Omegalite

Omegalite lamphouse

Omegalite
Cold Light
Lamphouse

Introduced: 1951
Discontinued: 196x

The Omegalite was a fluorescent (cold light) diffusion lamphouse introduced in the 1950s for black and white printing. It used the GE Circline fluorescent tubes. Three different sizes were available to fit the B7/B8 enlargers, D2/D3 enlargers, and the E5/E6. The two smaller sizes used the 8¼" lamp, and had the ballast unit mounted on the top of the lamphouse, while the E size unit used the larger 11½" tube and had a separate ballast box connected to the lamphouse by a cable.

The diffusion lamphouses tended to increase productivity by suppressing dust and scratch marks on the negatives, thus reducing reprints and time spent spotting prints. However, they were not ideal for variable contrast papers, and as diffusion colorheads became more common, demand for the Omegalite waned.

Used Advice: These units are straightforward and still easily serviced. Check for physical damage and that the lamp and ballast still work. Often the white reflective paint on the interior needs to be renewed.

**Lamphouse**
403-803	Omegalite B for B7/B8	D
404-803	Omegalite D for D2/D3	D
405-803	Omegalite E for E5/E6	D

**Accessories**
429-078	Electric Shutter for use with Omegalite lamphouse	D

**Lamps**
471-011	Circline lamp, 8¼", 115v 22w, white	C*
471-012	Circline lamp, 8¼", 115v 22w, blue	C*
471-013	Circline lamp, 11½", 115v 32w, white	C*

*no longer supplied by Omega - available from other sources