443 replies to this topic

[JamesE]

JamesE,

Did you notice that "Celestron" is misspelled on your 10X70 finder? That's a real conversation piece! I wonder how many of this particular finder were produced with this misspelling?

Hey Lew,

Yep, I did notice it when I first got it. I thought it was cool. Glad you like it too.

My take, is that this was a first run series for Celestron and APL. Now I thought I read that APL eventually got taken over by Vixen. Is that correct?

Cheers,

[Steve_M_M]

Well cool! I did not know I had done this previously. But, Now with PICTURES Looks like I missed Circle + I know I had a picture of that one, but cant find it. Anyone have Cirlce + ?

Circle Dash (minus) was confirmed by Sheldon a year or so ago as Carton. Here is one of David's EP's.

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[Steve_M_M]

Here's a neat one with Circle K AND Kenko. Thanks!

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[Compressorguy]

Here's a H.O.C. branded Selsi from the mid-late 50's. Unlike Clint's H.O.C. Mayflower with brass cell, the cell in mine is aluminum and non adjustable. If you see anything H.O.C. buy it. Their optics are superb!

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[Glassthrower]

What a great idea for a thread!

My two cents -

I had outwardly identical "Circle Dash" and "Circle V" 18mm orthoscopic eyepieces. The Circle V was noticeably superior in performance to the Circle Dash.

Here is a shot of the Tasco 9VR label with the Circle V mark.

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[DAVIDG]

Here is my Selsi that looks to be of the same vintage as Scott's but it is made by APL.

- Dave

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[WaterMaster]

Wow Steve, great thread.

Here's a mark (diamond S.O) I asked about in the binocular forum - these are binoculars branded as Hilton, and they have the 'triple tested' label on them, which implies Bushnell.

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[Steve_M_M]

Maybe someone will chime in on S.O. That is not one I am familiar with. Looks bushnell to me too.

Steve

[Preston Smith]

I just came across a new symbol that I don't remember seeing before. It is a diamond with "OTC" inside. Anyone know who that is?

[grendel]

My Prinz Optics collection are either circle T (towa) or Circle K
the model 660 is a circle K (76.2 x 1250mm)
the model 500 is a circle T (60 x 910mm)
the model 400 is a circle T (60 x 700mm)
I seem to recall that the 100 model is also a circle K but cant find my pic that proves it.
Grendel

[JohnD_STL]

Steve,

Great Thread!

This previous thread is about greju's Bushnell that
has the Diamond SYW and a Diamond TJK.

Bushnell with Diamond SYW and Diamond TJK

I don't think we were ever 100% sure but the Diamond TJK
might have been Toyo Jitsugyo Co.

Also, the page linked below has links to lots of trademark symbols
from the 50's and 60's. Go down about halfway on the page
and look for "Trademarks of optical manufacturers".

Link to lots of stuff


John D.

[greju]

Preston, here is the one you are referring to I think, the Bushnell 50mm. Sky Rover. I cannot help as to the manufacturer. Anyone? P.S. Re-sized it three times, as good as it's gonna get!

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[greju]

AE-80 with the mysterious Diamond TJK and the Diamond SYW. Diamond SYW is Yamamoto as stated previously, TJK ?

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[greju]

Diamond TJK again on a Wards. Along with a Pyramid ZUMA. Both unknown trademarks to me.

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[JohnD_STL]

When I saw the Zuma mark, I thought it was in a mountain.
Mount Zuma.
Watch out! Montezuma's Revenge!

But seriously, the only other reference to Zuma on a
telescope I have found so far is this ebay listing:

Zuma Telescope on ebay

John D.

[starrancher]

Great stuff guys ! Keep it coming !

[grendel]

This one is definitely a Towa, Circle T logo and all.
Grendel

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[WaterMaster]

Nothing says 60's like a Peter Max font!

[Nave]

Since I don't have permission to post the photos, forgive the serial links. I thought I would solicit thoughts here. If my thoughts seem reasonable concerning identifying Mizar instruments, I will contact the sellers and ask for the photos and permission to post them.

Note this recent eBay auction claims to be for a vintage Mizar refractor. Look at an enlarged version of the second photo to see the label. There is no maker's mark, but note the script used to identify it:

http://cgi.ebay.com/...=item20b212e14c

Okay. I saw this this past week (was going to bid if it had stayed below $100) and it rang a visual bell. I tracked it down. Look at this refractor apparently from a storage unit that's been featured on the eBay/CL thread on & off for several months - focus on the script on the label (again, no maker's mark):

http://phoenix.craig...1839368849.html

Last example (which confirms that I am a chronic CL nut) - a very affordable 60mm refractor in the O.C. Again, note the script, and lack of a maker's mark:

http://orangecounty....1846361264.html

Are others comfortable with identifying Mizar, not by a maker's mark, but by a characteristic script?

[Steve_M_M]

Without a maker's mark, it would be hard to say for sure if any of these are Mizar. That being said, I believe there is a good chance they are late model Mizars (plastic focus knobs, plastic access, and non-threaded focusers). I wonder if we took one of these apart if any sign of Mizar could be found.

It would be nice to have the Ebay photo for the thread here.

Steve

[Nave]

I'll contact the seller.
I'm also going to be in Orange County at the end of the month - I'll offer to put $20 in the mail to the owner with the similar looking label 60mm down there and see if anything can be garnered from it.

[greju]

I think I can finally confirm the BOL symbol even though I have to admit it is not what I thought it was. It had been suggested in earliar posts that BOL might have stood for Bushnell Optical Laboratory but knowing that David P. Bushnell sold telescopes that he "got of the shelf" as he put it I doubted that he would ever use the phrase "Bushnell Optical Laboratory" as he never actually manufactured anything. But as I later found out he did use "opticians" in his California shop to do warranty work so I am guessing that gave someone the idea and viola, Bushnell Optical Laboratory Inc.

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[greju]

Speaking of warranty work can you imagine anyone now offering a warranty like this!

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[greju]

Service typical of a bygone era! A letter from the President of the company urging you to try their products. A rarity nowadays.

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[greju]

Aaahhhh... The Sixties!!! This is the symbol that intrigues me. I have never seen it on one of their telescopes. Maybe they used it on binoculars.

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