Lens repair shout out for those in the US

[Lance]

Greetings All

Just received excellent work to repair a rare scope and wanted to share in case others have a similar problem.

Found a "cheap" Telescope, Observing Sniper CMk I that was advertised with a cloudy lens. First though was it was taken apart and assembled wrong, not the case it was cloudy. The culprit, the middle aft erector lens had a cataract. This was caused by the failing, I assume, of the Canadian Balsm glue. Replacement lens not available as one would guess.

Thus I sent the lens to Suddarth Optical Repair

https://suddarthoptical.com/

Cory replied it is a nasty thing to repair as the mount was very thin metal pressed holding it in, but in the end he did a perfect job. Another usable scope.

Highly recommended for those in need.

For the matchmakers. Scope s/n's 337-C and 534-C, case s/n 263-C and 529-C (with 527-C painted on the non-s/n body), only 1 tripod. 171-C.

Information

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[browningautorifle]

Interesting...

[old tanker]

Suddarth Optical Repair

https://suddarthoptical.com/

They have overhauled several sets of military binoculars for me. I recommend them them unhesitatingly.

[Peter Laidler]

Somebody should get them to test and record the physical and optical characteristics of all the lenses within the No32 system. Then you'd virtually have lenses on tap for the future. Need lenses in 20 years time....... easy just bring up the spec and have them made.

[Bob Womack]

Thanks! Since the military contract optical bench near me ceased operations it is always good to have a recommendation!

Bob

[Warren]

The problem is not the determining the prescription, the problem it is the cost of a small run.
There is a chap working on the entire optical chain of the all the No. 32 scopes for me right now and believe me he knows his caca in optics.
He has designed optics for NASA and the US navy. He was on here briefly but someone really pi***d him off and he just disappeared.
I touched base with him and we have keep in touch over the years.
Anyhow, the all lens prescriptions are currently being done and some lenses are out for quote right now.
However, glass lenses are not cheap in small quantities.
After the episode with the Aussie Pattern 18 ocular lenses I will not be the one ordering them and putting the money up front.
Perhaps if someone knows of a glass lens maker with the lens grinding bowl and willing to do a small run, PM me and we can try plan B.

[Roger Payne]

I guess it will come down to whether a set is going to cost more than buying a No42 or 53......

[Warren]

Roger: That is the problem now. People want a fortune for a beat to snot No.42 and 53......as they are "genuine sniper scopes used on experimental WW II British snipers".
Also, finding one with decent lenses that have not been polished with 60 grit sandpaper or a shirt tail covered with mud is again the problem.
I cannot remember the last time I got a decent 42 or 53 without scratched lenses.
Separated lenses are no problem as you can redo those in short order, but once you can feel the scratch on the lens with a finger nail the lens is pooched.

[Peter Laidler]

Warren, it's well known that I have been having runs of Patt 18 type, Scout Regt and No32 (especially OG's) lenses made for 15 years now. Very expensive, yes but you get what you pay for. The focal length of the new lenses is down to the glass being used. You could easily use lenses made from current readily avalable plastics. After all, that what spectacles are........ plastic lenses! But there are obvious drawbacks of course. Lens makers...... there's plenty of them. It's just finding one that will do a small run at a reasonable price. And when someone comes up with an optical repairer or lens maker, then more power to their elbow. The only big problem as I see it from my expensive experiences are those who don't step up to the plate when you've spent £1000 having 10 sets made. But they all sell - eventually

[Roger Payne]

Hi Warren - hope all is well with you. For many years now (since even before it became common knowledge that No42's & No53's are very useful for spares), I have been quietly buying them up. I have a price that I won't go above, & I miss many of the 'this is an experimental WW2 sniper scope' types on that auction site, (but my price is, I think, fair & realistic for a dealer to be paying), & if the offered scope comes in within my limit & has good optics, I buy it........end of. Consequently, whilst I don't have a mountain of them, I do have more or less enough to provide replacement lenses for the small batch of ex-Indian basket case No32's I recently bought. Indeed they are already proving a godsend, although the possession of a No42 or 53 doesn't solve every problem; grat blocks, turning points on 6 thou wire, modifying ray shades to fit Mk3 scopes (TVMPL!), & so on are all problems I'm encountering & slowly dealing with, though both Peter & Taffy of the South Wales Valleys have been extremely helpful, both with parts & with advice on how to do things........

I've been working on a UIC 2/1 before lunch & will be back on it this afternoon - it's from the batch, & interestingly has been assembled by UIC as a 2/1 but without changing the OS number or the designation from a Mk2 scope tube as originally manufactured. It's even an 'early' Mk2 tube (a Mk1A in Canadian parlance), with the separate ocular lenses.

Sorry, I'm rambling.......