Brass Telescopes ...... Older the better

[Kunama]

A thread for the Golden Oldies

Please use this thread to post pictures and details of any brass telescopes from a bygone era......

I have a Berry&Mackay 3.25" F15 which seems to be the lone survivor of the marque, though it is looking quite likely that it was made by Watson & Sons or Troughton & Simms.

I just today received a bag of brass eyepieces of various focal lengths and thread sizes, only two fit my scope which has the RAS thread on the draw tube.

I know there are a few of these old beauties out there and I for one would love to see them here on IIS rather than that other site ;)

(I will post pics when my D3 returns from its annual sensor clean)

[The Mekon]

Matt, can you remember reading books by Patrick Moore where he railed against these "terrible claw & pillar" refractors? I can, so perhaps at one stage they were rather common. Despite Patrick's comments. I always thought it would be rather neat to have one!

[Kunama]

Indeed I do, though many of these came with both the folding library stand and tripod for 'proper' use. I have had this one on the GPD2 and the T-Rex and it is a great feeling looking through such old glass. I am going to make a tripod for this during the winter. This one also now has the altitude adjuster (rack and pinion type) rod and very smooth azimuth bearings.

The eyepieces I received today have near mint glass so this scope will be going back into service. :thumbsup:

[issdaol]

Lovely scopes Matt ....... and great Idea to start up a dedicated thread on here.

You do bear some similarity to Captain Daniel Gregg :-) he he he

[Astromelb]

I have a couple of old refractors
Firstly a Watson 3 inch solid brass that I have put on a 1960's Polarex Az mount - this unit is the same as Sir John Monash's telescope which is in a glass case at Monash University here in Melbourne - the Monash unit is on the original claw brass tripod
I have also seen another one of these beautiful solid brass telescopes which was brought to me to service - but the unit had been dropped and the lens cleaved in two - tragic ��

My other unit is a brass and leather coated Broadhurst Clarkson which is just as gorgeous ☺

Image is Monash's unit courtesy of Monash Uni archives

[issdaol]

The one in Monash is a nice looking scope.

It would be great to see a picture of yours on your mount :-)

[LewisM]

Only had 2 over the years - one was a Ryland and Sons 1939, essentially the same as this: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/like/172149808805?clk_rvr_id=10070683238 00&item=172149808805&lgeo=1&vectorid=229508&rmvSB=true

The other was similar, but non-military. Both suprisingly good to use on axis, but with harsh spherical abberation off axis.

I suppose they don't totally qualify, but they are brass tubes, albeit leather covered.

[Kunama]

Cris, that Monash one looks to be exactly the same as mine. I would like to see more pictures of that scope. I assume it has the rack inside the main tube on the 'starboard' side (right side looking from eyepiece forward).
Mine then has the draw tube with a sliding focuser tube inside it. Eyepieces are RAS threaded into the focuser tube.

[PeterM]

Droooooool. I love these brass scopes!
I have a Broadhurst and Clarkson 2.4inch (at right) I bought recently circa 1900 something, distributed by NH Seward Melbourne (probably paid too much). I also have a French officers naval telescope about 1inch (at left) it maybe older than 100 years that I found in an Antique shop in Hobart.
What a great thread to start!
Please keep pics and comments coming.
Thanks
Peter

[ZeroID]

Not brass but I'm watching a 60mm f15 Unitron that has come up for sale over here. All complete nearly including the wooden box and original manual. Would make a brilliant lounge room exhibit and working option for planets.
Trouble is about 30 other people are watching it too so I suspect the price will skyrocket as the auction day draws nearer.

But I can dream ... and hope ...

I envy the USA old scope market, they see some neat stuff over there and do some amazing restoration work.

[astroboy]

Thought I would show a Cooke 5" triplet that a friend owns , very sturdy mount and gives excellent views .

[anj026]

Very impressive Zane! I like the mount arrangement. :thumbsup:

Classic scopes are very few and far between in WA even more so than the Eastern States. I have had to make my own out of wood! :lol:

[Kunama]

Beautiful scope Zane, would love to see that one up close!

[astroboy]

Thanks Andy and Matt
Yes an impressive scope and probably one of a kind the Cooke tripets had a problem with one of the elements going "foggy " this one is clear .
Would love to own it myself but as the person who has it says your more of a custodian of it for the next generation rather than an owner.

[Kunama]

Pictures, we want to see pictures :D ( Please post a pic of the focuser side of the OTA and a closeup of the focuser/drawtube ) :thanx:

[RickS]

Nice looking scopes, guys!

[issdaol]

Hi Kunama....Did you ever get those pictures??...... I somehow think a certain brass scope does not exist .....:question:

[iborg]

Hi

I finally took some shots of my brother's brass scope.

Terrible to look through at the moment. Nice to look at.

Philip

[Kunama]

Very nice scope Philip.

[iborg]

Thank you

I just wish I had found some markings to get an idea about manufacturer and age.

Oh well.