Ascotron astronomical telescope c.1968

[sagittariusA]

I have an ascotron astronomical and it's in pretty bad shape :( from the years, it was my pops and i'd like to fix her up.
Needs a few new lenses, the spotter is chipped, a new paint job will be tyhe easy part.
pretty sure everything is there.
where could i get replacement lenses?? :question:
:thanx: C.

[NorthernLight]

Hi Chantelle,

I certainly don´t want to put you off your project but I think it is not that easy. Since the only remaining part of your scope is the tube (being the cheapest of all) I would suggest you buy a new scope. The well defined lenses with their multiple coating layers should be hard to obtain from the manufacturer (if they are still in business) and would be very expensive (especially when custom made). The next task would be the mounting of the lenses and collimating of the optical system which requires special equipment. I reckon you end up paying much more for a fix than for a new scope. Perhpas you get a new scope and fix the old one with window glass and keep it as artwork?
Have you got a picture of the old scope and do you know aperture and f-ratio of it? Also what size of focuser has it-1.25" or less--it has a focuser, doesn´t it?
Cheers

[Blue Skies]

Sadly, Max is kind of right, there. Its not that easy to 'fix' or replace the glass lenses in an old refractor. As I learnt it, you can't reverse-engineer a refractor objective as to do that you have to know the refractive index of the glass (individual to each batch of glass made) and then you need to find another batch with the same refractive index - near impossible. You've either got to live with the chipped glass or just make it a museum piece.

Or....

Just reading that again, I'm wondering if what you're calling 'lenses' we would normally call eyepieces. (A lens is a shaped disc of glass that bends light at a certain angle. Please note that a telescope can have lenses in many different places! There are usually two in the primary objective, the spotter scope will have a few and several in each eyepiece.) If that is the case, you might still stuck, as it will depend on what size the barrel is - is the internal diameter of the focuser around 0.96 inches? If so then you should be able to find some of those either new or second hand - just place a wanted ad in the classifieds here and there should be several offers of help. If the eyepieces were specific to the telescope, as can happen with the older ones, you might be stuck.

To help us to help you, it would be great to show us some photos of the scope, and to point out which bits are missing - hope you've photoshop or the like and can scribble lines over the photo to indicate the places that need help. This should cut through some of the terminology.

As encouragement, though, I love pulling old scopes apart and restoring them, too. It's a great learning exercise and I hope to learn a bit more in the future, so if you're really keen, go for it. There are plenty of people here that can help with options, but we need some info on the scope at the moment.

[supernova1965]

Its funny but I just got one of these from the recycle center. The focuser is one I have never seen it is like a barrel that you twist to focus. The optics look good need a clean. I can't wait to hear more about them and to try it out

[torana68]

helical focuser, might be a good mirror in there....

[supernova1965]

The mirror does look real good and only $8 :thumbsup: Any one know if I would be able to achieve focus with a Meade LPI in this