Askania 100cm f/6.3 mirror-lens. Now $800 (down from $950)

[Robert3000]

Askania 100cm f/6.3 mirror-lens.

Beautiful, Big and Heavy (14kg). Its is built like a tank and is strong. A work or art both mechanical and optical.

When I photographed it for this ad, I saw the apparent fungus marks on the front element. They look worse in the pictures but are certainly there when I look. Internaly it looks clean. A few similar marks on the front element inside surface.

It looks like the fungus was cleaned. There are no wipe marks or scratches that I can see. But the anti reflective coating has been etched and you can see from the pictures.

I have put a temporary rack and pinion on the back. With a 20mm eyepiece (not included), there is a lovely view. But the HUGE secondary floats like a shadow in the field of view and is VERY noticeable. Not really usable like that.

I imagine its designed for camera use.

You can see in the picture that the back comes off by removing three thumb screws (2 are original with a bolt replacing the missing one).

Its gives lots of room to mount things on the back. Its really a great project for experimenting and playing with. A lens with a past and history.

Now $800 (down from $950). If your in Melbourne, I can meet you somewhere. It can be posted too, its 14kg.

Its really something to admire.

Rob

[phomer]

Rob,


Are you really saying this is a 1 metre telescope?


Paul

[Robert3000]

Yes, 100cm focal length. 1000mm focal length Mirror Lens. Its a charming way they have described it, etched on the barrel as 100cm.

Sorry I should have cleared that up. I dont even know the mirror diameter.
1000mm f/6.3 means around 159mm diameter mirror. About 6 inches.

Its a beautiful piece of History.

[Robert3000]

Price drop today to $800, down from $950.

[russellm]

Hi Robert and all

The lense was one of a set of three ( 300mm 600mm and the mirror at 1000mm) used on the Askania kinethodilites brought to Australia as war reparations from the Peenemunde weapons range .

These optical kinetheodolites were used first at the Woomera range for bomb tracking then missile tracking. three were adopted by the Army but usage unknown.

They used a motor driven 35mm movie camera and were operated by two ( ladies) one for altitude and the other for azimuth. Very accurate tracking but soon overtaken by the more accurate Contraves devices as the missiles developed into higher speeds and range.

The history of Woomera and its unique optical missile range is described in the book " Fire Across the Desert" CoA publishing.

Hope its useful and you have a peice of interesting history ( I have the full kit )

[Robert3000]

Thanks Russell. I knew it was special and came with a history. Your words have added a back story and interest to this lens. I have seen once pictures of the 600mm and 300mm. Have you used any of the three in your kit?

[russellm]

Yes rob
I converted the Kinetheodolite to alt az tracking with the addition of Sitech servos replacing the handwheels. Stripped out the mechanical camera leaving a good working space at the lense focal point. The 300mm was never used but the 600mm and 1000mm both produced clear flat images.

Think from the serial number your 1000mm was actually used on the later Contraves mounts with better guidance accuracy. Have a .pdf with detailed history if you are interested but its 4Mb so can't upload in this message

[Robert3000]

Yes, I am very interested in the History that you have there. Thankyou for that, I will pm you.