16 replies to this topic

[skyops]

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We can all speculate, but does anyone visiting this board actually know?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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[Keith Rivich]

I don't actually know but I suspect it was:

 

http://www.light-op.co.jp/english/

 

Or one of their precursor companies. They made most of Bushnell's higher end scopes. 

[hyiger]

If it has the Circle T trademark on it then it was made by Towa

[MisterDan]

Light/Raito has been around since the mid-'50s, and I know of no precursor. This Sky Chief is far younger than the '50s.

 

I don't know of any astronomical telescope(s) manufactured by Light Koki. My understanding is that their original products were binoculars, with microscopes coming a few years later, then rifle scopes another few after that. Spotting scopes were added in the '70s, methinks.

 

I would sooner guess Tanzutzu or Towa for the Sky Chief.

 

Best wishes.

Dan

Edited by MisterDan, 09 April 2025 - 07:07 PM.

[skyops]

If it has the Circle T trademark on it then it was made by Towa

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There is no maker's mark, hence the photo.

 

 

 

 

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[Jethro7]

We can all speculate, but does anyone visiting this board actually know?

 

Hello Skyops,

FWIW, Here is all I could find out about the Bushnell Sky Chief origin manufacturer. Bushnell telescopes, including the Sky Chief models, are known for being manufactured in Japan, the specific company that produced them is not definitively known, but it's likely that they were manufactured by a Japanese company on behalf of Bushnell. Maybe one of our Classic Telescope aficionados  will chime in with a better answer.

 

HAPPY SKIES AND KEEP LOOKING UP Jethro

 

P.S. I know this is a weak long shot. I ran across this "Nihon Seiko Kenkyusho LTD"  produced scopes for Bushnell scopes in the late 1950's. The thing is, it could be a number of different companies that manufactured Scopes for Bushnell over time. 

Edited by Jethro7, 09 April 2025 - 08:00 PM.

[SporadicGazer]

There is no maker's mark, hence the photo.

Check under the focuser (on the tension plate that holds the focusing shaft).  Some otherwise unmarked scopes from COC (Carton Optical Company) are stamped there.

 

Also there maybe markings on the Objective cell, though I don't recall this being common.

 

Lastly, it has been speculated other Bushnell Sky Chief models were made by RAO (Royal Astro (Optical?)), but since the model # changed the manufacturer might have also changed too.

 

Sorry, really weak leads.  Hopefully (probably) someone knows more.

Edited by SporadicGazer, 09 April 2025 - 07:55 PM.

[ccwemyss]

Bushnell used various makers and tried to hide who actually built their scopes. Many were labeled <BOL> for Bushnell Optical Labs. Monolux was like that too, although sometimes a hint would slip through (I have one with a tiny HOC stamped on the focuser knob). My silver and blue Sky Chief Junior looks very much like a Shrine-Manon OTA, but it could be either APL or HOC. 

 

With more pictures of the focuser, finder mount, and objective cell, people here may be able to pin it down for you.

Chip W. 

[skyops]

Check under the focuser (on the tension plate that holds the focusing shaft). 

 

 

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Can this clue be identified by anyone?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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[SporadicGazer]

Can this clue be identified by anyone?

Notes I've kept say that is "D-K", or "K-D", and probably is Dai Ichi Kogaku.

 

There is a giant Japanese symbol thread and a couple gurus that post here so I can't say who said that or how confident they were in the connection.  (Or when.  Someone, who seemed credible, said it at a time it seemed relevant to me and I copied it down.)

[skyops]

Notes I've kept say that is "D-K", or "K-D", and probably is Dai Ichi Kogaku.

 

There is a giant Japanese symbol thread and a couple gurus that post here so I can't say who said that or how confident they were in the connection.  (Or when.  Someone, who seemed credible, said it at a time it seemed relevant to me and I copied it down.)

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This OTA has well-figured optical elements, and I want to know who should get the credit.

 

 

 

 

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[scottinash]

Check out this thread>https://www.cloudyni...urer/?p=3372040

[Bomber Bob]

Notes I've kept say that is "D-K", or "K-D", and probably is Dai Ichi Kogaku.

 

There is a giant Japanese symbol thread and a couple gurus that post here so I can't say who said that or how confident they were in the connection.  (Or when.  Someone, who seemed credible, said it at a time it seemed relevant to me and I copied it down.)

That's it.

[strdst]

I think I had a telescope like yours a long time ago. Is the tube plastic (like PVC), labeled Bushnell with some stripes? Early on I'd pick up just about anything with Japan on the label and three foil spacers. I mostly bought mine for the tripod legs which I kept and the rest I didn't. My particular scope optically was very underwhelming.

 

I have a pretty old Bushnell with really fine optics. The tube is in a steely-blue/gray color. A gift from NAVE a former classics forum contributor. Sounds like your scope shares the same kind of optical quality as my old one. Nice find!

 

Also, if anyone here has NAVE's (Evan Schultz) current contact info please PM me. My last email address for Evan hasn't produced a reply. 

Attached Thumbnails

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Edited by strdst, 09 April 2025 - 11:16 PM.

[MisterDan]

Daiichi Kogaku indeed.    -Not to be confused with the older DOC/Zenobia camera maker during the '50s.

The only other thing I can add is its vintage:  definitely post '81; I'd "guesstimate" 1982-1986.

 

Cheers & best wishes.

Dan

[skyops]

I think I had a telescope like yours a long time ago. Is the tube plastic (like PVC), labeled Bushnell with some stripes? Early on I'd pick up just about anything with Japan on the label and three foil spacers. I mostly bought mine for the tripod legs which I kept and the rest I didn't. My particular scope optically was very underwhelming.

 

I have a pretty old Bushnell with really fine optics. The tube is in a steely-blue/gray color. A gift from NAVE a former classics forum contributor. Sounds like your scope shares the same kind of optical quality as my old one. Nice find!

 

Also, if anyone here has NAVE's (Evan Schultz) current contact info please PM me. My last email address for Evan hasn't produced a reply. 

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The tube is aluminum, painted white, with no striping, but the dew shield and focuser is plastic with metal knobs. It was configured for a yoke-type mount. I have it with a tube clamp for use on any Vixen-type saddleplate, currently.

 

It seems optical quality was hit-or-miss with just about any of the many Japanese manufacturers from that period.

 

 

 

 

 

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Edited by skyops, 10 April 2025 - 12:42 AM.

[skyops]

Check out this thread>https://www.cloudyni...urer/?p=3372040

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Great sleuthing, that!

 

 

 

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