18 replies to this topic

[grif 678]

Classics go way back, know many of them have long gone. But saying in the 70's to the 90's era, how many of the telescope makers in those years are still around,?

[hyiger]

Questar is still around but barely. 

[Astrokg]

Takahashi

[Tourneciel]

Vixen too.

[DrBB]

Celestron, obviously

[ccwemyss]

Astro-Physics. 

[CHASLX200]

Most are long gone. No more U's.  C is still around while M is dead.

[bobhen]

HERE is a link to a wonderful article by Rod Mollise titled, The Parade Gone By. In the article (written in 2012), Rod goes through the pages of a 1966 Sky & Telescope magazine and discusses the prominent scope manufacturers of that time and how many have just gone by the way. 

 

Bob 

[geovermont]

I loved the article cited above by Bob, as well as The Good Tasco linked in that article. I should keep an eye out for one of those reflectors, even though its a fair bit smaller than my workhorse 6 inch f/8 reflector.

[RalphMeisterTigerMan]

Astrophysics and TeleVue. 

 

Clear skies and keep looking up!

RalphMeisterTigerMan

[bjkaras]

Mine were all made by companies that are gone.

[saemark30]

Is Sky Instruments of Canada still around?

I see the Antares eyepieces are still being sold online at various retailers.

[Kitfox]

Just an observation...

 

...if all the scope companies in the world right now folded, there would probably be enough equipment in the marketplace to keep us all going.

 

At least those of us in this forum probably realize this.

[clamchip]

Edmund is still around.

They don't sell 7 foot weather balloons or surplus WW2 chipped optics for the experimenter anymore though

When Norm Edmund retired in 1975 his son Robert went on to make Edmund the worlds largest optics manufacturer.

You can still buy some of the old favorites like a 4 inch F/15 achromatic lens, in fact it still has the same part number. 

Edmund Optics:

https://www.edmundop...EW4U32reldVCyvo

 

Robert

Edited by clamchip, 14 February 2025 - 11:34 AM.

[ccwemyss]

Bit of a price increase. $69 to $1279.

 

Chip W. 

[CHASLX200]

Just an observation...

 

...if all the scope companies in the world right now folded, there would probably be enough equipment in the marketplace to keep us all going.

 

At least those of us in this forum probably realize this.

I do. Nothing new i want.

[Simoes Pedro]

Yes, some of those manufacturers may be still around, but, in practice classic telescopes are gone.  

[Terra Nova]

I do. Nothing new i want.

Nothing I want new or old. I’m full up from now on. I have enough stuff to keep me looking up for as long as I’m able.

[CHASLX200]

Nothing I want new or old. I’m full up from now on. I have enough stuff to keep me looking up for as long as I’m able.

I do also really. But i have them silly wants like a drunk to booze. Gotta keep my mind off of bad things.