In late 2009 I was given an old telescope to "see if it was any good". It was clearly old, I guessed 50-60 years, custom built, and unfortunately much the worse for wear. The main tube was split & bent, and the finder & focuser had been squashed into the main tube deforming it.
Carefully taking it apart, I was astonished to find that all the optics were original and intact, including both mirrors, the finder, and an eyepiece.
Best of all the primary mirror was signed & dated on the back - Rev Wm F A Ellison, 1912. He had also intriguingly etched his initials in a box with what appeared to be shamrock leaves on either side. (see photo below)
An internet search soon identified the Rev WFA Ellison to have been an important person, including being an accomplished amateur telescope maker, Director of the Armagh Observatory and author of 'The Amateur's Telescope' published in 1920. The Armagh Observatory had a pdf scan of this book on their website, and there at Fig29 was the telescope I had just taken apart!
My original plan was to restore the telescope just sufficiently to check the quality of the optics. This done, I decided to press on and try and restore the telescope to as near the condition the Rev Ellison would have used it in.
The tripod was easy as it is basically three table legs!
The azimuth mount is missing altogether and so I had nothing on which to base a reconstruction. The only known photo is the one in his book, which does not show any details.
I would like to thank the following in particular for their help during the restoration, be in advice, time or other help.
The current Armagh Observatory Director, Prof Michael Burton, his staff and the previous director, Mark Bailey
William FA Ellison, grandson of the Rev William Ellison
Julian Ellison, great grandson of the Rev William Ellison;
Gavin O'Shea, Brian Johnson & Graeme Ross
Follow the sub-menu links above in the menu bar to check out the whole restoration process!