Classic Telescopes: A Guide to Collecting, Restoring, and Using Telescopes of Yesteryear

ISBN-13: 9781461444237 / Angielski / Miękka / 2012 / 239 str.

Neil English

Opis

Classic telescopes are of interest to amateur astronomers for a variety of reasons. There are the dedicated collectors, but there are also many amateurs who love the nostalgia they inspire. These telescopes "feel" different from any contemporary telescope and perhaps have a unique ability to reconnect the owner to a bygone age of craftmanship. This book takes a look at traditional telescopes built by the great instrument makers of the 18th and 19th centuries, particularly the dynastic telescope makers, including Dollond, Alvan Clark, Thomas Cooke & Sons, and Carl Zeiss. Also included are lesser luminaries such as John Brashear, John Calver, William Wray, Henry Fitz, and William Henry Mogey. 'Classic Telescopes' covers the key features of the telescopes designed by these manufacturers, and shows how a heady combination of market trends, instrument condition, and pedigree will dictate their prices at auction. 'Classic Telescopes' also shows the reader how to find real bargains Interviews with top classic telescope collectors (and users) provide the best tips of prospecting for a genuine acquisition.

Recenzje

"This is a fine volume and I have learned many interesting new facts about other equipment despite my long experience in this field. I wholeheartedly recommend its purchase." (Leonard Matula, The Observatory, Vol. 140 (1274), February, 2020)

From the book reviews:

"'Classic Telescopes' is a good introduction to historic telescope makers and their lives and creations mostly focusing on those telescope makers that also made smaller instruments that might end up in the hands of an amateur astronomer. ... In general it was fascinating and a fast read. ... this book makes for a good eye-opener as it introduces opticians and their work in a less academic way that would be appealing for a larger general audience." (Kadri Tinn, AstroMadness.com, December, 2014)

"Part of Patrick Moore's Practical Astronomy Series ... Classic Telescopes approaches the topic from a skilled collectors and telescope operators perspective. The focus is primarily on refractors of yesteryear, with a scattering of reflectors from the past century thrown in. ... Classic Telescopes is an indispensable reference resource for anyone refurbishing or hunting for a piece of astronomical history. Interspersed with expert reviews and great close-up pics, this guide provides a unique insight into a fascinating branch of optics and astronomy." (David Dickinson, Astro Guyz, November, 2012)

Spis treści

Preface: The Appeal of Yesteryear.-Chapter 1: The Dollond Century.- Chapter 2: A Yorkshireman Makes Good.- Chapter 3: Once Upon a Time in America.- Chapter 4: Zeiss is Nice.- Chapter 5: The Story of Broadhurst, Clarkson & Fuller.- Chapter 6: The 60mm Brigade.- Chapter 7: Classic Specula.- Chapter 8: The Age of Unitron.- Chapter 9: Die Zauberflöte.- Chapter 10: Pioneers of the New Glass.- Chaper 11: Classic Cats.- Chapter 12: Resurrecting the Master's Glass.- Chapter 13: The Antique Telescpe in the Twenty-First Century.- Epilogue: Sailing to Byzantium.- References and Bibliography.- Glossary.- Index.

O autorze

Self-confessed classicist, Dr. Neil English, is the author of two influential books on commercial telescopes, both published by Springer, including the highly lauded Choosing and Using a Refracting Telescope and Choosing and Using a Dobsonian Telescope. English has conducted extensive research on the properties of the classical refractor and published widely on his finding both online and in commissioned articles for leading amateur astronomy periodicals, including Astronomy Now. He lives under the dark skies of rural central Scotland with his wife and two sons.

Blurb

Classic Telescopes explores the exciting world of telescopes past, as well as the possibilities involved in acquiring these instruments. What are classic telescopes? First, the book takes a look at the more traditional telescopes built by the great instrument makers of the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries and the dynastic houses founded by the likes of John Dollond, Alvan Clark, Thomas Cooke & Sons and Carl Zeiss, plus some lesser-known luminaries, including John Brashear, John Calver, and Henry Fitz.

Instruments constructed from the 1950s until as recently as the early 1990s are now also considered 'classic.' There is thus a very active market for buying and selling these 'modern' classics. The author examines some of the most talked about instruments on the amateur Internet forums, including the Unitron refractors, the Questar 90, a classic 6-inch reflector, the RV-6; a 3-inch F/15 achromat by Fullerscopes; the time-honored AstroScan Richfield reflector; and many, many more.

Classic telescopes are of interest to amateur astronomers for a variety of reasons. There are, of course, the dedicated collectors, but in addition many amateurs love classic telescopes for their nostalgia. These telescopes have a fit and feel quite unlike any contemporary telescope and perhaps a unique ability to reconnect the owner to a bygone age of craftsmanship.

This book not only informs as to what's out there and how to acquire it but also provides a wonderful historical background on the evolution of telescopes in a world just beginning to recognize the treasures to be found in scanning the skies. Just reading about this world can help you feel a part of it, and if you decide to continue on with collecting, then this book can serve as an invaluable guide in your pursuit.