Hilger & Watts

[Michael GilliganParticipant @michaelgilligan61133]

My Google-fu appears to be fading … so I must turn to the forum

I have a few items by Hilger & Watts but the latest acquisition has me stumped !

… it’s a very nice little Alignment Telescope with both internal focussing and eyepiece focussing; but rather surprisingly lacking any trace of a reticle/graticule.

The model number is clearly shown TA40-1 but I have completely failed in my search for a Catalogue entry or an Instruction  leaflet.

TA would put it broadly in the same ‘genus’ as the Autocollimators, but it is nowhere near so complicated as to be one.

Can anyone advise, please ?

MichaelG.

 

[peak4Participant @peak4]

Not much help, but you might be able to date it HERE

I’m guessing you haven’t committed to this one, but does the mounting base give you any pointers?

Bill

[Michael GilliganParticipant @michaelgilligan61133]

Thanks, Bill

From your list, it would date to 1963

 

Yes that one is on my watch-list, just as a benchmark !

The telescope is the same similar in style, but that one has a 90° eyepiece tube, where mine is straight.

That’s one style of mount, but they can also be easily set in V-blocks

MichaelG.

.

Edit: __ Apologies: similar NOT identical

[peak4Participant @peak4]

There’s a couple of more complex ones on Keith Rucker’s site, one of which shows a couple of screws in the middle to adjust/fix cross hairs. Yours seems to have a single screw, so I wonder if there should be a single line, rather than a cross.

Bill

[Martin ConnellyParticipant @martinconnelly55370]

I have read that spider silk was commonly used for these lines. If that is the case it is possible something that likes to digest spider silk may have eaten it.

Martin C

[Michael GilliganParticipant @michaelgilligan61133]

This might be relevant:

https://anthonydistasio.com/2014/06/28/autoreflection-and-autocollimation-compared/

Perhaps my ‘scope is intended to be used with an external auto-reflection target.

MichaelG.

.

Edit: __ Something like this: https://www.brunson.us/target-plastic-auto-reflection186.html

… which has the makings of a cost-saving DIY project, methinks !!

[Robert Atkinson 2Participant @robertatkinson2]

I’ve looked at these, probably including the one you bought if it was on ebay. Never found any direct reference to the TA40 in documentation. Most I have seen have beeen ex-MoD. Often they are on what must be custom mounts. Most of these were fixed, presumably referenced to the unpainted sections on the body of the scope.  The odd one has been adjustable like a surveyer’s level.
I came to the conclusion that the TA40 was a standard alignment telescope and was used with a fixed mount and a target for various alignment purposes. The “obvious” application would be gunsights but I’m not convinced about that. Alignment of shafts, radar antennas an suchlike seems more likely to me.

[Michael GilliganParticipant @michaelgilligan61133]

Thank you for your thoughts, Robert

… my only issue with a possible military connection is that there are no special markings visible on it at all [so I would assume this specific one to be of civilian origin]

Yes, it was on ebay … but I hadn’t posted the link for fear of muddying-the-water with irrelevant questions.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/176231801805

 

The seller’s otherwise excellent photographs include some optical artefacts, which may have caused confusion … and my simple request to the forum would then be lost in the noise of discussion.

I was pretty sure of my own judgement; gambled upon that, and have ended-up with a ‘scope in beautiful condition from a Seller that I am now very happy to trust.

MichaelG.

[Martin King 2Participant @martinking2]

Hi Michael,

Is the one that I have listed of any help in your quest? Looks a bit similar but quite common I believe?

EBay Item: 235443269842

Just trying to help!

Martin

[Michael GilliganParticipant @michaelgilligan61133]

Thanks, Martin … but not really much help

I already have one of those, and it differs in many details from the TA40-1

.. I have of course now put yours on my watch-list though.

MichaelG.

[Robert Atkinson 2Participant @robertatkinson2]

I think the military markings would be on the complete assembly including the mounting. The telescope is only a component and components don’t always have a military number unless they were specfically made for military use.

 

[Michael GilliganParticipant @michaelgilligan61133]

This does nothing to further enlighten me about the TA40–1, but it may be of general interest … especially as it was written just before the use of laser alignment became widespread:

https://oaktrust.library.tamu.edu/bitstream/handle/1969.1/163851/T3pg17-22.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y

MichaelG.

[duncan webster 1Participant @duncanwebster1]

I like the reference to ‘British aligning ships propellor shafts’. Perhaps the navy need one

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