azure1961p
Postmaster
Reged: 01/17/09
Loc: USA
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Top Opticians in the US for reflectors
#5683979 - 02/16/13 06:05 PM
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Everyone mentions Zambuto, Lockwood, royce and maurizio di sciullo for reflectors but no other names seem to surface. Another is out there - Peter Ceravolo in Canada comes to mind but little else . Anyone have any other names or comments?
Pete
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ausastronomer
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 06/30/03
Loc: Kiama NSW (Australia)
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Re: Top Opticians in the US for reflectors
[Re: azure1961p]
#5684048 - 02/16/13 06:47 PM
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Hi Pete,
Maurizio Di Sciullo used to sell his scopes under the name of Excelsior Optics. These were designed as specialist long focus tubed planetary newtonians, either F6 of F8. To my knowledge Maurizio hasn't produced a scope or mirror in about 10 years, due partly I believe to poor health. If you can find one second hand they are outstanding. Similalrly Peter Ceravolo hasn't built an amateur scope in about the same time period, concentrating on scientific and Government type work over the past 10 years. If you can find one of his second hand they are outstanding.
The other 3 all have excellent reputations. Along with Mark Suchting in Australia these are the only people I would consider buying my next mirror from, if I ever have a need to buy one. I have eliminated OMI on the basis that they only work with 2" thick glass substrate, which doesn't suit me or my scope design parameters. In the future moving forward I will only ever order a mirror made from minimum thickness substrate in the interests of fast cooling. In smaller slower apertures I would also consider people like Gordon Waite, Alan Raycraft, Dick Wessling and a few others.
Cheers,
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Markovich
professor emeritus
Reged: 05/22/07
Loc: Central Ohio
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Re: Top Opticians in the US for reflectors
[Re: ausastronomer]
#5684139 - 02/16/13 07:50 PM
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Steve Swayze makes fine mirrors.
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Pinbout
Post Laureate
Reged: 02/22/10
Loc: Montclair
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Re: Top Opticians in the US for reflectors
[Re: Markovich]
#5684190 - 02/16/13 08:31 PM
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Quote:
Steve Swayze makes fine mirrors.
say it three times, swayze swayze swayze.... 
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azure1961p
Postmaster
Reged: 01/17/09
Loc: USA
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Re: Top Opticians in the US for reflectors
[Re: Pinbout]
#5684310 - 02/16/13 09:45 PM
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Thanks guys. I'm sorry to hear about Maurizo having health issues. Gosh I remember his posts in 96' on the AOL Observers Outpost where he'd post these stunning photos of Jupiter made with a ten inch of his crafting. Outstanding. I recall Ceravolo going commercial/govt but I hoped he might still have done work for the amateur. The others I've heard of - Swayzee to be sure.
Thanks for the input.
Pete
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jgraham
Postmaster
Reged: 12/02/04
Loc: Dayton, Ohio
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Re: Top Opticians in the US for reflectors
[Re: azure1961p]
#5684330 - 02/16/13 10:00 PM
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Ed Jones is one of the best that I know. He worked with Dick Wessling for many years.
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aatt
member
Reged: 07/26/12
Loc: CT
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Re: Top Opticians in the US for reflectors
[Re: jgraham]
#5684374 - 02/16/13 10:47 PM
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Terry Ostahowski seems to be very well regarded, but I don't know if he can match Carl Z et al.
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galaxyman
Vendor - Have a Stellar Birthday
Reged: 04/04/05
Loc: Limerick, Pa
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Re: Top Opticians in the US for reflectors
[Re: Pinbout]
#5684449 - 02/16/13 11:42 PM
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Quote:
Quote:
Steve Swayze makes fine mirrors.
say it three times, swayze swayze swayze....
Yep, as in my 22" Telekit.
Karl
E.O.H.
Chesmont Astronomical Society - www.chesmontastro.org
Galaxy Log - http://www.youtube.com/user/GalaxyLog4565?feature=mhee
HASB - http://www.haveastellarbirthday.com
Telekit (Swayze optics) 22" F/4.5 Dob
Homemade (Parks Optics) 12.5" F/4.8 Dob
TMB/APM 8" f/9 Refractor”The Beast”. One great DEEP SKY achro
ES 6" f/6.5 achro. Good one
Celestron Omni XLT 102 refractor.
Celestron 10x60mm Binos
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zawijava
scholastic sledgehammer
Reged: 10/06/07
Loc: Wells, Maine 04090
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Re: Top Opticians in the US for reflectors
[Re: azure1961p]
#5684459 - 02/16/13 11:51 PM
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Waite; Stevens; and I think there's a Kennedy out there as well(?)
Quote:
Everyone mentions Zambuto, Lockwood, royce and maurizio di sciullo for reflectors but no other names seem to surface. Another is out there - Peter Ceravolo in Canada comes to mind but little else . Anyone have any other names or comments?
Pete
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siriusandthepup
super member
Reged: 02/14/06
Loc: Central Texas, USA
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Re: Top Opticians in the US for reflectors
[Re: zawijava]
#5684475 - 02/17/13 12:11 AM
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Don't forget John Hall. Pegasus Optics.
John will still do a nice 12" to 25" size range mirror for ya.
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Calypte
scholastic sledgehammer
Reged: 03/20/07
Loc: Anza, California
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Re: Top Opticians in the US for reflectors
[Re: aatt]
#5684493 - 02/17/13 12:26 AM
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Terry Ostahowski seems to be very well regarded, but I don't know if he can match Carl Z et al.
Why do you think he can't?
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GlennLeDrew
Postmaster
Reged: 06/18/08
Loc: Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
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Re: Top Opticians in the US for reflectors
[Re: Calypte]
#5684502 - 02/17/13 12:37 AM
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Ceravolo hasn't gone completely over to industrial optics. He makes a 12" field-corrected Cassegrain, of the Dall-Kirkham flavor.
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jpb30
professor emeritus
Reged: 06/18/10
Loc: Uzès ( France)
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Re: Top Opticians in the US for reflectors
[Re: GlennLeDrew]
#5684608 - 02/17/13 03:47 AM
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Terry is certainly one of the top in US
Mirrors of Z was tested by a lab pro in France, result: good optics but not very exceptional
Mirro Sphère in France makes better mirrors, but more expensively...
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Sgt
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 12/17/05
Loc: Under the southern horn of the...
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Re: Top Opticians in the US for reflectors
[Re: jpb30]
#5684638 - 02/17/13 04:58 AM
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Do you have a link?
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nirvanix
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 06/07/07
Loc: Saskatoon, SK
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Re: Top Opticians in the US for reflectors
[Re: Sgt]
#5684668 - 02/17/13 05:54 AM
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I've heard good things about Normand Fullum but I don't own one of his mirrors. I'm considering him for a refigure.
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dpwoos
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 10/18/06
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Re: Top Opticians in the US for reflectors
[Re: nirvanix]
#5684752 - 02/17/13 08:35 AM
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I've spent some time with a couple of Norm Fullum's scopes at Stellafane, and the views were outstanding!
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nirvanix
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 06/07/07
Loc: Saskatoon, SK
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Re: Top Opticians in the US for reflectors
[Re: dpwoos]
#5684977 - 02/17/13 11:09 AM
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Quote:
I've spent some time with a couple of Norm Fullum's scopes at Stellafane, and the views were outstanding!
Thanks for letting me know dpwoos, that gives me some confidence to use him. He seems like a very enthusiastic craftsman to say the least!
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steelhead
journeyman
Reged: 01/27/11
Loc: Smithers, BC
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Re: Top Opticians in the US for reflectors
[Re: nirvanix]
#5684995 - 02/17/13 11:21 AM
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Norm is highly recommended!
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Starman1
Vendor (EyepiecesEtc.com)
Reged: 06/24/03
Loc: Los Angeles
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Re: Top Opticians in the US for reflectors
[Re: steelhead]
#5685058 - 02/17/13 11:57 AM
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Zambuto test:
http://www.astro-foren.de/showthread.php?9233-Carl-Zambuto-Newton
http://www.astromart.com/forums/viewpost.asp?forum_post_id=170264
And you can find literally hundreds of posts and threads extolling the virtues of the star images using a mirror from Carl Zambuto.
There have been many threads here on CN asking about premium mirror makers and there are probably 20-30 of them, many of whom haven't been mentioned here (e.g.OMI, Galaxy, Nova, Mark Harry, etc.) but whose names will probably be brought up soon.
Just remember, we do not pay for "the best optics money can buy", we buy "the best optics money can buy for a reasonable price".
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HunterofPhotons
scholastic sledgehammer
Reged: 04/26/08
Loc: Rhode Island, USA
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Re: Top Opticians in the US for reflectors
[Re: azure1961p]
#5685070 - 02/17/13 12:01 PM
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Paul Jones at Star Instruments.
dan k.
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