21 replies to this topic

[Jason H.]

A couple of years ago I was driving one of my kids home and I passed a yard sale sign. It was a big one, so I jump out, no scopes in sight, but I ask the lady if she has any, and she says "I might" and then she went to the garage and started digging through a large pile of junk, she pulled this Tasco out from deep inside of it and told me that she was going to glue it into an art collage/sculpture. She agreed to take 2 bucks for it. I don't know what year it is, maybe somebody here can tell from the interesting holder/clamshell and drawtube?

"Tasco Apochromatic Lens 40X60 MM JAPAN"
http://setisociety.org/IMG_1251.JPG

The permanent lens drawtube (actually isn't a bad view considering the other EP's back then)
http://setisociety.org/IMG_1253.JPG

Clamshell rings with green felt
http://setisociety.org/IMG_1256.JPG

Other side of clamshell rings with single mount connection hole.
http://setisociety.org/IMG_1258.JPG

Scope connected with clamshell
http://setisociety.org/IMG_1259.JPG

If somebody knows the time frame this was made in, I'd be interested in knowing (and thanks in advance.)

Jason Higley

[strdst]

If somebody knows the time frame this was made in, I'd be interested in knowing (and thanks in advance.)

Jason Higley [/quote]

Oh about 1930.

Jason that was a fantastic save and find. I hope someone can come along and answer about the vintage. Tasco goes back to only about 1954? as an importer of optics. I'm a newbie here myself, but I don't ever remember seeing a clam shell that fastens closed like an old canning jar or re-sealable beer bottle! Very cool! And for just $2? This is why artists are always starving you know! Shame on you

other Keith

[woodsman]

That clamshell rig is like the one on my original Unitron 50mm telescope. It had an altaz mount and I believe it was the model 750, but it was so long ago I can't remember. All I know is that the clamp was just like that. I wish I still had that scope.

[Roel]

That clamshell rig is like the one on my original Unitron 50mm telescope.

That was also my first thought. This this my 750:

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[David E]

I would have paid two bucks just to get that clamshell! Interesting scope, and a nice catch.

[Compressorguy]

Just goes to show diligence and persistence pays off. Great find Jason and at 2 bucks she almost paid you to take it. Enjoy!!!

[roscoe]

I have a MonoLux 40 x 40 that looks nearly identical, only it has a ring around the OTA that would fit into a yoke-type mount. I'll borrow my son's digital cam and post a photo of it. I'm guesing 1950's for mine. The optics aren't real special........
Russ

[David E]

Looking forward to that picture Russ. The closest thing I have to that Tasco is my SS Kresge 40mm vari-power spotter. It came with the original sales receipt with it, $17.88 from KMart. My guess it was sold in the '70s.

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[akman1955]

:jump:Hi, i have one just like it in box and i agree the clam shell is not tasco..looks like 50's vintage and does your lense have foil spacers around edge like mine? i paid $20.00 of ebay.It would make a nice guide scope.john

[akman1955]

:)pic 1

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[akman1955]

:)pic 2

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[akman1955]

:(scope is yellowing from age plus it has cellulite caps ..so i would say at least early fiftys?

[The_Vagabond]

That clamshell is identical to the one for my Monolux 60mm (formerly 40x60 terrestrial). Late 1950's, early 1960's. Does this telescope have erect image optics inside the drawtube?

[The_Vagabond]

http://www.cloudynig.../Number/3605326
You may need to go down a little ways, but you'll see my Monolux in front of my Sears 64119.

[akman1955]

:)Yes the image is erect..john

[The_Vagabond]

When I purchased my Monolux (reckon around 1993), it was in pretty bad shape. It used a combination lens and prism set to achieve erect image, but the prism section was pretty much destroyed. I managed to repair it as a straight tube classic refractor for a while, and then around 2002 made the diagonal. Optically, it is a wonderful little telescope.

[Jason H.]

Thanks to the many who replied and took the time to post images of theirs. Very informative responses and makes me even more enthused about this aspect of Astronomy (classic scopes that is.) I'm sort of new to this forum, but apparently I've had an interest in this subject without realizing it (I just thought I was collecting old scopes to provide an obstacle course to the wife.) Obviously I don't have it as bad as you guys yet, but seeing all these cool scopes in this forum is driving me crazy-happy! A treasure scope is out there somewhere, waiting for me to find it, and the next one, and the next one :^)

Jason Higley

[akman1955]

:jump:You are very welcome jason..glad we could help. john

[Vesper818]

Hi Jason!
This little tasco Jem , in size, and the clamshell, and narrow dewshield and drawtube seem almost idetnical to my Swift 818.
If you test the objective without the image irecting lens, you might find that it comes to about 500mm fl.

My Swift came with a reickety wooden and tin tripod, but the rest seems similar.

This is what I did with the Swift, to turn it into a splendid grab-and go scope.

http://www.cloudynig...ll/fpart/1/vc/1

it since has been fitted with a 1.25 focuser and repainted blue...

[Vesper818]

Oh bother, the pictures were wiped out from Photobucket.

Anyhow, I used that great clamshell in an elbo pipe mount, and epoxy puttied the whole thing together. Worked great!

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[roscoe]

Hey David E
So it took a couple of days to get a photo of my old Monolux 30 x 40mm terrestrial scope, and then a day to find this thread, but here it is.........
I got this scope at the 'swap shop' at my local dump a while ago, it was crud-encrusted inside and out, I cleaned it up, and it's still not a real special piece of equipment...... fun, though, to turn trash into......well, clean trash.
Russ

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[roscoe]

and here's a somewhat blurry close-up of the focuser end:

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