Rebuilding 1878 With-Browning Telescope

bloodhound31 · #1 01-06-2008, 07:29 PM

My good friend Ron has given me the honor of rebuilding his historic telescope. He handed me sveral parts, some beyond repair, some missing altogether. It has been quite a research project on his behalf just to get me as much information as he can so I have something to go on to rebuild things that havent been made for over a century.

His website, antiquescopes.com lists all the old telescopes of this kind to be found in the world to date, with a full photo and text documentation of the rebuild/restore of this particular instrument.

I for one, and immensely grateful to Ron, for giving me this opportunity, and placing his trust in me with this historically priceless instrument.

I am learning and re-creating metal working techniques that haven't been done in over 100 years. To me, this is experience that I will cherish as long as I live, as I feel a lot of this "manual" skill in engineering is being lost to automation and CNC machining.

Anyway, here are a few teaser pics of the work I have been doing with Ron's constant feedback of information and encouragement. More on his website.
http://www.antiquescopes.com/Restoration.aspx

Cheers,

Baz.

monoxide · #2 01-06-2008, 07:38 PM

looks like a great project and the right man for the job.
looking forward to more

netwolf · #3 01-06-2008, 08:16 PM

I would agree definitely the right man for this job.

AlexN · #4 01-06-2008, 09:36 PM

wow! what an epic task... the thing would be priceless in any condition, but once you're done.....

Cant wait to see it restored to its former glory!

anj026 · #5 01-06-2008, 10:55 PM

Very interesting project Baz, thank you for sharing the pictures.

xelasnave · #6 02-06-2008, 01:10 PM

Baz I am so happy the project is going forward in your capable hands.
You sure have done some work on it now....
alex

bloodhound31 · #7 02-06-2008, 01:19 PM

Thank you Alex,

Great thanks also go to you mate, as you were the one who found it in the first place.

Baz.

madtuna (Steve) · #8 02-06-2008, 02:16 PM

brilliant!

You don't happen to have a pic of how it was when you found it do you?

bloodhound31 · #9 02-06-2008, 03:49 PM

All on the site mate. There is just too much information to post here. I have been at it for well over a year now....lots of step by step photos, including the pile of junk we originally got.

Baz.

Ric · #10 02-06-2008, 04:47 PM

It looks like your doing a fantastic job with it Baz.

A wonderful project for those cloudy nights and days.

Keep us posted on this one.

bloodhound31 · #11 02-06-2008, 09:51 PM

and tonight I have been putting together what I have so far....

Ric · #12 02-06-2008, 10:39 PM

Looks fantastic Baz, what condition are the optics?

Cheers

bloodhound31 · #13 03-06-2008, 12:02 AM

Both the primary and secondary mirrors show obvious signs of age. They were both coated in silver when Ron got them, but they were starting to show through and the silver was getting thin.

Ron got them both aluminised a while ago so they are working beautifully. The primary is very thick and over 9 inches in diameter.

I had them set up on a timber jig last month and took a first light afocal of a hill about 7km away. The grass stalks on the side of that hill were clearly visible. Later that night I got a good shot of the moon.
http://www.antiquescopes.com/Optics01a.aspx

xelasnave · #14 04-06-2008, 04:31 PM

I had the optics in a truss ota that I built from an old chip heater.

The "poles" were from an old caravan annex.

I had it mounted in a fork mount with a 6 foot polar disk.

The views were very good probably due to the relatively long focal length.
I understand the scope was built originally for a solar observation for Major Paton of the Dutch East India Company... still who knows.
I understand the optics are rated very highly.

alex

xelasnave · #15 04-06-2008, 04:42 PM

The stuff came my way as a result of acting for a kind lady to sell her house

.

I had no idea of how to put it all together but worked away until I completed the scope.
I was unhappy with the mount and it got set aside.
I knew if I left it out home when I died it would go to the tip.
After taking time to select a recipient I felt Ron was the man to take the thing and get some value. It is history that deserves to be saved...
I am SO happy it will fly again.

Hey Baz you would be the man to build the English Equatorial mount I designed... It will beat a Paramount hands down in my view so it could be a business opportunity..what do you reckon... and anyone wanting shares in the mount company please say so now.
alex

alex

Ric · #16 04-06-2008, 04:52 PM

Hi Alex, from the images I've seen so far it looks like its rebirthing for another great life of observations.

I find that little snippet of its history quite fascinating, It would be great to find out more about it.

Cheers

bloodhound31 · #17 05-06-2008, 12:28 AM

Pivot pins now built and installed and hinges being made for the access hatch.

Alex, I would love to give it a crack mate, but this old thing is already consuming most of my time. Until I get this finished, all of my other projects are on hold.

xelasnave · #18 05-06-2008, 04:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bloodhound31

Pivot pins now built and installed and hinges being made for the access hatch.

Alex, I would love to give it a crack mate, but this old thing is already consuming most of my time. Until I get this finished, all of my other projects are on hold.

No Baz not this week...next week mate..no rush take three or four weeks

Hey how is the robot arm etc going???
alex

GrahamL · #19 06-06-2008, 06:59 AM

great stuff guys

Garyh · #20 06-06-2008, 09:06 AM

Awesome find Alex!
Shall be a real treasure when Barry gets it finished!