[rollei_list] OT: Enlargers/darkroom (again) (longish)

Ok,

I still have the Durst Laborator 1200/CLS500 & 138S available for the same price as before.
A second LPL 7452 with both heads was also offered to me (along with a Sinar P that had *everything* and at a bottom-basement price, but I digress...) for approx $1500 (actually closer to $1000 in reality when considering retail vs retail price here vs USA, but the exchange is out of whack at present and used stuff is priced a bit differently).
That's the same as the DeVere 504 offer, about 20% more than the 1200 and twice the asking price of the 138S.

A quick call to the DeVere 504 owner this afternoon and we started negotiations, discussing alternatives.

All of these setups seem like overkill to me - it's a hobby (one of several), I have a very young child (takes time) a new business (takes time) and a girlfriend (takes time). On the one hand, I'd like to find a setup I can use the next 20 years (or more), i.e. do it right the first time. On the other, I'm thinking this is a lot of money for a hobby, and I could probably get by just fine for now with a cheapo Meopta or similar, and pick up something more solid in a few years time. On the third hand, it feels easier to use money on lenses and camera gear than on darkroom stuff, for some reason.

After a nice and lengthy discussion, the DeVere owner offered me the entire darkroom for the same price ($1500), with certain exceptions. I can take the bench, the trays (24x30, 30x40 and 50x60mm sets), the Kinderman RC film dryer, the easel (Kostiner 40x50mm 4 blade), grain focuser, tongs, tanks, reels, Gralab timer, contact-copy frames, Rodagon 80mm wide angle (supposed to take up to 6x7cm negs) & 150mm, Nikkor EL 50mm. Ack - now I realize I forgot to ask him if he has all the negative carriers. He probably does, he's a pro photographer, probably ordered all the extras when he bought it.

I don't get the film dryer (no big deal), nor the Jobo ATL-1500 (that would be a coupe to have had it included, but I know the limits...), but basically the rest.

The 504 is the Mk. IV, apparently the latest model, and he's the original owner. It's somewhere between 10-15 years old, and built like a tank. There's a new digital head available for it as well (not interesting for me, but possible resale value later if I chicken out :-).

So everything seems to say this is a great deal and I should hop in the car and get there asap, but it's been a long while since I've been in the darkroom, I'm not sure there are things I'm missing, it's a lot of money and I have a small gut feeling that this might not be the best way to go about setting up a small darkroom at home (well, at my office actually, in a spare bathroom). I usually listen to my gut, it knows it's stuff....

What I wanted to do was share my slight misgivings as well as the offer itself with the more experienced here on the list (especially Sanders, Daniel, Carlos, you other guys still active in the darkroom) and get as much feedback as possible. I told the guy I'd think about it and call him back in a day or so (which might have surprised him after all the discussion and bargaining).

So - is this a great deal? Everything I need to be up and running (printing) with minimal hassle? Easy to use kit? Reasonable price? Fantastic price? I know the quality is there, seems the DeVere is one of the nicest models made. Why am I still not convinced...?

Looking forward to any comments, tips, ideas, help.

Cheers,
Thor

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