Been and gone and done it now - Bought a Fullerscope

[Laurie61]

I was just observing the variations in Fullerscope parts.

I do notice that the cast ring on mine has several air bubbles in it. Such a shape isn't very easy to cast - there's always a place where the poured metal, having flowed around the ring, meets the flow coming the other way. This is where bubbles, globs, gaps and nasty inclusions happen.

The three legged design you have would cast more reliably

Richard

Yes, and a bit less weight.

[Paul M]

I imagine that Fullerscope's components were made in quite small batches or even as an when required for machined parts.

As per the original Bill of Sale posted above, I remember my order taking some months to fill and it was quite overdue and without the eyepieces when it did arrive. I'm sure they threw in an eyepiece upgrade as compensation.

[RLWP]

The 1964 catalogue shows complete rings on the mirror cell: http://geogdata.csun.edu/~voltaire/classics/fullerscopes/FULLERSCOPE_1964.pdf

Same in 1965: http://geogdata.csun.edu/~voltaire/classics/fullerscopes/fullerscope65.pdf

By 1985, 6" cells are segmented: http://geogdata.csun.edu/~voltaire/classics/fullerscopes/BCFcatalogue_1985.pdf

None of which probably means a thing. Interesting though.

Richard

[Peter Drew]

If you ever wondered what the F.Sc in Dudley Fuller F.Sc was, Dudley always claimed it stood for "Failed School Certificate".     

[RLWP]

If you ever wondered what the F.Sc in Dudley Fuller F.Sc was, Dudley always claimed it stood for "Failed School Certificate".   

Does that explain this webpage?: http://www.brayebrookobservatory.org/BrayObsWebSite/HOMEPAGE/forum/So%20Called%20Telescope%20Makers.html

Richard Bsc*

Big sums champion

[Paul M]

Does that explain this webpage?: http://www.brayebrookobservatory.org/BrayObsWebSite/HOMEPAGE/forum/So%20Called%20Telescope%20Makers.html

Richard Bsc*

Big sums champion

I've seen the contents of that link previously. I remember the Charles Frank also. Fullerscopes seemed to offer a bigger range of nicer looking telescopes and by the time I was on the market there was only one option.

Sadly none of the telescope makers therein would have survived in the modern market. They had to compete in a new global market full of mass produced telescopes. And even that is a niche market!

Whatever else, I'm still the proud owner of a fine David Hinds mirror

[RLWP]

Whatever else, I'm still the proud owner of a fine David Hinds mirror

It would appear that I am too!

Richard

[Tomjo59]

The 1970's was an interesting period in British telescope making - as a teenager I dreamed of owning a reflector made by Charles Frank, AE of Luton or Fullerscopes. Judging by the links above though, perhaps it's as well I didn't get a Fullerscopes!

I still have catalogues from Charles Frank, Fullerscopes, Astronomical Equipment of Luton, and Austin Roberts, all from around 1974-5.

When I get the chance, I'll scan them to PDF, and post them on here - might be of interest to somebody!

[Laurie61]

It would be interesting to see the old sales booklets, most of mine was lost and only the reflector details remain. I think had I lived closer to Farringdon Rd at the time I would have been finding reasons to be in and out all the time

Another difference between components was the mk3 mount counter weight shaft, mine is threaded but some were plain. The collar has a ball-bearing which sits in the thread and can be loosened allowing the collar to be wound up/down the shaft whilst still holding the weights, this makes it easy to set balance before re tightening the collar.

This is my only other section of catalogue showing a 6" export newt.  

[RLWP]

The catalogues are in the links I posted above. That threaded counter weight shaft is mentioned in one of them, no photographs though. Nice feature

The 1985 catalogue has a nice method for polar alignment on page 11: http://geogdata.csun.edu/~voltaire/classics/fullerscopes/BCFcatalogue_1985.pdf

Richard

[Paul M]

It would be interesting to see the old sales booklets, most of mine was lost and only the reflector details remain. I think had I lived closer to Farringdon Rd at the time I would have been finding reasons to be in and out all the time

Another difference between components was the mk3 mount counter weight shaft, mine is threaded but some were plain. The collar has a ball-bearing which sits in the thread and can be loosened allowing the collar to be wound up/down the shaft whilst still holding the weights, this makes it easy to set balance before re tightening the collar.

This is my only other section of catalogue showing a 6" export newt.  

IMG_3860.jpg

That's my baby. The mount is looking its age now : http://stargazerslounge.com/topic/176720-second-light/?hl=%2Bsecond+%2Blight#entry1927809

With all these "You show me yours and I'll show you mine" type threads it's about time we had a "Show us your Fullerscope" thread

Interestingly, considering the Charels Frank v Fullerscopes rhetoric, there aren't many classic Charles Frank scopes turning up on SGL or elsewhere. Shame really, could have had a fight!

[Tomjo59]

That's my baby. The mount is looking its age now : http://stargazerslounge.com/topic/176720-second-light/?hl=%2Bsecond+%2Blight#entry1927809

With all these "You show me yours and I'll show you mine" type threads it's about time we had a "Show us your Fullerscope" thread

Interestingly, considering the Charels Frank v Fullerscopes rhetoric, there aren't many classic Charles Frank scopes turning up on SGL or elsewhere. Shame really, could have had a fight! 

Yes, I've wondered about the lack of Charles Frank ones - maybe they were so well made and performed so well that nobody sells them on - like family heirlooms!

They certainly looked good, and I don't think they were hugely more expensive than other (British) makes of the time.

[Chris]

Great buy with that mirror at it's heart, congratulations

[Tomjo59]

That's my baby. The mount is looking its age now : http://stargazerslounge.com/topic/176720-second-light/?hl=%2Bsecond+%2Blight#entry1927809

With all these "You show me yours and I'll show you mine" type threads it's about time we had a "Show us your Fullerscope" thread

Interestingly, considering the Charels Frank v Fullerscopes rhetoric, there aren't many classic Charles Frank scopes turning up on SGL or elsewhere. Shame really, could have had a fight!

Some pages from the Charles Frank of Glasgow catalogue, circa 1973 (I think).

It was the 8 1/2"  Newtonian that I lusted after - way out of my league for a 13 year-old though!

Charles Frank.pdf

[Tomjo59]

For interest, here are a selection of pages from the catalogues of Austin Roberts & Co. and Astronomical Equipment Ltd, both from the early 'seventies.

These are not the complete catalogues, I have just included the complete telescope sections (and observatories, for Austin Roberts).

AE Ltd were originally based in Luton, then in Harpenden, it seems.

Austin Roberts were in Birkenhead.

Austin Roberts.pdf

AE.pdf

I suppose the market for telescopes in this country was much smaller than it is now, which might explain why we see so few (if any!) of these 'scopes being sold secondhand now.

I wonder how many of the Austin Roberts observatories are still in use!

[Paul M]

For interest, here are a selection of pages from the catalogues of Austin Roberts & Co. and Astronomical Equipment Ltd, both from the early 'seventies.

These are not the complete catalogues, I have just included the complete telescope sections (and observatories, for Austin Roberts).

AE Ltd were originally based in Luton, then in Harpenden, it seems.

Austin Roberts were in Birkenhead.

Austin Roberts.pdf

AE.pdf

I suppose the market for telescopes in this country was much smaller than it is now, which might explain why we see so few (if any!) of these 'scopes being sold secondhand now.

I wonder how many of the Austin Roberts observatories are still in use!

I don't remember either of those two.

I wonder how many scopes they actually supplied each year?

Many of the images in the AE brochure look like artistic representations rather than photos. Maybe some of those designs never got so far as production?

I'd love one of their chunky mounts

[Peter Drew]

Astronomical Euipment were big time players during their business years. All of the instruments and mounts depicted in the brochure were made, some in considerable numbers. I think it would be fair to say that their optics shaded the engineering when it came to accolades. The optical side of the business was spearheaded by Jim Hysom, a renowned optician by any standard, the engineering by his late brother Rob Hysom. The two parts of the business separated to become AE Optics and AE Engineering (not to be confused with AE Astro Engineering). AE Optics finally moved to the Cambridge area, gradually specialising with high end sophisticated government contracts. Fine opticians who trained at AE and eventually formed their own businesses were James Muirden, Es Reid and Jon Owen. I was fortunate to have a long standing association with AE as a sub contractor and friend of many of the staff.  

[Paul M]

Astronomical Euipment were big time players during their business years. All of the instruments and mounts depicted in the brochure were made, some in considerable numbers. I think it would be fair to say that their optics shaded the engineering when it came to accolades. The optical side of the business was spearheaded by Jim Hysom, a renowned optician by any standard, the engineering by his late brother Rob Hysom. The two parts of the business separated to become AE Optics and AE Engineering (not to be confused with AE Astro Engineering). AE Optics finally moved to the Cambridge area, gradually specialising with high end sophisticated government contracts. Fine opticians who trained at AE and eventually formed their own businesses were James Muirden, Es Reid and Jon Owen. I was fortunate to have a long standing association with AE as a sub contractor and friend of many of the staff.  

Thanks Peter, very informative.

Some of the AE scopes must surely still exist somewhere?

[HD-AP]

Thanks Peter, very informative.

Some of the AE scopes must surely still exist somewhere?

Hi

Yes they do !

I have an   A E 12 INCH F5 Newtonian mounted on a D- Type equatorial fork mount with dual axis stepper motor drives .

The drive motors are miniangle stepper made by Astrosyn co .ltd .japan a make i have never heard of  the Ra stepper motor weighs 4.5 lbs ,everything on this mount is massive the ra shaft is 3 inches dia the dec shafts are 1.5 inches dia .

This a rare scope and mount even mark stuckey the well known collector and restorer of A E equipment dosen't have one .

On the net there is a 12 inch newtonian /cassegrain on a d type mount but this has been modified/upgraded by byers's gears .

Mine has the origional massive bronze gears in ra and dec with stainless steel worms . the origional 0.96 inch push pull focusser has been replaced by a modern 2 inch r and p  but it retains the alloy focusser mount which can be moved up and down the tube rails to vary the focal plane /point

It's a work in progress but it's so massive and heavy and so well engineered it put's many modern telescopes to shame and it looks so Retro cool ,like a mini mount wilson 60 inch

Here is a link to the 1960's catologue my scope well minus the dec drive system is on page 12

  http://geogdata.csun.edu/~voltaire/classics/AE/AE.pdf

regards

clive

[John]

Thanks Peter, very informative.

Some of the AE scopes must surely still exist somewhere?

I've seen a couple of AE refractors. One of our members had one at the South West Astro Fair at Sidmouth a couple of years ago. I seem to recall it was a 4.5" F/14-ish achromat. Dave (F15Rules) also had one a while back:

http://stargazerslounge.com/topic/61445-new-ae-45-refractor/

Here is another example:

http://geoastro.co.uk/ae_refractor.htm

[RLWP]

Aaargh, I've got 'fractor envy

In other news, parts of the mount have received a coat of black paint. Not wrinkle finish though, I have gone for getting the scope up and running rather than a concourse restoration

Richard

[Peter Drew]

The AE refractors were 4.5" F14.4. The objectives were of the Littrow design, an interesting one as the curve radii of R1, R2 and R3 are identical with R4 being flat. This made for economic production as tooling costs were minimised. I made a couple using their objectives and Jim Muirden made a binocular with a pair!, he later modified the design to have a slightly convex R4 which further suppressed the already low CA.     Apologies if this has become a thread within a thread, I hope it has been of interest. 

[kerrylewis]

Only just seen this thread and like others it had me in nostalgic mood.

Around 1964 I started an astronomical society in my school and managed to persuade the governors to stump up for a Fullerscope. It arrived only a few months before I left in 1965 and although we got it assembled I never actually got to use it at night. I do remember projecting the sun onto a classroom wall though. I had gingerly cleaned the mirror with distilled water - perhaps unnecessary and I certainly wouldn't attempt it now.

The good old Exchange & Mart was the main source of adverts I recall and each copy would be intensely studied. There were all sorts of other wonderful things advertised there to!

I often wonder if the scope is still at the school somewhere in a dusty cupboard. Perhaps I should contact them and ask?

[RLWP]

  Apologies if this has become a thread within a thread, I hope it has been of interest. 

Yes, it is of interest, no need to apologise. I'm a terrible thread drifter myself

Richard

[RLWP]

And today's question is...

A focuser generally has the spindle with the knobs parallel to the main axis of the tube. Is there a reason why?

Richard