Digital BW, The Print

Well, now that I finally have a good BW printer ( Epson 2000P + MIS FSe ), I set up this Microtek X12USL scanner ($270) and 5x7" transparancy adapter lid ($80). 

I have some old glass 4x5 negatives from my grandfather that I wish to scan and print, and I thought this scanner would work fine : Wrong !
Although it is rated for 42 bit color and 2400x1200 resolution, the dynamic range is just miserable. I cannot resolve anything in the darker negative areas - they just show as white. I improved it a bit by scanning as a Positive and then swapping afterwards ( in Picture Windows 16 bit mode ), but in examining the negatives with a magnifier, I am loosing a great amount of detail. No afterscan correction curves work properly - the data is lost: the subtile grey shading in these deeper areas is not captured.

1) any tricks for wide white to black ratio negatives ?
2) what is an 'inexpensive' scanner capable of properly acquiring the information from these, somewhat grainy and imperfect, but still interesting circa 1900 negatives ???

Thanks,
Alex