NorthCentral MA, anyone need a big old lightbox??

11/11/2005 08:48:38 PM · #1

SCORE! Stopped in at the camera shop in my old hometown and they told me that the tiny local newspaper had upgraded to new lightboxes. They were throwing away two of the old ones and they were mine if I could haul them.

Serendipitous I was driving the pickup today, hmmm?

So, I scored two old legged and tilted (3 fluorescent bulb) lightboxes for free. They look like they were custom built for the newspaper somewhere around 1970 - but they work. Iâ��m going to be changing the real glass top for something more sturdy, but itâ��s still less expensive than making or purchasing a new one. Anybody in need of one? Wanted to share the wealth for someone as tight budgeted as I am. I don't really need to be greedy and keep them both. Iâ��d like to pass on the karma if I can. ;)

petrakka

11/11/2005 09:06:52 PM · #2

man id love it, cept in in illinois haha.

Tamron SP AF 28-75mm f/2.8 XR Di for Canon

11/11/2005 09:11:07 PM · #3

Originally posted by petrakka:

man id love it, cept in in illinois haha.

I'm driving to Destin FL for Thanksgiving. I could meet you somewhere on the way? Though I have NO IDEA how the heck I'd get that into the back of my brother-in-laws Lincoln we are driving down for him....

philup

Canon EOS-5D

11/11/2005 09:11:14 PM · #4

Awesome...don't you just love being in the right place and the right time..!! Congrats.!

Bear_Music

Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra

Sony 24-70mm F4 Vario-Tessar T* FE OSS

11/11/2005 11:07:24 PM · #5

How big are they? I'm on Cape Cod and might be interested...

Robt.

Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM

11/11/2005 11:21:37 PM · #6

I'll take pictures in the AM (They are in the garage and need to be brought into the house) - and get you the very specifics. I'd say they would be the standard drafting table height but I would have to measure, and about 3 by 2 for the light window itself. Three blubs across the inside of the box painted white, with a lightswitch (like the kind on the wall of a room) on the outside for the power. They look homemade, but they have stood up to some heavyduty use at the paper for a long time. Seeing this design, I may build some myself when the winter-of-tight-finances is over (not to mention being laid-off yesterday from my day job.)

The glass is pretty fragile, One panel didnt survive the trip down - wich is ok since I was planning on replacing it anyway. I'll give you the complete box with the intact glass if your interested.

So far, you have dibs bear-music after I get you the specs and decide you want it. I'll do that as soon as I am up and caffinated in the morning. :)

Message edited by author 2005-11-11 23:42:08.

holdingtime

Canon EOS-5D

11/11/2005 11:37:02 PM · #7

Bear if you decide against getting this I would be interested in hearing more about it Jennifer. I live in Worcester

Sony 24-70mm F4 Vario-Tessar T* FE OSS

11/11/2005 11:45:40 PM · #8

Ok, holdingtime, I have you as seconds. :) I'll post pics and specs in the morning.

Bear_Music

Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra

11/11/2005 11:46:06 PM · #9

Originally posted by holdingtime:

Bear if you decide against getting this I would be interested in hearing more about it Jennifer. I live in Worcester

Go for it, Jennifer, if you have a real use for it. For me, it's just a whim, and you're a lot closer than I am. I'm really not sure where I'd fit something that big in around here. If the top weren't slanted, but...

I'll stay on the reserve list, but if you dream of a nice, big light table then these sound cool. I used to have one like this in the studio.

Robt.

Olyuzi

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX7

Panasonic Lumix G 14mm F2.5 ASPH

11/11/2005 11:46:59 PM · #10

Just curious as to what you are going to replace the glass with and what your plans are for using them. Flourescent bulbs can be very difficult to work with as they put out a strange color, and the flickering can be weird. I was going to use them for table top still life as softboxes but find they don't put out much light. I purchased opelescent colored plexiglass when I built mine.

Bear_Music

Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra

Sony 24-70mm F4 Vario-Tessar T* FE OSS

11/11/2005 11:49:57 PM · #11

Originally posted by Olyuzi:

Typically these are used for graphic arts layout purposes. They can be used as lightboxes for viewing transparencies, but preferably with color-corrected, high end tubes in them; these are made for the graphic arts industry by Westinghouse, among others, or used to be anyway. Regular flourescents are TERRIBLE for viewing transparencies.

R.

ralph

Nikon Z9

11/12/2005 12:03:54 AM · #12

i removed the flourecent bulbs (& the box) out of the light table i fixed up
i use a softbox pointing up (or feathered) to graduate the light .. more control as well ..

also replaced the frosted glass with 1/4" clear glass (was half the $$) and resist to scratches (as opposed to plexiglass which i thought would warp)

it is a usefull tool though & good find...