega line to accommodate
these formats, and so the Omega C and D models were developed. These
larger format enlargers were designed along the same lines as the
successful A and B enlargers, with a long upright tubular column and
the projector assembly supported by cast aluminum beams on either
side. To ensure efficient light output for different negative
formats, the C and D enlargers featured interchangeable condenser
sets, in addition to which the position of the lamp could be
adjusted. On the Omega D, a rheostat at the base of the column could be used to
adjust the light output. The tall lamphouse barrel was made of
bakelite, between top and bottom aluminum castings. Unlike the
smaller Omegas, the C and D had pleated bellows, but the focusing
was still by lever, rather than a knob. The D series enlargers
that followed were
very different in design, but the one thing the Omega D has in
common with later Omega 4x5 enlargers is the standard 6½"
condenser set.
While the C and D were designed to
provide the features that the professional would want, they were of
limited appeal to the amateur market because of their height. The C had a 48" column; the D was 60".
The tall columns allowed for huge enlargements, but with the
additional height of the lamphousings, in order to raise the head to the top of the column,
the user required an extremely high ceiling! Although they sold
reasonably well, the C and D were soon replaced by the C-II and D-II
models.
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