Middle Earth Ranger Forum

.. My workdesk looks out over the pasture, and currently I keep a modern 10x monocular by the window for checking out critters along the treeline. As I've been generally comfy-fying the workarea, it occurred to me a brass "Victorian / pirate-y" pocket telescope would be so much more twee.

.. but the only ones I've looked through were purely decorative with absolutely rubbish optics.

I don't suppose you guys have found any kind of old-timey telescopes that actually work?
(and hopefully don't cost a mint? )

I wish I could say that I knew of a good source, but I’ve literally only ever had one small telescope, and I got that second-hand from someone at the renaissance faire (and It does indeed have garbage optics ).

Darn, I figured I could find something.


Ah the promise and disappointment of x-punk. A return to handmade craftsmanship and the use of natural materials that devolved into a low-end flooded by drop shipments from sweatshops and all others pretending that it never interested them in the first place.

I would say mine works quite nicely, but I bought a cheep brass telescope and a similar size modern monocular, striped them both down and by luck the modern lenses were just a bit smaller than the ones in the brass telescope, so I turned rings from aluminum to fit them, the end result being a pirate telescope that actually works

everything is glued together with resin so I cant take it apart to take photo's for you, but if I ever do another one I'll get some progress pics

"so I turned rings from aluminium..."

I will never think I'm clever or resourceful again after hearing that.

Srs though - cool!

"Ah the promise and disappointment of x-punk. A return to handmade craftsmanship and the use of natural materials that devolved into a low-end flooded by drop shipments from sweatshops and all others pretending that it never interested them in the first place."

I quite liked steampunk for about six months in 2005, back when it was fine mahagony and refitted antique keyboards.
At some point it became plastic gears hot-glued to tophats, and ... oh well.

We've finally got enough of the farm squared away we can get down to properly decorating the house, so I'm turning a new eye everywhere again. I don't know how the office is going to turn out, but since we both like trad-without-clutter/business, that seems to be pointing in a stripped-down colonial or vaguely arts-and-crafts/mission-inspired direction. Guess we'll see.

Iodo wrote: "so I turned rings from aluminium..."

Elleth wrote: ↑Thu Feb 18, 2021 10:25 am I will never think I'm clever or resourceful again after hearing that.

Srs though - cool!

I know, kids these days. Just can't keep them out of the shop. My 17 year old is the same way.

Elleth wrote: ↑Thu Feb 18, 2021 10:25 am
I quite liked steampunk for about six months in 2005, back when it was fine mahagony and refitted antique keyboards.
At some point it became plastic gears hot-glued to tophats, and ... oh well.

Yeah, well... yeah.

Elleth wrote: ↑Thu Feb 18, 2021 10:25 am We've finally got enough of the farm squared away we can get down to properly decorating the house, so I'm turning a new eye everywhere again. I don't know how the office is going to turn out, but since we both like trad-without-clutter/business, that seems to be pointing in a stripped-down colonial or vaguely arts-and-crafts/mission-inspired direction. Guess we'll see.

I see a lot of wood paneling in your near future.

Elleth wrote: ↑Thu Feb 18, 2021 10:25 am "so I turned rings from aluminium..."

I will never think I'm clever or resourceful again after hearing that.

Srs though - cool!

thanks I'm not that resourceful, just my working life is as a factory maintenance engineer who spends a lot of time stood behind a lathe or miller

Elleth wrote: ↑Thu Feb 18, 2021 10:25 am "Ah the promise and disappointment of x-punk. A return to handmade craftsmanship and the use of natural materials that devolved into a low-end flooded by drop shipments from sweatshops and all others pretending that it never interested them in the first place."

I quite liked steampunk for about six months in 2005, back when it was fine mahagony and refitted antique keyboards.
At some point it became plastic gears hot-glued to tophats, and ... oh well.

True, although it doesn't matter if steampunk is "plastic gears hot-glued to tophats" for other people, it doesn't have to be for you

I've just realized how off-topic my last post was, sorry, I hope I haven't offended

Indeed, you rapscallion! I am offended by your transgression and demand satisfaction! Aether-pistols at dawn!

then, it is to be a duel!

Manveruon wrote: ↑Sat Feb 20, 2021 8:17 pm Aether-pistols at dawn!

Aether-pistols at dawn? I expect more from you Manv. You should have demanded giant Steam-driven Spiders or an Air Kraken duel.

I'd go for giant steam driven spiders, I'm sure I have a few of those somewhere around here

caedmon wrote: ↑Mon Feb 22, 2021 7:16 pm

Manveruon wrote: ↑Sat Feb 20, 2021 8:17 pm Aether-pistols at dawn!

Aether-pistols at dawn? I expect more from you Manv. You should have demanded giant Steam-driven Spiders or an Air Kraken duel.

ALAS AND ALACK. I shall now hang up my goggles and shave my exquisite handlebar moustache in shame.

Manveruon wrote: ↑Mon Feb 22, 2021 9:30 pm

caedmon wrote: ↑Mon Feb 22, 2021 7:16 pm

Manveruon wrote: ↑Sat Feb 20, 2021 8:17 pm Aether-pistols at dawn!

Aether-pistols at dawn? I expect more from you Manv. You should have demanded giant Steam-driven Spiders or an Air Kraken duel.

ALAS AND ALACK. I shall now hang up my goggles and shave my exquisite handlebar moustache in shame.

Don't forget to piss in you pith helmet