Vintage and Antique Scopes

1980 Celestron C5 auction purchase. No wedge, no tripod and no power cable, but the scope itself is in one piece. OK, it wasn’t at the time of this photo, but it is now.

A 1990s Halloween EP completes the setup.

When i picked up a 3″ Samuel and Benjamin Solomons refractor for £100, I decided to remove the blue and black paint and refurbish the tripod and mount. Well why not! Now the clean and tidy-up is almost complete, here are some pics of what was under the paint!

Solomons refractor telescope – the re-assembled scope.

View of the mount including the now-functioning azimuth control — Solomons refractor telescope – the re-assembled scope. It has led a hard life!

S&B Solomons Refractor – mounting refurb

S&B Solomons Refractor – azimuth gear sees the light.

S&B Solomons Refractor – hot water loosening paint.

S&B Solomons Refractor – nameplate, now minus most of paint.

S&B Solomons Refractor – mounting back in one piece

Note to self: keep track of exact location of myriad screws during disassembly. Different threads and sizes abound!

2.5″ Cooke refractor

This scope dates from the 1860s, and was made by the famous English telescope maker Thomas Cooke and Sons. It’s a beautiful thing!

T. Cooke and Sons refractor telescope — The contents of the wooden case, including 2 astronomical eyepieces, one terrestrial eyepiece, and adapter tube, 2 rods to control the mount, the dew shield and the main tube assembly.

2.5 — Close-up of the finderscope. It has a push-pull focusing mechanism.

2.5" T. Cooke and Sons refractor telescope — Dew-shield. Note the reducing or “stop” ring. The resulting aperture does not impinge on the objective lens itself.

2.5 — This eyepiece has the curious text “Istronomical Eye Piece” written on its barrel.

2.5 — Focuser knob (left) and attachment for altitude rod (right)

2.5 — The dew-shield slides over the lens cell, with a slit in the barrel allowing for a secure fit.

2.5 — Focuser draw tube and finderscope eyepiece, the focus of which is adjusted with a push pull action. There are no crosshairs.

2.5 — The astronomical (or is it istronomical?) eyepiece. It screws into an adapter tube which itself slides into the drawtube. Expect minimal eye relief!

2.5 — Eyepieces and adapters fit neatly into felt-lined fittings in the case.

2.5 — The two control rods, one used to rotate the mount in azimuth, and the other to brace it in elevation. Both held securely in the case.

2.5 — The sturdy brass alt-azimuth mount of the Cooke telescope.

2.5 — The mount’s worm gear, engraved in Roman numerals. The control rod attaches to the shaft of the gear, lower right. The knob allows to engage or disengage the worm, like a clutch on a modern equatorial.

3″ Clarkson refractor, pre-Broadhurst!

It’s a terrestrial scope with no finder and one of those 20cm long rectifying eyepieces to turn the image right way up. Almost mint and an auction bargain at £60. The name ages it to the 1890s, give or take. ‘Tis a lovely thing! I just need a suitable mount.

Clarkson refractor baffle and slot for focuser rack. Not the tidiest job.

Clarkson refractor focuser knob removed for greasing

76mm objective lens — The objective lens cell is held in the tube by friction – no threads

Clarkson telescope meets Vixen equatorial! I managed to attach the OTA to a dovetail bar having drilled out the holes to match those protruding from the scope. It’s a solid fit, which is a good job as the tube weighs over 3 kg.

iPhone shot through the eyepiece – albeit a “modern” Halloween plossl.

Clarkson refractor showing sliding draw tube

BC Library Telescope

A different 3″ Broadhurst Clarkson library telescope, this time on a pillar and claw stand. Around 1920. Black crackle paint finish.

3-inch Broadhurst Clarkson library telescope

Early 20th Century Broadhurst Clarkson library telescope objective lens — 3-inch Broadhurst Clarkson library telescope objective lens

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