A Fischer Bonanza,
Two Fischer CB-2’s here: Fischer CB-2’s together
And a Fischer SE-5 here: Fischer SE-5
Both of these machines, the CB-2 and SE-5, are kind of a mystery to me in that I don’t know all that much about Fischers. The CB-2’s seem a great starter machine blend-wise, but can they do flash? I’m not sure. But, if possible to get tham at $400 a machine, it would be a worthy deal. Personally? I’d keep both. This is like getting a machine, and a backup machine all in one!
Mantaray
Mantaray,
A search of the internet found that both the CB-2 and the SE-5 have timing in 1/100 of a second in thermolysis. That being the case they sound be a very good buy. They even have Sense circuitry as well. They are older units however, and finding replacement parts if something does break, might not be possible anymore. So that may be a down side to their purchase.
The good news about old electrolysis machines is you DON’T need to worry about getting them fixed! Dr. Heimlich of Texas Electrolysis Supply repairs and reconditions all makes and models. He could even fix your Kree! (Just don’t expect him to use spark gap vacuum tubes to fix it. You will just have to live with Better than new.)
Does anyone know what this Fischer Micromatic epilator model 7 is like?
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=250103539694
I did an Internet search but the only possible hit was a patent application that made a reference to the machine. It would be nice to know about how much it weighs and what it is capable of.
I’m planning to buy a (used) professional unit, but live in Japan so I need to consider the shipping costs…
I talked to my friends Bill and Gerry at R.A. Fischer and and Dr. Miron at Texas Electrolysis Supply and they confirm that it is an older Fischer blend epilator. This epilator is no younger than 30 years old, but based on the black cord outlets, would most likely be closer to 40 years old.
The company that makes it doesn’t support it anymore, but Texas Electrolysis Supply, phone number (800) 626-6025, does service and repair them. That’s the good news. The bad news is even assuming the machine is in perfect working order, if anyone invovled in shipping this item turns the box upside down, it will destroy the VACUUM TUBES that are at the heart of the machine. (How many people reading this board know what a VACUUM TUBE is?)
Replacing the vacuum tubes in this unit would cost $60, but could be done by the end user, if they are handy with a screw driver. Replacing the most likely totally worn out insides of this work horse would cost $70, and Shipping costs to and from Texas Electrolysis Supply would run you an additional $30.00. If the auction is “what you see is what you get” then you will also need to pay an additional $100 purchasing cords and footpedals for the unit.
In short, this machine is in no way worth the $250 the seller is asking, unless you are a museum, or you just like abstract art.
In other news, its maker even described it as “A Very tempermental machine… with vacuum tubes… that brakes easily if mishandled.” (as in turned upside down)
In any event, it is not worth $250.00
Look for a nice Fischer CBX instead, the only thing you would likely have to have fixed would be the read out boards, or cords, and one would have the next best thing to an Apilus or Sil-Tone VMC.
I think you owe me a consultation fee now for saving you $500 or more dollars. Send your #7 Football Jerseys to… 
This is a much better option this week:
speaking of good bets this week:
Put this in your watch list, and when this goes unsold at the crazy high buy it now price, go back and snap it up when it is put up in a real auction where people bid on it.
Since both this and the last one are from the same guy, I can only say, “They had better be brand new at these prices!” He neglects to mention if they are used or not.
Ladies and Gentlemen, Making its Debute On EBAY, Put Your Hands Together and take a collective sigh and be struck with AWE
THE APILUS PLATINUM!
http://cgi.ebay.com/Apilus-Platinum_W0QQitemZ270108752863QQihZ017QQcategoryZ37802QQrdZ1QQssPageNameZWD1VQQcmdZViewItem
Now you know why your electrologist down the block doesn’t have one. :o
James, thank you for the detailed answer and suggestions.
Since I don’t have any football jerseys I’ll invite you to lunch the next time you come to Tokyo…
While I do like abstract art and know how to handle tubes, it sounds like another epilator is what I need.
The Apilus Senior only ships to the U.S.A. and requires a paypal account which I no longer have. (It was abruptly canceled shortly after I chided Paypal for refusing to pay a seller I’d sent money to.)
The Apilus Junior also requires paypal, and as for the Apilus Platinum… if wishes were horses then beggars would ride.
The SE-5 was certified six years after the CB-2 and is still manufactured - but are the capabilities of the machines dissimilar enough to warrant the $600 difference in (current) price?
Do you know whether a manual for the CB-2 could still be sourced from the manufacturer or Texas Electrolysis Supply?
I would like a machine that allows me to first practice with electrolysis and blend, especially as the consensus seems to be that one should attempt thermolysis only after becoming comfortable with these methods.
I don’t understand why such a machine would be dated. If you have a series of tubes, you could use your electrolysis machine to run the Internet 
The Internet is not something you just dump something on. It’s not a big truck. It’s a series of tubes. And if you don’t understand those tubes can be filled and if they are filled, when you put your message in, it gets in line and it’s going to be delayed by anyone that puts into that tube enormous amounts of material, enormous amounts of material. Senator Ted Stevens, Alaska.
(This is for the tech heads and Jon Stewart fans of which I am both)
For your purposes, either machine is just fine. I would want the later machine, but I don’t know that you would get $600 more out of it for a long time, if ever.
Manuals for all Fischers are available from R.A. Fischer and from Texas Electrolysis Supply.
As for Jerseys, I am sure there is someone near you selling sprorts shirts with a number 7 on them (probably even NFL knock offs). The sport doesnt matter to me, I would even love to have a Beckham Manchester United (He was also a # 7) I wish I could take you up on lunch, but unless The Japan Skinn Association makes up their mind that they DO want me to fly in for their convention, (unlikely) I won’t be in Tokyo any time soon. (Although that organization has talked to me about it in the past.)
If anyone wants a galvanic only machine that will surely go SuperCheap! Dr. Myron Heimlich of Texas Electrolysis Supply 16627 Sealark Road Houston Texas 77062 USA (800) 626-6025 will be able to fix you up with a new foot pedal, probe/needle holder cord, and give the machine the once over for less than $100.00 Of course, if you want to gamble, you could just order the probe foot switch for $20 and a probe/needle holder for another $20 and see if it works before you send it to him for a full service, and hope that it won’t need any internal refurbishing.
I’m just drooling over that Apilus Platinum, but somehow I think they are available at a more reasonable price. I looked, that company selling it tends to charge a lot for everything. They charge $70 dollars for a box of Ballet Golds. Too Much. $85 dollars for a roll of exam bench paper. They obviously have a line into getting closed up spa merchandise to liquidate. I want to learn more about what the Platinum can do. It does some new things I’ve never heard of.
Meanwhile, I’m trying to rationalize not getting that Senior II. It wants me, I want it, it needs a home, why not! I like my Silhouet Tone but I can see myself with a Senior II in the future. My electrologist uses one and I’m always impressed at the quick power that thing generates in such short micro bursts. Just instant death. True professional timing and power, it makes a difference. The prices seem to be dropping on them. I’ve seen several Senior II’s going in the $800 - $1,000 range. If I had to do it all over again, I would’ve bought a Senior II right off the back. It would’ve easily paid for itself by now.
Mantaray
One can honestly buy a Platinum direct from the manufacturer for less than this company is trying to Ebay this item… and they don’t tell you if it is used or not.
I can’t comment on the Senior II and you, as some would accuse me of endorsing the product… Ooops, I just slipped and tipped my hand on that one.
Another cheap Fischer SE-2
Just checking in. I’ve read Galvanic has a 90% kill rate regardless of whether the hair is growing or not. What is the best galvanic only machine out there for 200 bucks or under? Even though I can probably only do 2-3 hairs per minute max, at least I can speed up the process and make sure I’m getting rid of something once I get the hang of it. I’ve read Galvanic doesn’t require as much skill as thermolysis as you don’t have to have the needle perfectly at the base of the hair follicle for it to be effective.
A hair has to be in growing mode to guarantee availability for permanent hair removal. Galvanic will be no more effective than blend or thermolysis on a club hair.
You really should not bother looking for a galvanic only machine when the best choice really is a blend machine, specifically because by definition that machine can be used as galvanic only, thermolysis only, or blend, which is both at the same time.
We try to list the good machines on Ebay as they come up. Since the people who volunteer to do this are not always vigilant, we miss some, but one is always welcome to post a link and ask, “Is this one any good?” and we will offer an opinion.
But if galvanic only is what you want, this will be SuperCheap, currently, it looks like it will go for $30 or less.
http://cgi.ebay.com/Kenatron-Electrolysis-Epilator-Hair-Removal-Machine_W0QQitemZ250105727650QQihZ015QQcategoryZ37802QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
Chuck;
I sure sounds like you still have a lot of hair to remove from your signature anyway. Galvanic is certainly the oldest method of hair removal. There are electrologists who still use the modality, but they go with multineedle in order to get the hair removal rate up some. For Galvanic or Blend, the hairs must be in anagen stage for the lye to get to the required area to kill the stem cells that create the hairs.
Thermolysis is said to at least be able to somewhat damage those cells in any stage, providing the insertions are correct. That is where the skill of a good electrologist comes into play. Good insertions = Hair Loss while Poor insertions = time and money wasted.
You need to decide for yourself what modality will work best for you. I generally during my initial consults explain the different modalities to my client and then give them an example of each, and give them a chance for them to express how each one was for them.
I also want to express that even though some electrologist use a Blend machine, and the client holds a ground, it does not mean that it is Lye that is killing the hairs. By just turning the RF level a little higher, it becomes Thermolysis again. Because it really becomes the heat that is killing the hair and not Chemical.
Are you still considering performing electrolysis on others as well as yourself? I seem to remember your thinking about it.
I missed the SE-5… but found this locally:
http://page8.auctions.yahoo.co.jp/jp/auction/h51376649
Has anyone seen or used a Puppis TG-5100?
A local sale means no international shipping, which is good - but I can find very little information on the unit.
All I’ve been able to glean is that it is a blend-capable unit used alongside with the Hinkel UC-2 and UC-3 in Japanese electrologist exams. The manufacturer (or local distributor) appears to be Takigawa (which also runs a training school for aestheticians) but there is no information on the machine on their home page.
A simple price comparison shows it to list at about US$3200 new where a Hinkel UC-3 and UC-2 are US$5400 and US$4900 respectively - but this in itself doesn’t mean much if it is locally manufactured, as opposed to imported, as the price of imports is usually high here. James’ 40% rule would indicate it’s a steal if I can get it for the current asking price, but I’d like to find out a bit more before I jump.
The control panel does say “computing multi depilator.” I guess that the fact that the unit has two pedals could mean a low level of computerization or just more options for manual control. I can’t reach the manufacturer since it’s the weekend - so if anyone has any additional information or opinions he’d be willing to share, it would be much appreciated.
I have not heard of this machine, but the two pedals are one for galvanic, and one for thermolysis. It sure looks ligitimate to me. I will see if I can find something out about it.
OK - I’ll place a bid for the TG-5100 and will post what I find out if I win.
From the discussion here, a binocular loupe also sounds like a worthwhile investment. A search turned these up:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=190016910141
Other than the knob shape the item somewhat resembles this product by Med-Lite.
http://www.med-lite.com/Pics/500-MP0.jpg
Does anyone recognize the brand and/or have any comments?