14 replies to this topic

[The captain]

Hello all

 

Would there be anyone with any information and history of Limer Refractors ? I have a very nice 60mm refractor from Japan, which gives beautiful images of the moon and planets - all be it constrained by the relatively small lens.

 

I am not sure but I think Limer may be related to Mirador in some way but can’t find much information about it. 
 

Keen to hear of anyone has much knowledge of these or knows of their history. 
 

Thanks in advance, Justin.

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[The captain]

A few more shots.

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[Van Do9:3]

Hello Captain, 

 

Welcome to the Classics forum. Congratulations on your acquisition of a beautiful alt-az 60mm. I am not familiar with the Limar brand but your telescope has the hallmark elements of an Asahi Pentax. 
 

[CharlieB]

Sure looks like an Asahi Pentax rebrand.  Should be a great scope.

 

Charlie

[CharlieB]

The logo on the focuser is very much like the Mirador logo, but Mirador was an importer, not the manufacturer.  One of my Mirador scopes (50/750mm) was made by Astro Optical and the other is probably a Yamamoto (50/600mm).

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Bomber Bob]

Cool Find!  We need to add the pix & info to this thread:   https://www.cloudyni...rs-who-made-em/

 

Near 100% sure it's a re-branded Asahi -- Congrats!!

[Kasmos]

Very nice telescope! Unusual name, and yes an Asahi, no doubt about it.

 

The triple tested statement on the focuser is curious since that was Bushnell's trademark statement. The triangle is also interesting since that was once the mark of Bausch & Lomb. There was a lot of copying going on in those days, plus some names implied untrue connections so that might be the case here.

 

The timing is right since we have just started discussing these styles of telescopes in the link BB just provided.

[Bomber Bob]

There was a lot of copying, and a lot of (currently) unknown / unclear business relationships...

 

The Triangle Mark was also used in the late 19th / early 20th centuries by the Triple Alliance:  B&L, Saegmuller, & Zeiss.  Oh!  And several Japanese makers / exporters copied the Zeiss logo, too.

 

My understanding is that right after WWII, the Japanese optics / instrument makers were looking for markets / $$$$.  I just finished the HBO documentary, WWII In Color, and seeing that country's devastation, makes sense to me.

[Kasmos]

All that copying created a commonly heard phrase in the 60's, 'Cheap Japanese Copy' sometimes deserved and sometimes not. Now days China is going through the same.

 

BTW, it sometimes seems like just about every Japanese optical company or importer once used a Zeiss like logo. 

[clamchip]

In those early days quality was all over the place until Japan created the optical export inspections

in the late 50's. Japan was trying to make a optical name for themselves and didn't want any poor

quality optical goods leaving their shores.

Years ago I collected binoculars and the swap meet tables always had plenty. It got so I could pick

up a binocular and in about a minute I could tell if it was going to come home with me. Ignoring the

dirt etc. and concentrating on optical quality some were fabulous, others were acceptable and only

rarely a dud. 90% were from Japan.

 

Robert  

[jsiska]

Nice looking telescope!

[grif 678]

Wonder what the focal length is. I have a 60mm Celestron refractor from Japan also, but it does not tell the focal length either.

[Kasmos]

Wonder what the focal length is. I have a 60mm Celestron refractor from Japan also, but it does not tell the focal length either.

The Limer is basically a rebadged Asahi Jupiter so it's 800mm. If your Celestron is black I can almost guarantee it's a 900mm. If it's bluish gray on a Alt-Az mount a 800mm, on a GEM 900mm.

[Bowlerhat]

Oh, that crinkled black look is good!

Edited by Bowlerhat, 18 January 2022 - 10:26 PM.

[The captain]

Thank you all for such polite and kind responses. I appreciate you all taking the time to help. I’m a little surprised that I can’t find a fellow Limer owner to confirm a few points so may raise this on another forum too. (May try SGL)

Many thanks again and keep the info flowing !

Best wishes Justin