446 replies to this topic

[Grava T]

I had an old 60mm f=900mm refractor once with the KD logo on it. The whole scope was pretty much made of plastic, including the tube but the optics were excellent. I gifted it to a friend and he has been enjoying it ever since.

I could never figure out what an "Astoronomical" telescope was though.

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[eric_zeiner]

Thanks folks for all of the great info, now only if the weather would clear...

[CharlieB]

I had an old 60mm f=900mm refractor once with the KD logo on it. The whole scope was pretty much made of plastic, including the tube but the optics were excellent. I gifted it to a friend and he has been enjoying it ever since.

I could never figure out what an "Astoronomical" telescope was though.

You might find this catalog interesting:

http://yumarin7.saku...okan/Kanko1.pdf

The first page: Kanko Astoronomical Telescope - Kansai Optical Co. LTD.

[Grava T]

Hmmm....that woud suggest that Kanko is related to the KD symbol.

Funny that they blocked out the spelling error.

[Grava T]

I found an old photo of a Celestron .965 accessory kit that came with a C90 I once purchased. It contained an 18mm Kellner (KD), diagonal, and 2x Barlow.

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[galakuma]

KD :Daiichi.opt [http://www.daiichikogaku.ecnet.jp/[/url]
Diamond Z:UR.opt
Circle T :TOWA.opt (telescope)/Tani.opt (eyepiece)
Circle K :TOWA.opt
Circle 3T(Swift .etc.):TOHO ?
Circle Y :Maluya lens ??
APL :Atom (before BORG)?
HOC/apfever:Hiyoshi [url=http://hiyoshi-opt.com/]
H.O.C :Hifumi Opt? Hino.opt=Mizar? ????

?mark is I don't have confidence.

[Mike E.]

To the powers that be. This list should become a sticky.

[mikey cee]

KD :Daiichi.opt [http://www.daiichikogaku.ecnet.jp/[/url]
Diamond Z:UR.opt
Circle T :TOWA.opt (telescope)/Tani.opt (eyepiece)
Circle K :TOWA.opt
Circle 3T(Swift .etc.):TOHO ?
Circle Y :Maluya lens ??
APL :Atom (before BORG)?
HOC/apfever:Hiyoshi [url=http://hiyoshi-opt.com/]
H.O.C :Hifumi Opt? Hino.opt=Mizar? ????
opt
?mark is I don't have confidence.

That Tani.opt is the fellow who has retired the volcano tops from production after 50+ years. Mike

[Napersky]

I could never figure out what an "Astoronomical" telescope was though. [/quote]

[seafury]

here is the label from my Prinz Optics 550 it has a K in the circle

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[galakuma]

I got the list of telescope manufacturing companies and syimbols 1981s.
I show the initial "T".

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[mgwhittle]

I got the list of telescope manufacturing companies and syimbols 1981s.
I show the initial "T".

So circle K is Towa?

Galakuma, at the top there is one that has a symbol of a diamond with BOL inside it. Can you tell us who that manufacturer is?

[galakuma]

Hi Mark.
The symbol of a diamond with BOL inside it was made by The Oriental Trading Co., Ltd, Japanese/TOYO Jitsugyo.

I'm interested in this website.
http://www.kai-japan.com/bush.html

Circle K was Towa, I think so...perhaps.

Other manufactures used same simbol.
Hifumi Optical Co.,Ltd http://www8.ocn.ne.jp/~hifumi/
Okugawa machinery Co.,Ltd
Both were telescope-makers.

[nightfisher]

Has any one got any imformation on this scope, i have just got? its a 76.2mm f1250, identical to a prinz 660 but has the Tasco 10TE mount and box, its marked up ST Astronomical, circle K optics

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[Grava T]

Hi Jules. According to galakuma in the post above yours, circle K is Towa manufacturer. ST is a new one for me. "Super Telescope" maybe.

[nightfisher]

Thanks for the quick reply, im hoping for more information on the ST brand

[Blake Andrews]

I got the list of telescope manufacturing companies and syimbols 1981s.
I show the initial "T".

This is a very interesting list. I've seen a number of these symbols on astronomy gear. Perhaps you can help...

I am looking for the company associated with "Japan KD" where the "KD" might be a K and a sideways "U". This symbol is NOT the same as the Circle-K symbol. It was used on Celestron Orthos from the late 1970s and early 1980's.

I am also seeking original documentation to prove (or disprove) that the Circle Dash symbol was used by Carton. This symbol was also found on Celestron Orthos and Kellners from the same era.

Many thanks!
Blake

[Blake Andrews]

here is the label from my Prinz Optics 550 it has a K in the circle

Hi seafury,

If I understand my JTII stickers correctly, the gold oval version with blue and red lettering was used in the mid 1960's. Do you know if this is when your scope was originally offered for sale?

Thanks!
Blake

[ngc2289]

How about ST= Silly Telescope?

[Blake Andrews]

KD :Daiichi.opt [http://www.daiichikogaku.ecnet.jp/[/url]

Many thanks! I've been looking for this information for a long time. I can confirm that the company logo is the same as the mark on my Celestron Orthos

Thanks, again!!!
Blake

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[Blake Andrews]

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,

Hi James,

I was combing the old threads and noticed that your finder has a JTII inspection sticker on it. Can you tell me the number on the sticker and perhaps when the finder was purchased new?

Thanks!
Blake

[mgwhittle]

KD :Daiichi.opt [http://www.daiichikogaku.ecnet.jp/[/url]

Many thanks! I've been looking for this information for a long time. I can confirm that the company logo is the same as the mark on my Celestron Orthos

Thanks, again!!!
Blake

I have to say, I'm quite surprised this small company supplied so many eyepieces, telescopes and accessories to Celestron, Vixen, Tasco and others.

[Joe Cepleur]

My newly-purchased Tasco 7te-5 sports the symbol shown several times on the first page of this thread. With the default setting of 25 posts per page, this symbol is shown on both the second picture from the top of that page (labeled "Type 1"), and the second through fifth pictures from the bottom. It's a circle with crosshairs centered in it, with the ends of the crosshairs extending outside of the circle, and with two capital letters "G" (or similarly shaped squiggles) set mirror image to the left and right of the upright crosshair.

The caption for the image at the top of the page describes this as the symbol for "Astro Optical," but at the bottom of the page, the same symbol (or one awfully close) is said to represent "Royal Astro." There is some slight variation in the re-curved tails of the "Gs" in these pictures, but it appears to be more a problem of consistently engraving something so small, than of creating deliberately almost-not-different trademarks.

What is the difference between these manufacturers? Is it one company presented occasionally by nickname instead of full name, or did one evolve into the other? I could imagine, for example, Astro Optical being sold, with the new corporate name becoming "Royal Astro," so as to remain familiar to customers.

On a side note, I know a new scope requires a thread of its own with lots of pictures, but I can offer only an I.O.U. for now. It is in pretty good shape, but the mount is frozen nearly solid with old grease; so, for starters, it will need a thorough refurbishing.

[clamchip]

I wonder if we should make this a sticky?
Did I say that correctly meaning put it where it can easily be found for reference.

How does everyone feel about making it sticky.

Robert

[ngc2289]

I agree! I have this thread on my favorites list. So Moderators please make this thread a sticky!