Simmon Brothers Omega D-II / D2 Darkroom Enlarger
Name/Title
Simmon Brothers Omega D-II / D2 Darkroom EnlargerEntry/Object ID
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IconicDescription
This imposing all-metal enlarger is one of the most historically significant pieces of darkroom equipment ever produced in America. The story begins in 1935 when three brothers — Fred, Rudolph, and Alfred Simmon — produced a domestic enlarger for the 35mm camera format. In 1936 they chose the Greek letter Omega as their trademark and registered it with the US Patent Office. Filmanddarkroom The "D" designation in the model name indicates this enlarger was built to handle 4x5 inch film — the largest format in the standard Omega line below the professional 5x7 and 8x10 models. Jollinger It is equally capable of printing 35mm, 120 medium format, and 4x5 sheet film negatives with the appropriate lens and negative carriers. The WWII Connection During World War II, civilian use of enlargers was prohibited. The Simmon Brothers secured contracts with the Army Signal Corps and the U.S. Navy, and were commissioned to make enlargers and film pack cameras to meet Navy requirements for combat conditions. Filmanddarkroom This is the generation of enlarger that trained thousands of American servicemen in military darkrooms. Many of those veterans carried the Omega habit home to their civilian studios after the war, cementing the D-series as the dominant enlarger in American professional and amateur darkrooms for decades. The Design The dome-shaped hammered-finish lamphouse contains an incandescent bulb sitting atop a series of heavy glass condensers that focus light through the negative. The accordion bellows assembly provides fine focus control via the knurled adjustment knobs on either side. The rack-and-pinion column system — clearly visible with its toothed gear rail — raises and lowers the entire head assembly to control magnification. The D-series crossed the line between professionals and advanced amateurs by being rugged, solid, and very capable. Because they were rugged they were very popular in schools and rental labs — many students learned darkroom work on an Omega D-series enlarger.Category
Accessories, Darkroom