Building New and Repairing Vintage Telescopes and Odd and Curious Devices

Tag: Telescope

Having the telescope focus is rather a critical part of being able to use it. Depending on the scope, they have many different ways of moving the focus tube back and forth. They tend to break fairly easily, as the inexperienced operator tends to yank the eye-tube out of the barrel , often damaging the spur gear, rack or both. These 18th century rack … Read More Rack Repair on a 1780 Ramsden

February 16, 2018 + Telescope

A miniature Lathe for making tiny parts

by Erik Van Cort

We don’t see these extra small turning machines any more, partly because watch making has all but disappeared and most parts are made by automated CNC equipment. I still use this type of lathe in my shop for making very small pins and screws for telescopes. This machine was made 100 years ago by W.D.Clement in Waltham, Ma, the American capital of watchmaking in … Read More A miniature Lathe for making tiny parts