Hey pirate reenactors, gotta question...

[Elleth]

.. 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? )

[Manveruon]

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 ).

[caedmon]

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.

[Iodo]

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

[Elleth]

"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.

[caedmon]

"so I turned rings from aluminium..."

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.

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.

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.

[Iodo]

"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

"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

[Iodo]

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

[Manveruon]

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

[Iodo]

then, it is to be a duel!

[caedmon]

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.

[Iodo]

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

[Manveruon]

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.

[Peter Remling]

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