Re: gifted a very old scope - need eyepieces!

sc wrote:
Hiya all,

I have in my possession a very old scope - its an M.S.S. 4.5 inch reflector a glorious 900mm long. It's very rough overall - really should have gone in the bin but I've cleaned the optics and realigned them - despite a bit of desilvering to the primary mirror (spot about 5mmx2mm long) it is delivering what appear to be very sharp images of terrestrial objects.

I would like to source a new secondary mirror (it just doesn't look right) - will have to keep an active eye on the rubbish tip I guess!

More importantly - all viewing today has been via the finders eyepiece simply plopped into place over the focussing tube - it works well enough but I want some real eyepieces!!!!!

Look out for old microscope eyepieces. They are not quite the same diameter but the difference is negligible a bit of PVC tape will make them a snug fit. Over the pond Surplus Shed has suitable bargains

http://www.surplusshed.com/pages/category/eyepiecessets_1.html

I think Anchor surplus used to here...

So - any suggestion on where to source the 'old fashioned' .9 or whatever inch eyepieces? I have found some ex Tasco ones on ebay but I did own a Tasco scope at one time and figure the supplied eyepieces are not the best....

Truly old fashioned eyepieces are brass 1.25" with RAS threaded bodies. I think the 0.965" things were a Japanese invention ca 1970's scopes.

Finally, what are the chances of finding a focusser on the cheap? The one that is fitted is a bit weird - you rotate the body to focus - I'm more used to knobs!

I've not been an active observer since 1995ish - bear with me!


Cheers for any suggestions

Watch out on the second hand ads. Or place a wanted one.
Avoid the 4mm eyepiece in this size like the plague.

Regards,
Martin Brown
** Posted from http://www.teranews.com **
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