Anyone know what this is?

[F15Rules]

Hi, 

Having a right old rummage in some old bits boxes and came across this old eyepiece. It may have belonged to someone who liked really old scopes, as it has a thread on it, (perhaps an old RAS thread?) , and also has a rather nice machined brass adapter to allow use in 0.965" scopes. See photos.

The eyepiece seems uncoated, of a short focal length, and tight eye relief. I've not tried it in a scope.

If anyone can shed any light on what it is/might be,I'd be grateful😊 .

Dave

[globular]

Looks a bit like one of these... ??

Which was on a John Browning telescope....
https://jasonclarkeantiques.co.uk/products/mid-victorian-astronomical-telescope-on-stand-by-john-browning-63-the-strand-london

[Louis D]

Given all the tarnished brass, I'd first have guessed it was some sort of old plumbing fitting were it not for the optics. 😁

[badhex]

On 30/11/2023 at 15:17, F15Rules said:

Hi, 

Having a right old rummage in some old bits boxes and came across this old eyepiece. It may have belonged to someone who liked really old scopes, as it has a thread on it, (perhaps an old RAS thread?) , and also has a rather nice machined brass adapter to allow use in 0.965" scopes. See photos.

The eyepiece seems uncoated, of a short focal length, and tight eye relief. I've not tried it in a scope.

If anyone can shed any light on what it is/might be,I'd be grateful😊 .

Dave

A lot of those old EPs are Huygens or Ramsden, though it could be a Kellner or something even better! Maybe you could try it in one of your long FL scopes see how it performs? 

Also, what diameter is the threaded part? RAS thread is not dramatically far off 1.25", but in relation to the 0.965 adapter, that thread looks a fair bit wider. 

[badhex]

7 hours ago, Louis D said:

Given all the tarnished brass, I'd first have guessed it was some sort of old plumbing fitting were it not for the optics. 😁

You mean like this? 

[Louis D]

41 minutes ago, badhex said:

You mean like this? 

If you're referring to item at the lower right, give it a few years/decades to take on that vintage brass patina, then we'll see if it resembles a plumbing fitting. 😏  Right now, it's too shiny to be mistaken for plumbing parts.

[badhex]

@F15Rules Did you ever get to the bottom of what this was, or try it in your long FL scopes Dave? 

Also @Louis D in case it wasn't obvious, that genuinely is a copper Yorkshire / solder ring fitting I used to contain the body of a modified webcam. This photo is from over ten years ago - I wonder if the tarnish has got worse since then? 😅

[F15Rules]

Actually, no, not yet..I havent had a session here for weeks due to the appalling weather and busy December..

I will try it when conditions allow and come back to you..😀

Dave

[badhex]

Same! At this rate I don't think I'll get any observing in before we move house again! 

[RT65CB-SWL]

Whenever I use my old brass eyepiece [image below], I think of how much joy and excitement it must have given the amateur astronomer of that epoch and what were they were viewing at the time.

Mine too is uncoated, with tight eye relief and a short focal length. Beacon Hill Telescopes made the aluminium RAS thread to 1.25” adapter for it and the eyepiece projection unit behind it, which accepts my TeleVue and Meade Plossl’s.

Edited January 9 by RT65CB-SWL