OLDHAM OPTICAL CO. SCARBOROUGH

[johnturley]

Does anyone know what has happened to the above company based in Scarborough, I was recommended to them for honest testing, and if recommended refiguring the mirror of my 14in Newtonian.

I spoke to the owner Norman Oldham only last autumn, when I provisionally arranged with him to bring my mirror over for testing this spring, if refiguring was recommended I wanted it carried out in time for the favourable opposition of Mars this autumn. However when I rang their number yesterday (01723 375271) I got number unobtainable, and in addition their website appeared to have been taken down. I also sent an email, to which I have not received a reply.

If they are no longer in business does anyone know of someone else they can recommend, I far as I am aware, the only other company that carries out this type of work is Orion Optics UK, based in Newcastle under Lyne, but I have received mixed reports about them.

John Turley 

[Cornelius Varley]

@johnturley I've moved your post from the supplier review section. The supplier review section is for reviews only, anything else regarding suppliers should be posted in the astro-lounge area. 

[CraigT82]

Try Nichol Optical:

Nicholoptical.co.uk

01642 554699

[NGC 1502]

It might be worth contacting Beacon Hill Telescopes.   Barry Watts has been in the astronomy business for decades, he will be aware of who could help.

Ed.

[astro mick]

On 25/02/2020 at 06:21, johnturley said:

Does anyone know what has happened to the above company based in Scarborough, I was recommended to them for honest testing, and if recommended refiguring the mirror of my 14in Newtonian.

I spoke to the owner Norman Oldham only last autumn, when I provisionally arranged with him to bring my mirror over for testing this spring, if refiguring was recommended I wanted it carried out in time for the favourable opposition of Mars this autumn. However when I rang their number yesterday (01723 375271) I got number unobtainable, and in addition their website appeared to have been taken down. I also sent an email, to which I have not received a reply.

If they are no longer in business does anyone know of someone else they can recommend, I far as I am aware, the only other company that carries out this type of work is Orion Optics UK, based in Newcastle under Lyne, but I have received mixed reports about them.

John Turley 

Hi I had a mirror recoated by this company last year.

Try them.

Mick.

https://www.galvoptics.co.uk/optical-services/

[johnturley]

1 minute ago, astro mick said:

Hi I had a mirror recoated by this company last year.

Try them.

Mick.

https://www.galvoptics.co.uk/optical-services/

Hi Mick

Thanks for your reply, however I'm pretty certain that they just do aluminising not refiguring, unlike Oldham and Nichol Optical they don't make telescope mirrors.

John 

[astro mick]

9 hours ago, johnturley said:

Hi Mick

Thanks for your reply, however I'm pretty certain that they just do aluminising not refiguring, unlike Oldham and Nichol Optical they don't make telescope mirrors.

John 

Hi John.

I did,nt know that but their optical services does offer precision polishing.

Maybe worth a call.

Mick.

[Guest]

Unfortunately it appears that Norman may have retired due to age and health issues and has ceased trading at the end of Jan.

 

Owen

[johnturley]

Hi Owen

Thanks for your reply,

Es Reid also contacted me this morning with much the same infoirmation, very sad news, I assume that it must have been a one man business.

John

[Peter Drew]

So sorry to hear of this.  Norman made the 6" minor axis secondary for our 30" Dobsonian.

[Guest]

Mirror making usually is a one man business. Unfortunately there are now very few mirror makers active int he UK..

 

Owen