Quick Question for Peter, Re Tel Sct Regt

[Son]

In your article on the telescopes, you mentioned some of the work done refurbishing them in the late seventies. Could you have a look at this pic and tell me if the outer covering is the "rexine" you refered to, and also, have the tubes been re-finished?

One train of thought is the tubes must be original as the engraving would not have been gone over again to remove the black from them.

TIA,
Brad.

Information

Warning: This is a relatively older thread This discussion is older than 360 days. Some information contained in it may no longer be current.

[Peter Laidler]

That certainly looks like the rexine material we used to use Son! It was the same material used to re-cover the Bedford coach and 3 ton RL lorry seats...., and everything else really. Black was used for the binos and brown for the telescopes. The draws (the tubes) look original to me though so whether it's been re-covered is difficult to tell.

If it was simply glued in place without a sewn seam, then it was an instrument shop re-cover but if the sailmakers did them (they're all called equipment repairers now - if they still exist. They don't exist in the REME now) they were stiched inside out, pulled tight over a hot brass mandrill (just left in the sun for a few mins would usually do the trick) until they stretched and were pulled over the end draw and they contracted into place. Trimmed to length and they looked like new once the stuffing glands were screwed back.

Has anyone re-packed the glands on one yet? These things seem to go on and on. I noticed a couple last week STILL in service but now with the dark green plastic scope cases

[Son]

Thankyou Peter. I had assumed the tubes were re finished because of the great condition they look to be in, but it was pointed out to me that if it had been, the engraving most likely would be black.
The scope isn't mine, I'm afraid, but I am expecting a very nice one to arrive any day as part of the CES with another purchase... Plenty of pics when they do.

Here's a pic of my current Tel Sct Regt, made by HCR and covered with a very finely textured vulcanised rubber. I'll also stick in a pic of two I stripped out (almost completely) "for fun" a good while ago. I didn't need to repack either's glands, but did note the delicate nature of the components.
Anyone who's considering doing this can find the pam with complete stripping and care instructions I put up in the MKL here
Scout Regiment Telescope (Instruction Manual)

[illt345]

Dear SON, I have recently aquired a Scout Regiment mk2s which is missing its erector cell assembly.I have machined a part similar to the one in your pictures, and fitted a few Plossl lenses of various focal lengths with result I have an erect image, proper field of view, but cannot get pin sharp focus. Could you possibly help with some information on : field lens type( plano convex, achromat double.etc?), same ditto for eye lens,and if possible their focal lengths and length of erector tube. Is it too much to ask for a close up photo? Thanking you sincerely from Wales,illt345.( Have relatives in constant touch in Moranbah,who I hopeto visit some time in future. Best regards.

[illt345]

Dear Peter, Wonder if you could help out on details of erector cell on Scout Regiment Mk2s. If possible do you know the type, focal lengths,of these lenses, and length of the tube which fits in draw tube. Thanks sincerely, illt345.

[Son]

Hello, illt345.
I'm afraid that picture of the stripped telescope was taken some years ago. I don't have any detailed pics or information on the internals of the scopes at all. If Peter cannot answer your questions, then all I have is the information from the pam on stripping and cleaning in the milsurp Knowledge Library entry linked here.

Knowledge Library - Scout Regiment Telescope (Instruction Manual)

[illt345]

Thanks sincerely for your time and effort. Will see if Peter can help. Best regards, Illt.

[Surpmil]

If you contact Terry Vacani in the UK he may well have some spares also. I don't have his contact info handy, but I'm sure Google will provide. He could suggest other sources as well. The various Telescopes, G.S., Signaller's, Scout Regiment etc. were often reworked, rebuilt, used for spares to build "civilian" scopes after the wars. The makers often kept on producing the same patterns for the civilian market, just without the military markings obviously. There used to be quite a few of those scopes in the antique markets etc. Not sure about these days.

[illt345]

Thanks sincerely for your time and help. Much appreciated. Best regards, Alan.

[Peter Laidler]

I have seen Sct Reg telescope only fit for spares on that auction site for as little as £40 or so. Don't even consider getting lenses made. I have done it on a few occasions and unless you are rich it is simply uneconomic. But if you want a few sets of OG lenses...............

Surpmil has the answer and even better is the fact that due to the optcal arrangement of the scout reg scope where the fixed focus of the ocular and the erector is used to focus the image, then it should be simplicity itself to adapt another erector to replace the missing one