Peter Drew

Hello John. Come along and visit us sometime, I'm sure we can be of help to progress your astronomical interest.

+1 for Keith's suggestion, I've used a similar approach for up and over shutters on domed observatories.

The main problem usually with refractors is that you are financially stuck with a small telescope.

Neat solution. Can I suggest you machine a dimple into the face that the adjusting screw would bear on, this would locate the screw end and prevent it wandering across the face.

Yes, scrap the mount and make a Dobsonian version if you are into DIY. Almost anything is better than the supplied mount.

Of historical interest, the 26mm Vixen Plossl was the reason for the founding of Astro Promotions Luton. A large number of this eyepiece was made available to Astro Systems Luton and they were offered as a promotion to the general public at a very reasonable price. The promotion was so successful that other items were bought in quantity and sold on the same principle. Astro promotions ran in parallel with Astro Systems and eventually superceded it, the latter fading away until it was wound up.

These eyepieces were well thought of in their day, the 35, 40 and 45mm focal lengths had rather long eye relief. The 17mm, 22mm and 26mm were the best of the range.

You would have to change the the title.

I'll raise you one thumbscrew. I use 4 for heavy components, works like a 4 jaw.