Grubb Parsons Perseus Telescope

[m.tweedy]

Our Society (Sunderland Astro) have recently had one of our telescopes returned in a pretty sorry state. It is a Grubb Parsons Perseus modified Maksutov. Does anyone have any photographs of any? We are unsure if the focus assembly is original or a later add on. We have de forked it to enable it to be mounted on an NEQ6 but are keeping the fork assembly safe in case it is re assembled at some time in the future when we have the space to show it in its original glory.

We would appreciate any further information such as focal length people may have also.

Despite lots of searching these telescopes seem to be rarer than hens teeth and nothing is showing up on the internet.

Thank you.  

[Putaendo Patrick]

I believe the Newcastle Astronomical Society http://www.newcastleastro.co.uk/  acquired a Perseus about ten years ago from a school which had closed down. Don't know if they still have it, might be worth asking?

Neil English wrote a great article on old Maks (no mention of Grubb though), he might have more information: http://neilenglish.net/the-joy-of-the-maksutov-telescope/

John Nichol has investigated Grubb Parsons and David Sinden (who designed the Perseus): https://sites.google.com/site/grubbparsons/home/  Again, he may have some leads?

Tyne and Wear Archives have a very considerable quantity of Grubb Parsons documentation - 215 feet of shelf space! No idea what it contains or if it is well indexed, but there might be a catalogue or brochure? http://www.tyneandweararchives.org.uk/DServe2/dserve.exe?dsqIni=Dserve.ini&dsqApp=Archive&dsqCmd=Show.tcl&dsqDb=Catalog&dsqPos=0&dsqSearch=(RefNo='ds.gp')

Good luck!

[DrRobin]

Hi,

Did you find out anything about the Perseus?  I have just been contacted by school in Newcastle, who has a Persues on its mount.  It is marked 225mm (aperture) and serial number 3.  If it is a Mak then assume F/12 to F/15 so focal length about 2700 to 3300mm.

They are sending photos, but an idea of age and what parts fit might help?

Robin

[m.tweedy]

Yes we found it is indeed a Mac. It was in a sorry state when we received it back. However Juergen who is an expert has it in his capable hands and is repairing it.

img004a.tif

I have the full set of drawings if you need them.

 

[m.tweedy]

[m.tweedy]

 John Nichol could also be interested in getting involved in its refurbishment.

[DrRobin]

Wow that was fast, many thanks.

I haven't seen it myself so don't know it's condition, but here is a photo I have been sent.

It looks in reasonable condition.  I think it might date from the early 1980s.

And one of the front, looks like it has been cleaned, badly, but it looks like it is on the outside.

I will try and find out more about it.

They also have a 70mm frac and another scope they have not sent photos of yet.

 

[m.tweedy]

It is the same as ours.  We have de forked ours as the fork mount was beyond repair.Forks stored in case we decide to remount it in the future.

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