Gray Telescope
- Thread starter Corvid8x57
- Start date
I was about to say that they don't sell for that new.
However, I see Graham's of Inverness don't have any at the moment - so I'm wondering whether production of this doubtless low-volume niche product has become uneconomical, or they're just sold out for Christmas.
Either way, given that they are very good for their purpose, and (perhaps more-importantly) an absolutely iconic piece of hill kit it wouldn't surprise me if someone from among those folk who own iconic pieces of hill who wanted one (perhaps to give as a Christmas present) might pay that sort of price for one rather than not get one at all. To be fair, the photos make it look unused - for perhaps that's the reason for the high hammer-price cf. the usual modest £1250 or so retail price?
However, I see Graham's of Inverness don't have any at the moment - so I'm wondering whether production of this doubtless low-volume niche product has become uneconomical, or they're just sold out for Christmas.
Either way, given that they are very good for their purpose, and (perhaps more-importantly) an absolutely iconic piece of hill kit it wouldn't surprise me if someone from among those folk who own iconic pieces of hill who wanted one (perhaps to give as a Christmas present) might pay that sort of price for one rather than not get one at all. To be fair, the photos make it look unused - for perhaps that's the reason for the high hammer-price cf. the usual modest £1250 or so retail price?
It's all relative. I suspect it's a purchase that would have been made by someone who could spare that sum of money with relative ease, and possibly even considered it a mere trifle.
Just a hunch, of course.
Dan Gliballs
Well-Known Member
No longer in production. Prices will climb.
Mossypaw
Well-Known Member
Out of interest, who did make them ?
Freeforester
Well-Known Member
Old Colonel Milne said the lenses were by S&B, more than once.
I was asked to quote for 100 (proper!) cases, like the one pictured lower, not a sponge-like affair as could be bought with the glass, but even cutting the price to the bone I was told they were going to be too expensive (- you'd weep or laugh, honest); glad I didn't get the gig tbh, we sold enough of them at a reasonable price individually to hill men who knew the difference and wanted to properly protect their investment.
I was asked to quote for 100 (proper!) cases, like the one pictured lower, not a sponge-like affair as could be bought with the glass, but even cutting the price to the bone I was told they were going to be too expensive (- you'd weep or laugh, honest); glad I didn't get the gig tbh, we sold enough of them at a reasonable price individually to hill men who knew the difference and wanted to properly protect their investment.
I suspect from its number [2273] in the photograph that it must be one of the last ones made. I bought mine [no 1802] new in about 1983 or '84 at a guess. But always remember it takes two to drive a price that high in an auction. Bids up to the reserve may come "off the wall" but it is a foolish auctioneer who goes more than one or two bids beyond the reserve without a real buyer in the room or on the phone/t'internet.
They are superb pieces of kit in daylight; I am "long limbed" and they suit me ideally but I often used to watch folk struggle with the shorter "barrel" scopes such as the Swarovski - but then one cannot attach a camera to the back of a Gray's.
They are superb pieces of kit in daylight; I am "long limbed" and they suit me ideally but I often used to watch folk struggle with the shorter "barrel" scopes such as the Swarovski - but then one cannot attach a camera to the back of a Gray's.
I suspected that this might be so. I also had heard that the glass bits were from S&B, but I can't remember the source of the info.
Do you make them for a Swarovski 30 x 75 spotting scope please?
Do you make them for a Swarovski 30 x 75 spotting scope please?
Dan Gliballs
Well-Known Member
Originally, Grays telescopes were made by Gray's & Co of Union St in Inverness. A cracking old skool gun shops that I used to spend my Saturdays in.
I might be wrong but I think that the scopes continued to be made in an Industrial Est in Alness after the gunbshop closed. They were then bought over by Graham's & Co of Inverness.
I have one of the first made.
Freeforester
Well-Known Member
I made a set of stout leather caps and carry sling out of bridle butt leather for one for a now retired keeper friend at Dunecht some years ago and one or two others, but they were a bit of a leather version of the rubber ones Swaro themselves offer, and both decent leather and time these days are in a bit of short supply. You could try Lyn Gammack at Aberlour; the eyepiece to body end is a bit complex to provide adequate protection from a side-on wallop, though the objective end is a quite bit easier. If its a fully covering case in stout stuff I'd advise against it, I did make one for a chap, but it ends up being very bulky, and none too elegant. Swaro offer a lighter weight leather slip-in overcase which is a bit more sensible for a pretty heavily armoured glass like the 30/75:
Gray's glass case for scale.
Dan Gliballs
Well-Known Member
Freeforester
Well-Known Member
I think they weren't may have been assembled, but not made in Union St, then later on in the Longman Ind Est? That's where I bought my second (wide angle model) from Colonel Milne, not yesterday!
Many thanks for your reply.
Prefer my Ross of London scopes. The Grey's will be better than the average Ross, but a truly good Ross will hammer the Grey's in terms of sharp focus and definition. (I have had more than 12 Ross scopes, only kept the two I have now!)
Grey's had at least two revisions, older models were field strippable but DIY cleaning on later models voided the warantty (went in and asked, had a very long look at one before embarking on my Ross crusade).
Light transmission on a Ross and last/low light will not stand up so well as they are hand polished, uncoated glass. But they still work over 100 years later!
A fool and their money...
Funny that, the two scopes I had were £70 each off eBay.
And you still refuse to make me one!!!
Freeforester
Well-Known Member
Freeforester
Well-Known Member
When I'm retired, I'll go back to the stitching, lol, there'll be roesacks good for the 22nd century tooPrefer my Ross of London scopes. The Grey's will be better than the average Ross, but a truly good Ross will hammer the Grey's in terms of sharp focus and definition. (I have had more than 12 Ross scopes, only kept the two I have now!)
Grey's had at least two revisions, older models were field strippable but DIY cleaning on later models voided the warantty (went in and asked, had a very long look at one before embarking on my Ross crusade).
Light transmission on a Ross and last/low light will not stand up so well as they are hand polished, uncoated glass. But they still work over 100 years later!
A fool and their money...
Funny that, the two scopes I had were £70 each off eBay.
And you still refuse to make me one!!!
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