> I've decided to take the plunge and grind some glass.
> Can anybody recommend sources of materials in the UK?
Edwin,
Here's my list -- Matt Marulla and/or Bob Lombardi should have incorporated it into the WWW ATM resources lists by now, and I will be sending them updates as appropriate, so you can check there.
The glass I have at present was bought privately. I have never bought glass from any of the companies here (the ones I have used -- Galvoptics and Amateur Optics --have AFAIK since stopped trading, although I have bought powders and pitch from Beacon Hill. A warning there -- Barry at Beacon Hill doesn't know much about optical work at all -- he just sells the stuff -- he makes his 'scopes from David Hinds' optics -- David is very helpful if you want to chat optics. Barry's coarser powders are graded by mesh size, his finer ones by 0.1micron (eg 125 is 12.5micron), and I have found everything finer than #220 mesh to be contaminated, so be prepared to elutriate. Do get back to me if I can be of any assistance -- my voice number is on the sig if you prefer.
======================================================================= Anchor Surplus Cattle Market Nottingham UK Tel: +44-(0)115-9864902 An absolute treasure trove for the ATM! Military surplus optics (lenses, eyepieces, prisms, beam-splitters, etc), many unused, at ridiculously low prices. Must visit.
AWR Technology 67 Thornbridge Road Deal Kent CT14 9DZ UK Tel: +44-(0)1304-365918 Fax: +44-(0)1304-365737 Drives and controllers for synchronous and stepper motors.
Beacon Hill Telescopes 112 Mill Road Cleethorpes South Humberside DN35 8JD UK Tel: +44-(0)1472-692959 Many accessories and mirrors (Hinds), pitch, grinding powders, glass blanks, tubing, drives, cells. Make telescopes to order. Also equatorials (German and fork). Aluminising. Quoted delivery times are unreliable.
Braithwaite Telescopes 9 Manse Brae Dalserf Lanarkshire ML9 3BN Scotland UK Tel: +44-(0)1698-881004 Manufacture their own telescopes and German equatorial mounts. Also offer accessories and mirrors (Oldham). Aluminising.
Broadhurst, Clarkson and Fuller Ltd. Telescope House 63 Farringdon Rd UK London EC1M 3JB Tel: +44-(0)171-405-2156 Tel: +44-(0)171-405-0448 Fax: +44-(0)171-430-2471 Mirrors (Hinds), focusers, observatory domes. Reliable and knowledgeable source of commercial telescopes and accessories.
Carl Lingard 89 Falcon Crescent Clifton Swinton Manchester M27 8JP UK Tel: +44-(0)161-794-8650 Components for ATMs: Mirrors, tubing, equatorial kits, cells, drives.
David Hinds Unit 34 The Silk Mill Brook Street Tring Herts HP23 5EF UK Tel: +44-(0)1442-827768 Fax: +44-(0)1442-890763 David Hinds mirors have a great reputation! Also imported telescopes (which he checks before selling!) and accessories.
IR Poyser (Engineering) 15 Dale Rd Rochester Kent ME1 2JP Tel: +44-(0)1634-401220 Object glasses and lots of optical oddments for ATMs, including military surplus.
Orion Optics Unit 21 3rd Ave Crewe Gates Industrial Estate Crewe Cheshire CW1 1XU Tel: +44-(0)1270-500089 Fax: +44-(0)1270-251213 Accessories (including mirrors) for ATMs. Also make telescopes which have an excellent reputation. Delivery times are unreliable.
SCS Astro South View Runnington Wellington Somerset TA21 0QW UK Tel: +44-(0)1823-661544 Fax: +44-(0)1823-661545 Range of CCD cameras, some accessories, Russian telescopes.
Starlight Express FDE Ltd. Tel: +44-(0)1734-342600 Fax: +44-(0)1734-320745 CCD cameras and accessories with an excellent reputation.
True Technology Ltd Woodpecker Cottage Red La Aldermaston Berks RO7 4PA UK Tel: +44-(0)1734-700777 Fax: +44-(0)1734-701661 CCDs, filters, some accessories, imported telescopes. ==========================================================================
Clear Skies, Steve <sft@aegis1.demon.co.uk>