Aldis Parts Scopes Pickup

[Surpmil]

Oh, I have some idea Warren, anyone trying to assemble even 32 scopes from boxes of bits and partially complete scopes soon learns!

[Roger Payne]

Couldn't agree more chaps

Some of the 'Indian' scopes. The Mk2 scope tube shown on top of the cardboard box is a work in progress for a well known forummer, should he still want it when I finally get it finished!

[Surpmil]

Couldn't agree more chaps

Some of the 'Indian' scopes. The Mk2 scope tube shown on top of the cardboard box is a work in progress for a well known forummer, should he still want it when I finally get it finished!

That looks like a little bit of heaven right there! A couple of broken-off screws on the range drum turret I see? Trying to remember what I did for that problem...not what I'd do now anyway!

[browningautorifle]

Some of the 'Indian' scopes.

Looks like some needy individuals too...

[hatrick]

Thanks for all the great input and info (as always)!! It sounds like the best plan would be to leave the civy Aldis scope alone and just try to find the missing ring for the ocular lens housing. Anyone have a spare by chance since this is all I need to get that scope complete. I may swap out the 1-6 range dial with one of my military Aldis scopes that had the range dial re-marked for civilian use.

As for the Purdey tube... Surpmil, are you suggesting that I may be able to have the rings restored by having new "legs" welded onto the original upper tube rings? I love this idea of saving those original tube rings but have no idea where to get a set of bottom "legs". Any ideas? I do know of a great micro welder that can clean up the saw cuts on the rings and tube.

The rings are soft soldered on so you should be able to get those off easily once the reticule is out. Once you have their ID, turn a brass rod to that OD +/- and get them TIG welded back together while clamped over the rod. Then it would be a choice whether to TIG or silver solder the missing "legs" from the rings. TIG if done slowly and carefully might be best as silver solder always shows through browning.

[Surpmil]

The civvy Aldis isn't of much significance in my mind, so if I were you I wouldn't hesitate to use it as a "parts car". "Model engineers" are the people to talk to if you want small parts made: they're already used to doing small, accurate machining jobs.

Yes, I think you could restore the Aldis, but the trick as mentioned is going to be getting the correct dimensions for the parts you need. Someone may have measured up the objective lens cell, erector cell, and ocular cell when they had an Aldis No2 or 3 apart, but I don't think I did unfortunately.

I can't suggest anyone to help with that but someone might offer.

The rings are restorable IMHO and once done you could even have the engraving redone over the saw cuts. There are still hand-engravers around in the jewellery business.

Lenses of all sizes are available from Asia, but again, someone would have to get dimensions and curvatures from the originals for you.

And of course keep searching and some of those parts may turn up in the meantime.

[Warren]

I might do a run of lenses for the Aldis, but not sure. I have new lenses for the 32 and the Patt:18 plus 52 mm lenses for the REL TOS
I had a NO. 32 scope read by and optical engineer.
They are not cheap but willing to help out anybody who needs some.
I am not interested in dealing with some people who ordered lenses last time and then got scarce.
As to broken off screws in the turret block, I have been very successful in drilling them right down the middle and getting them out that way but I have a pile of homemade jigs I made for it years ago.
It can be done but it sure takes time,

[Roger Payne]

Drop me a line hatrick - I may be able to help you with a rear leg!

[Surpmil]

Here it is, circa 2004.