Farringdon Road Telescope maker

[thesatanbug]

I was walking down Farringdon Road yesterday and am sure there was a telescope maker there at one time. Does anyone know what they were called or are they even still in business? I remember going there about ten years ago when I was thinking of buying a scope but they were all way above what I could afford at that time. The business looked like it had been going there for hundreds of years.

Just wondering if it was there, or is my memory playing tricks?

[callump]

That was Broadhurst, Clarkson and Fuller - it was there for ages, then they relocated to Kent - they are still in business as Telescope House the UK No.1 for Telescopes and Binoculars since 1785

/callump

[thesatanbug]

Is that them? They don't seem to make telescopes anymore. Just sell boxes.

It was fascinating looking around. They made reflecting scopes up to quite impressive diameters.

Pity.

Thanks.

[NGC 1502]

Yes, Saturdays there was like an astronomy club meeting, and some customers

there also !! The place has a great history of telescope manufacture, a pity in

a way when they relocated. But they have a business to run, and nostalgia doesn't

run a successful retail outlet.

Regards, Ed.

[callump]

Fullerscopes was the telescope making part i think - run by Dudley Fuller (the Fuller of BCF).

I remember going to the shop in the '80s - it seemed like miles away from anywhere...

Widescreen is now the only telescope shop in London now afaik.

/callump

[thesatanbug]

^^^ I found a history and picture of the shop front. That's them. Looks like mass production saw them off.

[Doug]

Broadhurst, Clarkson and Fuller used to make scopes for Sir Patrick Moore

and about 18 months ago referbished that scope after many many years

remember seeing a photo with Sir Parick and the owner of Broadhurst, Clarkson and Fuller at his home

Doug

Essex

[John]

I used to visit Telescope House when I was in London and had time between meetings. It was a haven for looking at astro gear and chatting about it. I met Dudley Fuller a couple of times and ordered one of the Fullerscope MKIII equatorial mounts from him. It took about 4 months to make (about 4 times the original estimate !) but was a really solid affair with 8" diameter precision engraved setting circles - they don't make them like that any more !.

I bumped into Pete Gallon at the South West Astro Fair in Sidmouth a few weeks ago - Pete was one of the guys who used to work at Telescope House when I used to pop in.

I believe the telescope making section was in the basement of Telescope House and included some unique tube drawing equipment. They had phased out the Fullerscopes refractors by the time I was visiting the shop - Vixen and Meade models having replaced them on the showroom floor.

[brantuk]

There's a very nice account of the relationship between Sir Patrick and Dudley Fuller on this page:

Resources

[barkis]

Every visit to London meant a long walk down Farringdon Road to visit BC&F's shop. My wife endured my gloating as I strolled around looking at all the goodies in there. A 24 inch Meade SCT dominated centre stage. A massive beast I would drool over, and dream of becoming rich enough to buy it. Oh happy days.

Ron.

[John]

Every visit to London meant a long walk down Farringdon Road to visit BC&F's shop. My wife endured my gloating as I strolled around looking at all the goodies in there. A 24 inch Meade SCT dominated centre stage. A massive beast I would drool over, and dream of becoming rich enough to buy it. Oh happy days.

Ron.

I can recall seeing the 24" SCT Ron - it was a beast . A bit later they had a 7" Meade apo refractor as their centerpiece - I thought it was just about the most wonderful scope in the world back then

[barkis]

I can recall seeing the 24" SCT Ron - it was a beast . A bit later they had a 7" Meade apo refractor as their centerpiece - I thought it was just about the most wonderful scope in the world back then

HehHeh!, I still drool John, just thinking back to those visits.

Some how I don't think the new premises they occupy now, will have the same magical aura about it. I may visit one day, just to test that notion.

Ron.