ATM Re: Sinking by the head

["Bill Cook" <atmj1@conceptsnet.com>]

To All:

After 30 years (as of Sept 10) in optical instrument repair, I have been
forced to hang up my spurs. Instruments just keep getting cheaper and people
are reluctant to pay the REAL value of doing such labor intensive work. They
all seem to want the Smithsonian work we do but want the K-mart price. I
have agonized for more than two months on how to work out something to keep
this rare service going. Still, when you put the glitter of the reputation
aside and look at the dollars, the truth was plain to see: You have to be
all the way in or all the way out. Unfortunately, I just can't be all the
way in and attend properly to other, more profitable, assignments.

I am asking for the names and phone numbers of folks in the Seattle area who
would be willing to help people with telescope collimation and cleaning
questions. I live at Lake Stevens and will gladly throw my hat in the ring
for stuff in the north end. However, I am going to have to do this off the
clock. With those names and numbers in hand, I won't have to turn folks away
without the support I can no longer offer them professionally.

I would like to offer a list of really qualified techs for doing the
impossible on rare and older instruments. To that end, over the past few
months, I have been candidly calling all over the US trying to find folks
whom I have not heretofore heard of - preposition at the end and all. I have
been asking some basic questions and have gotten some pretty scary answers.
No, a collimator is not a cross between a collie and an alligator.

If any of you know of individuals in your area who are true craftsmen and
could be of assistance to telescope makers and optical consumers in general,
please let me know OFF THE LIST, and I will add them to my list. Right now,
when you get past all the shuck and jive, I can only vouch for the work of
two folks, both ATM List Members: Cory Suddarth (OM1 Ret.) and Earl Osborn
(OMC Ret.) Either of these gentlemen could build a 747 with a sharp rock and
a bent nail. For 7 years (until he chipped a nail and had to move to
California to recooperate) Cory was the one who backed up almost all of my
shameless bragging.

Thanks to all for your support over the years. I will still be here at
Captain's in optical sales, consulting, writing, and 'shaking hands and
kissing babies' for ATM Journal.

Kindest Regards,

William J. Cook, Opticalman Chief, USNR-Ret.
Manager, Precision Instruments & Optics, Captain's Nautical Supplies,
Seattle
Editor / Publisher, Amateur Telescope Making Journal
yata, yata, yata
www.atmjournal.com
www.baywatchscope.com