Old Spotting Scopes

I've got a Kowa TSN-3 which im not sure qualifies as old (mid-1980's production)

I believe it was the first of the Prominar lineup (featuring pure flourite objective)

Variable power eyepieces have come a long way since then (largely due to coatings), but with a modern ocular the view is staggering, giving up very little to current production top of the line $5k scopes.

Vintage glass can be SUPRISINGLY good!
 
The Kowa TS-1 and TS-2 spotting scopes were first released in Japan and became popular models sold for 36 years. These models were used extensively during the Tokyo Olympics in 1964 and were known for their quality and performance. Additionally, Kowa's TS-1 was sold by Bushnell as their first Spacemaster spotting scope, indicating a close relationship between the two brands.
 
I've got a Swarovski, 20-60x80.

Made in the early 90s, it's still as good or better than any of the more modern spotting scopes available. The only drawback, it's heavy.

The variable eyepiece, which is removable, and a camera, such as my Nikon digital, will screw onto the threads.

I bought it second hand over 25 years ago.

The eypiece costs more than most off the shelf spotting scopes.

Great in low light, sharp and clear right out to the edges.

I went through a lot of scopes before settling on this one.
 
guntech said:
The Kowa TS-1 and TS-2 spotting scopes were first released in Japan and became popular models sold for 36 years. These models were used extensively during the Tokyo Olympics in 1964 and were known for their quality and performance. Additionally, Kowa's TS-1 was sold by Bushnell as their first Spacemaster spotting scope, indicating a close relationship between the two brands.
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Used a friend's at a couple of matches, they are very nice scopes. - dan
 
I'll need to dig it out but I think the brand name on it was Crown, it should come with 4 different powered eye pieces but unfortunately sometime you don't get all the associated parts at an auction.

I also have 2 older theodolites in my collection, now that is good glass.

(edit not King brand name Crown and 60mm with just the 20x eyepiece)
 
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I bought a Mirador 60mm spotter in 1975, brand new at a Simpson's department store where I worked at the time. It came with a fixed 25x wide angle eyepiece, and shortly afterwards at a gun show I found a 15-45x zoom eyepiece that fits it perfectly. I used it exclusively and had no other spotters for at least 10 years; I did a lot of target spotting and a lot of birding with that scope. I still have it and it is still frequently used. I have owned a bunch of other scopes over the years, including a couple of high-zoot Euro megascopes that are indeed a bit better than the Mirador, but they're 80mm scopes the size of a bazooka. The old Mirador is still clear, sharp and at least the equal of a bunch of 60 and 65mm Leupolds, Nikons, B&L's, Bushnells and others I've owned or used.

The body shows its age, with scratches and scuffs. The lenses are pristine, because I take care of my optics. Focus and zoom are as silky-smooth as they were over a half-century ago. Using it defiinitely adds to the pleasure of a small group on target, or a new life bird. :)
 
woodchopper said:
I'll need to dig it out but I think the brand name on it was Crown, it should come with 4 different powered eye pieces but unfortunately sometime you don't get all the associated parts at an auction.

I also have 2 older theodolites in my collection, now that is good glass.

(edit not King brand name Crown and 60mm with just the 20x eyepiece)
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Wild theodolites?
 
Had to go look as I forgot what model it was, I have a Kowa 77, TSN2. I'd bought a 15-45x60 (?) B&L maybe around 87-88, don't remember exactly, with the inline eyepiece, it was stiff a a board on the focus ring, didn't much like that, but, it was a cool modern scope at the time,once you achieved mag andf focus, thought it was pretty good, hunted with it for 3-4 yrs maybe. Took it to a match where I'd shot a double and couldn't see it. Went to an optics store on the west end of Cgy, L shaped mall w/Cdn Tire, he had 5-6 different spotters and actual telescopes, remember the Spacemaster 70 and a Celestron to look at. Setup the target I couldn't see the double on (30cal hole) at 200yds, on the brick post supporting the overhead at the frt door of Cdn Tire, was 200 paces, maybe 200m with my steps. Tried what he had, came home with the TSN2 and a 20-60x eyepiece, 1000.00 in 1990, plus 225.00 for a tripod. Still have it, no desire to sell it or buy anything different. Looked thru newer stuff off and on, haven't seen anything better enough to justify the price they want for them. Spent a lot of hours on that scope, no regrets. B&L owned Bushnell for many yrs as I remember, mid 80's, maybe a bit later, they got more involved with the hunting type lines to try to save Bushnell, but, other stuff was coming out in the 90's that kinda killed them off. In my case, there was zero comparison between the B&L I had and the Spacemaster towards the TSN2, looking at that double it was like night and day.
 
geologist said:
Wild theodolites?
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wild-Heerbrugg theodolites.

I just sold one of those a couple of months ago.

A young fellow heard from my cousin that I had one displayed on a shelf.

As mentioned, they are "GOOD glass."

I used to use it on some of my jobs. I picked it up from an estate sale back in the eighties. It belonged to a surveyor, who went to the happy hunting grounds far too young.

He is used to more modern equipment, mostly digital and laser types with auto levelers, transponders, and GPS locators, but learned how to use one of these from his employer.

I had a case, a tripod, a pendulum spot positioner, and a milliradian compass that went with it for him.
 
bearhunter said:
View attachment 1182728
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Holy crap!

I'm embarrassed to admit that I had never heard of a theodolite before...Wild or otherwise...and this just blew me away. Look at that optical pathway shown by the dotted line! Incredible! There are so many prisms and air/glass interfaces that the glass would need to be of the highest quality just to be able to see anything.

My first thought when I saw this was that it must be an M.C.Escher painting. :)
 
These were built to ensure property lines and grades were where they should be. Optical distortion can really create havoc when establishing property lines.

I knew a fellow who had his property lines re-surveyed about a decade ago. He was one of those "anal" types, and I avoided him as much as possible.

He brought in a surveyor, with modern eqipment and it was established that the fence on his property was a yard off over 300 yds. It was actually in his favor, but he insisted on putting in a new fence, even though the existing fence was only a few years old and in well maintained condition.

He insisted his neighbor pay for half the new fence, and you can guess what ensued afterwards, right down to a civil court challenge. The judge threw it out, and it cost the anal fellow $1200 for court fees and another $2000 for lawyer fees.
 
jjohnwm said:
Holy crap!

I'm embarrassed to admit that I had never heard of a theodolite before...Wild or otherwise...and this just blew me away. Look at that optical pathway shown by the dotted line! Incredible! There are so many prisms and air/glass interfaces that the glass would need to be of the highest quality just to be able to see anything.

My first thought when I saw this was that it must be an M.C.Escher painting. :)
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yup they are things of beauty, 1970s peak of Swiss engineering design

before GPS and lasers came in
 
jjohnwm said:
I'm just imagining what that would cost to manufacture today. :eek:šŸ˜³
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They weren't cheap back in the 70s-80s either. If a surveyor was lucky enough to have owned one or worked for someone who supplied them, that was a confident surveyor.

I paid $500 for the one I bought in the eighties, and that was a steal. I had no idea what it was worth at the time.

I believe considerably more.

Today, you can pick up a used one on Ebay.ca for around $700, which is what I sold mine for.
 
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