Telescope Reviews: 25x100 Garretts back from Broken Arrow, OK!

And OK they are!

I'd bought a beautiful pair of Garrett Optical 25x100 glasses from list member Ed Kessler. Used them assiduously for many months, very, very happy with the views they were giving me (mostly going after Messiers) and then, in a moment of hurry and stupidity, I thought I'd destroyed them. I'd rather avoid detailing the damage - it still pains me to think of it.

First I put off writing, so bleak did I feel about the whole thing. When I finally wrote to Zach Garrett to inquire about repairs, it was with full expectation that he might write back saying something like, "You did WHAT??"

But Zach asked me to send pictures, so I produced documentary evidence and sent it off. To my surprise, Zach said, "Pack them well and ship them, and we'll see what we can do..."

So off to Broken Arrow they went. I knew we were in for a wait - a list of parts needed to be formulated, then inquiries made as to whether they could be included in the next order to China.

Turns out they could, so then it was a matter of experiencing the same latency that Garrett Optical experiences. Those parts came, I believe, across the Pacific by surface freight along with Garrett's next consignment. Then, from their Port of Entry (wherever that was) to Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, then to the inbox to Cory's bench - to be gotten to, at my request, "as and if possible". No hurry. Do what you can, when you can.

Then came the Christmas Rush, and I was content to wait, feeling the back of the line was plenty good, fool to damage them that I'd been...

So - to make the long story short, Zach obtained and Cory installed new parts, and Cory went to some impressive lengths to creatively, but soundly, repair and thereby salvage others that were not available. Then, at long last, their integrity retored, onto the collimator they went.

Packed, shipped, and into the hands of Fedex.

Woudn't you know it, I missed the Fedex person on the first delivery attempt: but they got my signature the next day and I had the 25x100s, patched up and presentable, but the question remained: had they been restored to their former optical glory?

And what do you think happened then? C'mon, you already know, but I'll give you a hint; this web site is NAMED after the phenomenon!

That's right. Skunked. Night after night - until the night before last, just for a quick look, and then tonight, for some slow, deep gazes (near full moon notwithstanding).

The results:

Heartfelt Salutes to Cory and Zach!

Mighty Kudos!

A Laurel, and Hardy Handshake! (with apologies to Mel Brooks...)

A deep sigh of contentment.

Everything's ok. They're gorgeous. Optically like new. And where, externally, traces of the repair are visible, it only serves to remind me not to be a Boze with them...

And here's the point: Fortunate Indeed are we to have the likes of Zach and Cory in our midst. Halfway across the country, with parts from the other side of the world, and with service of the sort that one maybe used to get back when customer service was something that meant neighbor to neighbor. I am deeply impressed.

So - My public and heartfelt thanks to Garrett Optical, and to Zach and to Cory, for providing irrefutable evidence that the best are still around.

Thanks, guys, and thanks to the CN gang for reading...

Best wishes, all, I'm (bring up music...) Back in the Saddle Again....

--------------------
Michael -

"In this world, shipmates, sin that pays its way can travel freely, and without a passport; whereas Virtue, if a pauper, is stopped at all frontiers." Father Mapple, Moby Dick.

Orion (Celestron) 8" SCT on SkyView Pro,
Garrett Optical Gemini 25x100 WP,
Oberwerk 10x60 Mariner,
Bogen 3051 tripod w/ 3063 head, dual handles,
Telrad,
Palm Planetarium,
Palm Astromist,
Stellarium (runs great on Vista),
SkyScout,
Replogle 'Apollo' celestial globe,
Sky & Telescope Pocket Atlas.