New French Naval
Binoculars
I have always fancied
a pair of large stable binoculars for just cruising around the
sky. I have seen some wonderful models, but they all seem to be
horrendously expensive. As I cannot afford something in that league
at present, I have been on the look out for something a little
less grand. Sometime ago I came across a pair of French Naval
binoculars in Surplus Shed in the US. As these were 90 degree
eyepieces, were of a size 10 x 62, and more importantly only $199,
I thought I would have them. I was lucky in that my mate Brian
was hoping to come back from the states, and would carry them
back for me, so saving on shipping. Unfortunately this didn't
quite happen, and after about 18 months we shipped them here.
They arrived with only a couple of days to go before the Thetford
Star Party, but unfortunately they had no obvious way of mounting
them. I gave my mate Tom Stewart a ring, and said, any chance
of a small favour :-). Knowing my small favours he promptly set
aside Sunday afternoon to make a small mount so that I could take
them away. After three hours we had a very solid, and somewhat
Heath - Robinson mount which worked a treat.
........
.........
Whilst not the most
stable of systems they are now usable when mounted on a Vixen
tripod. I did have problems with dew, but some foam from young
Percy - official Equinox Party Sleep Warden, and a dew heater
from a C11 coupled with a phono lead and adapter we managed some
very nice views. They are by no means astounding, but they are
very comfortable to use. Now all I have to do is wait from something
bigger and better to come along at the same price.
Astronomy
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