Eyepiece Sunfilter AGAIN please help to do something. - UPDATED AGAIN - WITH REPLY

[Gargoyle_Steve (Steve)]

Wow - Sight and Sound is a Qld company - it's owners, directors, etc are the people that originally owned and operated the Brisbane Car Sound chain, and who then sold that large group of stores to become a part of the Strathfield Group (formerly Strathfield Car Radio / Car Sound?). Wow currently have stores around Qld, and one in Darwin, though they are spreading and aim to become nation wide eventually.

They have run their own car / driver in the V8 Supercar series but had a spectacular crash and rollover last season, the car was totalled, luckily the driver escaped almost unscathed.

Last I knew they were still selling the telescopes, in fact around 4-5 various models, of which I think most have the sun filter included. This was last year however, I'l endeavour to find out f they are still carrying them or not. I have personally seen these telescopes previously at the Maroochydore store.

[netwolf]

The Way I would try and explain it, perhaps on talk back radio. Would be to use the example of a magnifying glass. If you concentrate the light at a point it can start a fire. The light from the sun itself is not sufficent, but once magnified by the lens has more power. Hence it is safest to place a filter (the same way you use sunglasses) in front of the lens, rather than behind it.

Perhaps someone can polish that up a bit.
Suggest this type of thing should be aired through the current affair programs and talk back radio. Bigger audience.

Regards

[[1ponders] (Paul)]

The original advert was in a printed catalogue of Wow Sight and Sound. Unfortunately they are not the only retailers that import this type of telescope with filter attachment. It would be nice if all the OFT across all the states talked constructively with each other, that way we wouldn't have to go through this process for each state.

[Sausageman (Mike Boggan)]

I have sent the email to Mr Ripoll.
No reply yet.
Ministers love the publicity over issues like this.
Let us hope it happens.

Mike

[Sausageman (Mike Boggan)]

I think that it doesn't really matter who imports these eyepiece Sun filters.
We just need them banned forever.

If nothing happens via the politicians, then perhaps "A current Affair" would be the answer.

Mike

[okiscopey (Mike)]

Originally Posted by Sausageman

If nothing happens via the politicians, then perhaps "A Current Affair" would be the answer.

Might be the most effective approach ... they do ask for story ideas. But presumably they would need some action footage (would it actually crack while the cameras were there?) and also a human interest angle. I do know someone who had one of one of these things break after a few minutes in a 3 or 4-in reflector many years ago (luckily she was looking away at the time) but she doesn't want to appear on TV. We (or ACA) would have to find a similar story methinks.

[Argonavis (William)]

Originally Posted by Sausageman

I think that it doesn't really matter who imports these eyepiece Sun filters.
We just need them banned forever.

If nothing happens via the politicians, then perhaps "A current Affair" would be the answer.

Mike

I don't think ACA is worth persuing. They only do a few dangerous toys stuff, and most of what they do is tabloid.

These products do not only need to be banned, they need to be recalled:

It would be much better to take this to the ACCC.

"It is in the best interest of suppliers and consumers to make sure that unsafe consumer products are effectively removed from the marketplace. Consumers may suffer serious injury from such products and, if they do, suppliers can be liable under the product liability provisions of the Trade Practices Act 1974 or at common law."

http://www.recalls.gov.au/recalls_guide2.php

A recall will get business where it hurts - they will have to spend money on recalling their products.

[Argonavis (William)]

When I purchased a 13 inch Coulter dobsonian back in the 1980's, it had a product warning that "this telescope has a self destruct mechanism. If you point it at the Sun it will burn to destruction."

Very true, as anyone who has tried to point an unfiltered telescope of more than about 6 inches in apeture would find out. At the committee meeting of a local astronomy club one member volunteered that she pointed her 10 inch at the Sun (unfiltered) and it started to smoke. The experiment was aborted before the scope burst into flames.

[[1ponders] (Paul)]

I have received feedback from the Queensland Tourism, Fair Trading yadda yadda.

Dear Mr Russell

Blah Blah

See attached

I would suggest that we all contact Fair Trading (at the email in the letter if you wish) and politely let them know how we feel about these filters. A better email would be safety@dtftwid.qld.gov.au

[mill (Martin)]

Once i have the garage cleaned up (promised the missus ).
I will make an test setup with my 10" dob and an old eyepiece.
Pity that i don't have one of those screw in filters , but i will make one with some solar film.
Then i make an movie of the filter burning up and the burning of the piece of paper that will be sitting in front of the eyepiece as if you were actually sitting in front of the scope watching the sun.
I just hope i don't make the scope burning up

[gaa_ian (Ian)]

That is a Pathetic response from the Department of fair trading !
Obviously their Mum never told them "dont look at the sun" much less with a telescope & a cheap piece of coloured glass, between you and blindness.
Maybe an Email the Fred Hollows foundation ?
They might carry a bit more credibility than us Rabbid Astronomers ?