36 replies to this topic

[Uncle Milt]

Is anyone else collecting / working on 40 and 50 mm Japanese import refractors these days?

 

I recently acquired a really nice, very early 50 x 600 mm Tasco refractor from (my best guess),

around 1959, and I am wondering what to do with it.  That is, either leave it "as is" and clean it

up as best that I can, or remount it on a vintage 60 mm tripod and add a finder so that it can

actually be used as an astronomical telescope.

 

I have done this with a later model Tasco 6TE, adding an elevation slo-mo control as well, and 

it gives good views of the moon and bright planets. 

 

 

Likewise, is anyone else doing anything with respect to converting the ubiquitous Tasco 4VTE's

into astronomical scopes, and -- if so -- what results have you had with them?

 

Here, BTW, is an earlier thread that touches on using the 6TE-class scopes.

 

https://www.cloudyni...35-tasco-6te-5/

[Uncle Milt]

PS -- Here is a later image showing the added slo-mo control in elevation:

 

[deSitter]

I have the very same scope but with a different brand and a table-top tripod. I moved the yoke to a full tripod. The brand is Monolux - model 4348. Absolutely first-rate little scope from about 1960. They are great for low-power full-disk views of the Moon. I think I will use mine for the total lunar eclipse in a couple of weeks.

 

-drl

[scngc7317]

My no name 40mm about F-20 ?

 

[CharlieB]

I have a few.

 

L to R top - Astro Optical T-6C, Astro Optical T-8, Unitron 40mm, Unitron 50mm, Astro Optical T-8, SPI 40mm f/20 (I have two of these)

 

bottom - Bushnell Observer (40mm), Astro Optical R-41, Bushnell Sky Rover (50mm f/10), Asahi Optical 40mm, Asahi Pentax 50/600mm (two of them)  

 

The little reflector is an 84mm Astro Optical , so it doesn't count.

 

 

 

Charlie

Edited by CharlieB, 26 February 2025 - 08:46 AM.

[CharlieB]

and this... a Swift 838

 

 

Charlie

Edited by CharlieB, 26 February 2025 - 08:31 AM.

[CharlieB]

one more...1956 Nippon Kogaku 50mm.

 

 

Charlie

Edited by CharlieB, 26 February 2025 - 08:32 AM.

[gstrumol]

I have a few.

 

small-scopes.png

 

Charlie

Oh my! 

[Uncle Milt]

Charlie --

 

Is there somewhere that you list and identify each of these small, tripod mounted 

refractors in the group photo? 

 

I have to admit that I am not familiar with most of them.  Likewise, are most of

these pristine, lightly (or never) used vintage scopes, or have they been restored?

Whatever -- it's a great collection.

 

scngcSC7317 --

 

That is a beautiful long focus 40 mm scope, but -- again -- I haven't a clue as to what

it might be.  Is all of that original, or have there been modifications?

 

To all --

 

For those of us not fortunate enough to find such nice, pristine vintage scopes -- 

is anyone doing any restoration / modification to similar small instruments that have

led harder lives?

 

Here is a modifed Tasco 4VTE that I use for a quick look at sunspots.  I am currently

working on another one of these, this time with a conventional, full size drawtube for

.965" oculars.   

 

 

 

 

[Uncle Milt]

As someone mentioned in the earlier cited CN forum thread, I have found that the quality

of the 40 mm objectives used in the 4-VTE class scopes seems to vary quite a bit, and

I have had to go through a number of them to find a decent one.  Has this been the experi-

ence of others as well?

 

And, as in the case of the 40 mm scopes, the Tasco 50 mm objectives that I have seen

don't seem to be that well corrected for color -- certainly not as well corrected as some 

of the 60 mm objectives from the same era.  Has anyone tried one of the newer 50 x 600

mm achromats from China?

[CharlieB]

Charlie --

 

Is there somewhere that you list and identify each of these small, tripod mounted 

refractors in the group photo? 

 

I have to admit that I am not familiar with most of them.  Likewise, are most of

these pristine, lightly (or never) used vintage scopes, or have they been restored?

Whatever -- it's a great collection.

 

scngcSC7317 --

 

That is a beautiful long focus 40 mm scope, but -- again -- I haven't a clue as to what

it might be.  Is all of that original, or have there been modifications?

 

 

 

I edited the post to show what each scope is.  I also found a couple of scopes not in the photo.

 

Mirador Super 50/600

 

 

Mirador Super 50/750 (Astro Optical R-51)

 

 

Oddball Threekor (Three Beach) 40mm f5.5

 

 

Charlie

[ErnH2O]

I've got a Mirador MR 57 (D=50mm f=750) Astro Optical that I acquired from GW a couple years ago. It is waiting to get restored once the eternal house remodel is done.

 

Pics and story are here.

https://www.cloudyni...-drink-and-bid/

Edited by ErnH2O, 26 February 2025 - 10:16 AM.

[Uncle Milt]

Hello Charlie --

 

Thanks for the identification of those classic small scopes.  Now I know more about what

to look for.  Again, that's a great collection.  The Mirador Super 50/750 (Astro Optical R-51)

is an absolute standout -- a beautiful little telescope.  The Mirador Super 50/600 isn't bad,

either.

 

Looking forward to seeing what happens to ErnH2O's Mirador.

 

The little 84mm Astro Optical reflector, BTW, is as cute as a bug -- and I desperately want

one!

 

Meanwhile, back to my other Tasco 40 mm conversion project...

 

Again, has anybody else taken on one of these?  Also, does anyone else have any of the

small finders used on these scopes?  These seem "impossible" to find, and I'd take one

in almost any condition.

[Bomber Bob]

I got stung by the Sub-60 Bug years ago, and got the clear aperture down to 30mm.  Now, my smallest is this  PILOT 47x800 F17 black beauty:

 

 

My 2 x 50mm models are from the early 1970s -- Jaegers (Kit) F12 & Takahashi TS-50 F14:

 

[ErnH2O]

 

Looking forward to seeing what happens to ErnH2O's Mirador.

 

Probably be some time. Home remodel takes place first.

 

My 6345 has a beautiful 40mm Astro Optical guide scope.

https://www.cloudyni...ece-of-garbage/

 

Cheers,
Ern

[Uncle Milt]

Bomber Bob --

 

Nice work on the little Jeagers refractor!  And is that a crinkle finish on the Pilot 47 x 800? 

It looks a lot like a small SPI refractor that I once saw listed.

 

I have the shell of a finder like the one that you used on the Jaegers scope, but I am looking

for better optics for it.  Any idea what scope this finder was used on back in the day?  Or

how old it might be?

 

Here is a somewhat similar finder -- in this case from an early Selsi 60 x 800 mm scope --

that I am planning on adding to the 40 mm "astronomical" Tasco that I am working on.

 

 

 

It's hard to find these smaller finders that are "in scale" with the 40 and 50 mm instruments.

 

[Kasmos]

Bomber Bob --

 

Nice work on the little Jeagers refractor!  And is that a crinkle finish on the Pilot 47 x 800? 

It looks a lot like a small SPI refractor that I once saw listed.

 

I have the shell of a finder like the one that you used on the Jaegers scope, but I am looking

for better optics for it.  Any idea what scope this finder was used on back in the day?  Or

how old it might be?

 

Here is a somewhat similar finder -- in this case from an early Selsi 60 x 800 mm scope --

that I am planning on adding to the 40 mm "astronomical" Tasco that I am working on.

 

T_16 mm Fndr & Brackets.jpg

 

58346721_o.jpg

 

It's hard to find these smaller finders that are "in scale" with the 40 and 50 mm instruments.

Hi Milt,

I believe his finder is the same type that came on the old 60/800mm Asahi Pentax,

but his was an extra that was included with a 60mm Carton Zen purchase

 

[Kasmos]

A very similar finder, but with a black tail piece came with the B&L 4000

 

Edited by Kasmos, 27 February 2025 - 02:17 PM.

[Bomber Bob]

Bomber Bob --

 

Nice work on the little Jeagers refractor!  And is that a crinkle finish on the Pilot 47 x 800? 

It looks a lot like a small SPI refractor that I once saw listed.

 

I have the shell of a finder like the one that you used on the Jaegers scope, but I am looking

for better optics for it.  Any idea what scope this finder was used on back in the day?  Or

how old it might be?

 

Here is a somewhat similar finder -- in this case from an early Selsi 60 x 800 mm scope --

that I am planning on adding to the 40 mm "astronomical" Tasco that I am working on.

 

T_16 mm Fndr & Brackets.jpg

 

58346721_o.jpg

 

It's hard to find these smaller finders that are "in scale" with the 40 and 50 mm instruments.

Yes, the PILOT has a rugged crinkle finish.  As Chris posted, my Jaegers 50 has the Asahi-style finder that I scavenged from a junk Carton -- this Finder had a better / prettier box than the big scope.  Your Finder was bundled with a bunch of 1960s Old TOWA scopes under dozens of brands.  Not sure now, but back in the day, Edmunds would've stocked cemented achromats you could use to upgrade the optics...

 

FYI:  The mini-finder on my TS-50 is a mostly metal Meade WF -- VG optics for such a stubby version!  Got it from Bill @ Telescope Warehouse years ago...  [Wonder if Bill has sold out most of his Meade stuff??]

Edited by Bomber Bob, 27 February 2025 - 03:40 PM.

[Uncle Milt]

Kasmos -- That's amazing.  It certainly does look like the same finder, doesn't it.  Wish

that I could find a few of those.

 

Bomber Bob -- Yes, I have been looking for a better quality achro objective for the little

Asahi-style finder, but no luck so far.  I have found a simple meniscus lens that will work,

though.  

 

To all -- I have found that these small scopes are perfect vehicles for replicating the 19th

Century rambles through the sky that Garrett P. Serviss described in such classics as 

his Astronomy with an Opera-Glass or, later, in Pleasures of the Telescope.

 

 

When he advises a "closer look" through a telescope, using these small refractors is

probably about as close as most of us are going to get to what sky gazing must have

been like back in those days -- and all the more reason to put these small instruments to

use.  Indeed, I find that Astronomy with an Opera-Glass -- hand in hand with The Pocket

Sky Atlas and my 40 mm refractor -- is the next best thing to a time machine.

[deSitter]

Kasmos -- That's amazing.  It certainly does look like the same finder, doesn't it.  Wish

that I could find a few of those.

 

Bomber Bob -- Yes, I have been looking for a better quality achro objective for the little

Asahi-style finder, but no luck so far.  I have found a simple meniscus lens that will work,

though.  

 

To all -- I have found that these small scopes are perfect vehicles for replicating the 19th

Century rambles through the sky that Garrett P. Serviss described in such classics as 

his Astronomy with an Opera-Glass or, later, in Pleasures of the Telescope.

 

Aty w Opera Glass.jpg

 

When he advises a "closer look" through a telescope, using these small refractors is

probably about as close as most of us are going to get to what sky gazing must have

been like back in those days -- and all the more reason to put these small instruments to

use.  Indeed, I find that Astronomy with an Opera-Glass -- hand in hand with The Pocket

Sky Atlas and my 40 mm refractor -- is the next best thing to a time machine.

Before Burnham was Rev. T.W. Webb's "Celestial Objects for Common Telescopes" - Victorian vintage, went through several editions. A "common telescope" was a 3" "glass" and the object lists are tailored to this aperture. Highly recommended, particularly when the right Reverend was overcome by the majesty of His/Her creation and could not restrain his immoderate praise.

 

Very easy to find on the used market.

 

-drl

[ryanr256]

I picked this little one (40mm) up from SGW a while ago:

 

 

 

Edited by ryanr256, 01 March 2025 - 01:11 PM.

[ryanr256]

Here's the maker's mark:

 

[Kasmos]

I've only had two 50mm scopes.

 

I bought this 50x50 Jason on SGW for it's interesting design plus I might have had a use for it's unique image erector.

Which turned out to be too small for the other scope it was possibly intended for

I think the maker was Plum?

I'm pretty sure they were made in the '50s and they came branded by others as well.

 

I had trouble using it for several reasons:

It's single TINY EP made it locked at 50x with a narrow field of view, and little eye reIief.

Nowhere to use the little table top legs and mount.

Which made the pull tube focuser too shaky for me to use.

Maybe with a re-grease or adjustment it would be better?

 

I thought about moding it but had too many projects plus pretty much resist moding a original scope.

So I passed it on for the cost of shipping.

 

I still have a Tasco 6TE 50/600mm OTA but haven't had time to do anything with it.

 

I'm guessing a lot of kids were disappointed when they recieved these scopes.

And kind of see scopes smaller than a 60mm as mostly a novelty/something to play with.

Not that there's anything wrong with that. 

Edited by Kasmos, 01 March 2025 - 03:12 PM.

[Bomber Bob]

I picked this little one (40mm) up from SGW a while ago:

 

PSX_20250301_125941.jpg

That's the scope that started Ole BB on this madness -- 56 years ago in September...