A big welcome to the latest addition in our enlarger collection; which, as always has a rich history of its own.
darkroom inherited this beautiful De Vere 203 from the estate of master printer Alan Robertson, who sadly died a few months ago.
Alan ran the black and white darkroom at Woburn Studios in 70s and 80s (which was in the building that currently houses Big Sky Studios in London’s Kings Cross). darkroom founder, Phil Grey, got one of his first photographic jobs there as a trainee technician in 1978; initially processing film before being trained up as a junior printer, on this very enlarger. Alan was a great teacher, with an encyclopaedic knowledge of darkroom processes and many interesting turns of phrases!
This De Vere was in the Woburn darkroom until it closed down and Alan was made redundant. He got to keep the enlarger and set up his own successful black and white darkroom in Kennington; printing for the likes of the National Portrait Gallery, Dezo Hoffman and Joy Gregory.
We are honoured to add the De Vere to our family, with its lovely DiffCon (diffused condenser) head and full range of beautiful lenses and negative carriers, accommodating everything from 35mm to 6x9.
It seems only appropriate that baby brother should reside next to its mother! Come and give it a test-drive.
