30 replies to this topic

[Mike Mopar]

Hello,

I found this old french refractor Maurice Manent 110/1600 mm scope at a bavarian seller in Germany.

I will get it delivered next week. Complete with the original big wooden tripod. It has a painted brass tube, but only 1 eyepiece left.

Has someone any information if the optics were made by Mr. Manent or did he get it from Zeiss Jena at the time around 1910 ?

 

Michael

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[Mike Mopar]

here are other photos.

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[Stellar1]

Wow, are you planning on restoring it? if so it will be awesome when finished, beautiful scope.

[Mike Mopar]

Hello Stellar 1,

yes I am planning on restoring it.  I am still not sure what right grey colour to use for the tube. I saw light and dark grey tubes.

 

Best wishes,

Michael

[upwinddan]

Congratulations on a spectacular project.

[R Botero]

Beautiful Michael  Looking forward to the restoration thread  I am no Zeiss expert but probably the cell will have marks if made by them? You’ll know once you get it. 

 

Roberto

Edited by R Botero, 21 July 2024 - 02:06 AM.

[Mike Mopar]

I got a message that the optics came from Secretan and the Paris glass company called Parra-Montois in that time period 1900-1920.

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[Mike Mopar]

Hello,

I got this heavy, 14 kg  brass telescope today.  The objective is in very good condition even after more than 110 years.

Nice looking brass finder was included. Even the original front dust cover was there. But only one eyepiece with a 27 mm diameter.

And it is really the big 110 mm/1600 mm objective! even the focuser is working fine.

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[Mike Mopar]

more photos.

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[Mike Mopar]

I got it disassembled now. 

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[dweller25]

Good luck with the restoration 

[Mike Mopar]

Hello, I put the focuser apart , cleaned and greased it.  It is a very heavy brass part ( 1,5 kg  !! ).  But a work of art , build for last 500 years on. 

It is very well made with the capsuled axis.  It runs very precise and smooth.  I hope to get the telescope together in August.  The tube is on its way to the painter.

The front original alloy dust cap for the objective is broken, so I will make anew part on a lathe machine.

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[Kasmos]

I'd think twice about repainting it. It erases all of it's character/age and originality, and quite possible, much of it's value.

Edited by Kasmos, 02 August 2024 - 01:32 PM.

[Manu.Fonfon]

Good morning Mike

How lucky to have found such an instrument in Germany!

It is a beauty!

Indeed, to my knowlege, Maurice Manent was a mechanic, not an optician and most optics were made by Secretan. I can try and get confirmation

Cheers

Emmanuel

[Mike Mopar]

I got an alloy adapter made for the Manent focuser to use modern 1,25 inch eyepieces. A friend made it on a lathe just trying to get the right thread.

I think Mr.Manent did not use metric thread over 100 years ago.  I also got a new 3D printed dust cap for the 110 mm objective. 

I took also a photo of the worm gear drive at the mount. That is massive brass work !. Sadly the  2 long sticks for fine turning at the axles are missing. 

I am also waiting for the main tube to be painted. 

Best wishes, 

Michael

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[Bomber Bob]

Simply Lovely Classic!   Congratulations!!

 

Is the tube going to be painted, or powder-coated?  Can't wait to see it...

[Mike Mopar]

Hello Bob,

a professional car painter will paint the tube for me. I think it will be finished in 2 weeks. 

I once worked at the Zeiss factory. There we had a great powder coating machine for the microscopes. 

 

Michael

[Mike Mopar]

Hello, here is the first picture of the finished Manent tube from the Pro-Painter. I think he has done a good job!

 

Michael

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[Mike Mopar]

Another picture!

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[Mike Mopar]

I finally got the painted tube home today. This is 100 percent the original colour from 1911 on. the painter scanned the part with the clear colour.

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[starman876]

beautiful scope.  Love these old scopes.  I find it amazing that they have survived all these years.  

[Bomber Bob]

Gorgeous results!  And, just in time for the Big 3 Planets this Fall / Winter.

[Terra Nova]

Great work!

[Mike Mopar]

Today I got the counterweight and the front tube part on the main tube. 

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[Mike Mopar]

Today I got the focuser and the finder back on the scope.  I got the counterweight off the tube, because of trouble holding the weight in the right position.

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