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Help Identifying an Old 5" F15 Lens?

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11 replies to this topic

#1 PRejto

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Posted 16 January 2025 - 04:42 PM

I've owned this lens since a teenager but I just cannot remember the source back in the mid 1960s. I think it was either Jaegers or Edmund Scientific. There is not a single piece of evedence on the cell.

 It is 5" and F15

 

Thanks!

 

Peter

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Edited by PRejto, 16 January 2025 - 04:44 PM.


#2 Sean Cunneen

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Posted 16 January 2025 - 05:23 PM

I am 99% sure that is an ATM cell. No objective manufacturer that I know used cleats quite like that to hold an objective in. While I like it's simplicity, that is fairly crude for what would be a once-in-a-lifetime purchase. 



#3 PRejto

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Posted 16 January 2025 - 05:32 PM

Thanks Sean!

 

Would you know if Edmund (or Jaegers) ever might have sold a lens not in a cell? This telecsope was basically built in the shop of Consolidated Film Industry in Hollywood where a high school friend's father was the CEO. I know I bought the lens and they put it in the tube. Other than that my memory is blank. Possibly the tech there didn't like the original cell or couldn't quite figure out how to mate it to the 7" diameter tube. When I seach Google I don't get hits for 5" F15 lenses. I do get 4" and 6"

 

P

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#4 photoracer18

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Posted 16 January 2025 - 05:55 PM

That telescope has a lot of Cave parts on it like the mount and also some Unitron items. Lens could be Wollensach or Unitron as both  made a fairly large 5" F15 refractor back in those days and the lenses were for sale from a number of sources. I don't recognize the cell either.


Edited by photoracer18, 16 January 2025 - 06:00 PM.


#5 RichA

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Posted 16 January 2025 - 06:01 PM

I've owned this lens since a teenager but I just cannot remember the source back in the mid 1960s. I think it was either Jaegers or Edmund Scientific. There is not a single piece of evedence on the cell.

 It is 5" and F15

 

Thanks!

 

Peter

Edmund.  I owned one. 



#6 PRejto

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Posted 16 January 2025 - 06:25 PM

The mount is definitely a Cave Astrola. The smaller OTA is a Mayflower 3" (quite a good lens!). The 5" lens is definitely not a Unitron, regardless of any accessories. I think it is either Edmunds or Jaegers in a different cell. This is the first time I've removed the cell from the tube. Those two names stick in my mind from  ~60 years ago. It was a surprise not to know the authenticity when removed today!

 

Peter



#7 PRejto

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Posted 16 January 2025 - 06:27 PM

Edmund.  I owned one. 

Okay!  thank you so much!   Same cell??

 

P



#8 Bubbles2354

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Posted 18 January 2025 - 10:27 PM

About 2 weeks I acquired a 5” folded refractor telescope and was told telescope lens was F/15. Just last night I spent about 3 hours removing lens (still in it cell) and researching the lens on the internet. I could make out factory writing on side of lens glass What I have is a 5” F/15 doublet lens that has simple AR coatings. I found my lens to be a D&G optical 5” F/15 lens. I am thinking that is your lens manufacturer too. I think the lenses are found in old Unitron telescope?  Still researching things. I am trying to find the value of my lens which as good optical surfaces.

 

Dennis



#9 Jeff B

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Posted 19 January 2025 - 11:03 AM

Nice find!

 

I see arrow alignment mark on the element edges and is there writing too?

 

Taking the lens out of the cell for a look should be very easy once those three tabs are removed.

 

If you gently shake the objective/cell, does it rattle slightly?

 

Jeff


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#10 PawPaw

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Posted 19 January 2025 - 01:01 PM

Nice find!

 

I see arrow alignment mark on the element edges and is there writing too?

 

Taking the lens out of the cell for a look should be very easy once those three tabs are removed.

 

If you gently shake the objective/cell, does it rattle slightly?

 

Jeff

I see the same writing and arrows that Jeff does.  Edmund stamped their objective edges with arrows and annotated in writing how to align.  I have only seen these stamps on Edmund objectives.   The cell is not Edmund.  Take some closer pics of the writing and post another pic.

 

Very nice find!

 

Don



#11 PRejto

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Posted 19 January 2025 - 04:18 PM

I took my cell apart. This is what I found.

 

I'd love to see the folded 5" as I'm contemplating doing something along those lines in a closed tube version. (anyone have a design for such?)

 

Peter

 

EDIT: How is one to make sense of the statement  "flint element faces the eye?"  The flint element is on the bottom of the cell so it was "facing the eye' when taken apart. So, I assume that is correct and that is what is meant.!

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  • 5 inch f15 Edmund lens.jpg

Edited by PRejto, 19 January 2025 - 09:23 PM.

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#12 Sean Cunneen

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Posted 22 January 2025 - 12:51 PM

Its really easy to get the orientation of the elements wrong. Many times in old scopes that aren't performing well, its because one of the elements are flipped or the objective was installed backwards. The message is telling you the correct way to put it back together.

 

Sean




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