122 replies to this topic

[TOM KIEHL]

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[TOM KIEHL]

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[TOM KIEHL]

No Greg, I could only of wished I could of met her before she passed this last December..

[dgreyson]

I love the brass trim on this little gem. Keep the provenance and her pictures together, for when it's time to pass it along again. they tell a story about someone who was interested in things.

[TOM KIEHL]

I love the brass trim on this little gem. Keep the provenance and her pictures together, for when it's time to pass it along again. they tell a story about someone who was interested in things.

Yes I will... I feel as though I do know her somewhat now that I have her scope and all the paper work that went with it. I also have her complete collection of Sky and Telescope magazines ,from 1951 To present....

[Ducky62]

This is really cool and, in many ways, the best kind of post to this forum.

[R Botero]

Great looking scope and (hi)story to go with it. Glad it found a good home!
Roberto

[Astrojensen]

Fantastic!


Clear skies!
Thomas, Denmark

[bendab]

Nice scope Tom true classic if there ever was one.

[TOM KIEHL]

This is really cool and, in many ways, the best kind of post to this forum.

Thank you Ducky62, I also think so . Just throw the pictures out there and if anybody has Questions? I might have the answers

[TOM KIEHL]

Great looking scope and (hi)story to go with it. Glad it found a good home!
Roberto

Thanks Roberto, HISTORY??????,, The piece of history that I would like to find on this scope IS...When did Skyscope first start Production? The first ad in Sky and Tel. mag. that I can find is mid. 1947

[Chuck Hards]

Noticed this on eBay, wondering if it could be a Skyscope?

http://www.ebay.com/...g-1965-Ponti...

Nice find! Alice was quite the looker back in her youth.

[TOM KIEHL]

Noticed this on eBay, wondering if it could be a Skyscope?

http://www.ebay.com/...g-1965-Ponti...

Nice find! Alice was quite the looker back in her youth.

YESSS,,,, She sure was Chuck ....I think the scope in the photo might be a Gilbert don't know for sure? Alice's scope is 3.5" with a FL ratio of F 11, the scope in the photo looks shorter...Thanks Chuck

[Dave M]

This is really cool and, in many ways, the best kind of post to this forum.

+1
Very Cool find Tom

[Terra Nova]

Very nicely made, classic OTA. I love the brass. Its hard to understand why they would expend that degree of quality and craftsmanship and then couple it to such an obviously inadequate mount. That's where Unitron and a few others got it right and most others didn't. You have to wonder if it was designed to look through or to look at, though I would imagine that the optics, cell, focuser and finder are more than adequate. Even in 1951 we see the tradition of coupling a good scope with what appears to be a flimsy mount, something that would later make the term 'department store telescope' synonymous with junk scope. But that is a discussion we have already had here. Just imagine what that scope would have been if it had been coupled with a finely made, much huskier equatorial mount, constructed to the same standard as the OTA.

Congratulations though on the acquisition of an interesting and early specimen, made all the more interesting given the copious documentation. It will make an interesting piece in the corner of a living room or study.

[snork]

Nice find Tom...great looking classic!

[A6Q6]

This is really cool and, in many ways, the best kind of post to this forum.

+1
Very Cool find Tom

[Bonco]

Great post. In the late 50's I had some older friends that owned or looked thru the Skyscope. The were impressed with the optics.
Bill

[SDStargazer]

I love the brass trim on this little gem. Keep the provenance and her pictures together, for when it's time to pass it along again. they tell a story about someone who was interested in things.

Yes I will... I feel as though I do know her somewhat now that I have her scope and all the paper work that went with it. I also have her complete collection of Sky and Telescope magazines ,from 1951 To present....

Tom, maybe add your story to it also, have a complete history of the scope for ever who gets it next.

[TOM KIEHL]

Very nicely made, classic OTA. I love the brass. Its hard to understand why they would expend that degree of quality and craftsmanship and then couple it to such an obviously inadequate mount. That's where Unitron and a few others got it right and most others didn't. You have to wonder if it was designed to look through or to look at, though I would imagine that the optics, cell, focuser and finder are more than adequate. Even in 1951 we see the tradition of coupling a good scope with what appears to be a flimsy mount, something that would later make the term 'department store telescope' synonymous with junk scope. But that is a discussion we have already had here. Just imagine what that scope would have been if it had been coupled with a finely made, much huskier equatorial mount, constructed to the same standard as the OTA.

Congratulations though on the acquisition of an interesting and early specimen, made all the more interesting given the copious documentation. It will make an interesting piece in the corner of a living room or study.

Terra thank you for your comments. Please let me first preface with the folowing is ment for friendly conversation and not arguement. 1st. The first ad I found for Skyscope was in Sky and Telescope( pg 21 May of 1947 )..The first ad for United Trading Co. that I found was (pg.229 Oct 1951). Whats this all leading up to? you say. Well Back in the day if you wanted a telescope you had to make one yourself. OR buy one mail order from a handfull of companies...ie. Tinsley, Skyscope, and later United Trading Co. aka Unitron, to name a few.
2nd. "Its hard to understand why they would expend that degree of quality and craftsmanship and then couple it to such an obviously inadequate mount.".... "obviously inadequate mount"??? That mount is very adequate I might say, it can be configured in an ALT/AZ configuration or a EQ. mount without the use of counter wieghts, and is very smooth in motion. The tripod is very sturdy , with about 1-2 second recovery time after a move.
3rd. "That's where Unitron and a few others got it right and most others didn't."...Well if all telescopes were created equal to "Unitrons and a few others" I would have a BORING collection of telescopes.
4th. " It will make an interesting piece in the corner of a living room or study. "....MAYBE....but it will be used to observe with once again , on a regular basis.

[TOM KIEHL]

Nice find Tom...great looking classic!

Thanks Dan, It was well worth the 1018 mi.round trip for it. and the Sky and Tell. mags. Although DaveM says I spent too much on gas

[TOM KIEHL]

Great post. In the late 50's I had some older friends that owned or looked thru the Skyscope. The were impressed with the optics.
Bill

Thanks Bill, Can't say about the optics Yet. but the next clear sky we shall see

[strdst]

Hi Tom,

What a great history to go with the scope! I think as collectors of telescopes we all try to collect a bit of history. As more and more finds come to us briefly third hand from someone who took a chance at an estate sale and is quickly reselling for some benefit on their investment/risk, we lose the story behind the instrument. I have a number of good telescope histories but they are in the oral tradition, stories given to me that I have shared here but aren't documented like you have done. Thank you!

I name my telescopes after the previous (long term) owner. Scopes that have come to me via eBay or shopgoodwill are the no name scopes. They are not the Shannon, Cindy, Dano, or Conner, Holly, Salvador, Kaleen, Megan, Siple, and Nicholas that I actually speak to by name as I carry them out into the yard! These named scopes have a story that I keep in my head when observing. I have a name to thank while I put them away. Weird but...

Anyway I have a SkyScope too. It came from the original purchaser a few years ago. In the original mailing box, swaddled in an old bed sheet. I didn't meet the seller/owner as I had a family member pick it up for me. Having a story to go with would have been very nice.

Good work!

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[TOM KIEHL]

I love the brass trim on this little gem. Keep the provenance and her pictures together, for when it's time to pass it along again. they tell a story about someone who was interested in things.

Yes I will... I feel as though I do know her somewhat now that I have her scope and all the paper work that went with it. I also have her complete collection of Sky and Telescope magazines ,from 1951 To present....

Tom, maybe add your story to it also, have a complete history of the scope for ever who gets it next.

Thanks Steve, ...And thats a good idea, How I got this scope and magazines is a story in itself ...And A Long One At That..

[fjs]

I also have her complete collection of Sky and Telescope magazines ,from 1951 To present....

I checked your want ad. You sure did make a serious dent in the list!

That is a cool looking 'scope even without the history. All that documentation takes it to a whole different level.

How I got this scope and magazines is a story in itself ...And A Long One At That..

I hope you're not being a tease, but will share some of the story at some point.