Ross Stalking Telescope Write Up

[Sealgair nam fiadh]

The members name is Mackensen

 

[bogtrotter]

The members name is Mackensen

Yes thats it, I just done a search looks like he has not been on since March this year.
See that it was 2012 I was in contact with him longer ago than I thought.S

Thank you.

 

[Fosbery Holster]

The chap who gave me the information on my was not caberslash, this was probably five or six years ago
very knowledgeable on telescopes and Ross in particular.
particula

Sorry l couldn’t say who that could be, not a clue, but l would be very interested if he came on to give us some information.

 

[User00040]

Caberslash I can assure you that this is certainly not the case (no pun intended!); the late Col Milne, proprietor of Gray & Co and originator of the modern Gray glass approached my family firm years ago to enquire as to the cost of making 'proper' cases for these, when it became apparent that many professional hill Men were buying the bare telescope only from him and thereafter having us make a professional quality case to protect their substantial investment. I can assure you that despite offering a cut-to-the-bone quotation for handmaking 100 cases (offered at that time at a cost of under one twentieth of the cost of the telescope) it was decided that they were going to be "too dear", and so the resulting cases were supplied by another maker. To see and to handle both cases side by side is the only real indicator of quite why the hill Men were willing to go the extra mile for something that was double thickness throughout, and designed to be all but impossible to squash by hand, and thus afford adequate protection to several weeks worth of wages in terms of outlay. The glass is still absolutely great, but the case supplied leaves a great deal indeed to be desired, to the serious user.

View attachment 131056
Ross in case above, Gray's in own made case below.

The Ross pictured above belonged to a Captain E B Cook of the 1st Lifeguards, who perished in the Great War, an earlier thread here gives some details as to this particular Captain Cook, courtesy of member Enfieldspares here, who pointed me to his archive details.

Hth,

Ff

ps I recall trying to make and set an eyepiece dust cover into my first acquired Gray's, a la Ross, but ended up buying a replacement eyepiece from Col Milne; he was too kind to give me his real opinion as to my failed bodgework, but left me in small doubt! There was insufficient space between inside of lens housing and the viewing lens itself to permit this addition; some of the Ross glasses had a radial swing-over cover, others I've see. Have a sliding wedged plate perform the same function. When making replacement cases or repairing them I came across very few examples with an objective cover, and cannot truly recall if they were Ross, or other marques. These lens covers often had a slot at each of the four 90 degree segments to facilitate removal and permit air to escape when replacing the cover after use.

Went in to see Lynn at Abelour based your recommendation, getting a case made for my large 1880's Ross stalking telescope. It has undamaged lenses and all its original leather and lens caps, quite an example!

Definitely worth preserving a scope that is old and in good condition, and worth several weeks wages as you said! Very interesting to hear about Gray & Co. coming to you for a quote. I believe they get cases made for them somewhere in England now.

Having done some more research I have found several pictures which show estate stalkers carrying large scopes in cases while the gentlemen (and very occasionally a lady) with compact and slender models.

Having reviewed my collection of Ross scopes I believe that two were from stalkers/shepherds (one former owner used the cushioning of a pony saddle to repair his!) whilst the rest probably belonged to gentlemen stalkers who used them occasionally, after their passing they were left to be forgotten in an attic, only to be discovered in a house clearance and sold to me about a century later!

MW3 you are a very lucky one indeed! What was it listed under? Did a search for Ross scopes earlier this week but nothing came up, guess you snapped it up quick!

 

[User00040]

Thought I would add these on here.

 

[Freeforester]

Off topic, so apologies for that, but fypi here’s a Broadhurst Clarkson Pancratic 30-60x 3 1/4” (80mm) 5-draw behemoth, in excellent condition, draws virtually unmarked, extendable sunshade and leather clad with carrying harness, all in remarkably fine condition.

For anyone looking for a new old example:

Broadhurst Clarkson 3 Draw Telescope With Pancratic Tube 25-40x55 NEW Old Stock! | eBay (- no affiliation, just found it online)

 

[User00040]

Off topic, so apologies for that, but fypi here’s a Broadhurst Clarkson Pancratic 30-60x 3 1/4” (80mm) 5-draw behemoth, in excellent condition, draws virtually unmarked, extendable sunshade and leather clad with carrying harness, all in remarkably fine condition.

Good for the mantlepiece or hanging in the study, but not much else!

First scope I bought was a smaller B&C

 

[Freeforester]

I’d suggest you try it off a tripod or stable rest, as was originally intended/suggested by the maker. But agreed, not for the hill!

 

[Corvid8x57]

If anyone is after one of these monsters, let me know as my mother has one which my late father bought when in the army for reasons best known to himself.

 

[User00040]

I’d suggest you try it off a tripod or stable rest, as was originally intended/suggested by the maker. But agreed, not for the hill!

Got a wee tripod from the 1890's.

Only thing that fits the clamp was a 1944 MKII* Scout Telescope by B&C!

 

[Fosbery Holster]

Thank you caberslash for posting the catalog descriptions and model numbers, as near as l can make out my Ross is extremely similar to the No 4.

In my earlier post on this thread l didn’t at that time have the knowledge to post any photos of my glass so in reparation I’ll post a couple now.

Thanks again to you, l have enjoyed this thread enormously.

 

[bogtrotter]

Nice write up Caberslash, thank you.
I know a few on here, myself included, use stalking scopes by ‘Macpherson of Inverness’. My own is very similar to a post 1915 Ross. Have you come across them ? I have searched but never found out anything about who actually made them. Would love to know, mine was originally my grandfathers.

View attachment 127741View attachment 127742View attachment 127743

I know that tis is an old post that for some reason I missed.
Might be worth further investigation.
I do know that Ross made telescopes for Macphersons, Sporting ,Stores Inverness.
I suspect that yours is actually a Ross.

 

[Heym SR20]

Thanks for this - really useful. I have a Ross bought from an SD member and I use quite a bit and love it. We also a Negretti and Zambra - it’s pre war and belonged to Mrs Heym’s Grandfather and still gets taken out occasionally. The Ross on the other hand is in well used but good condition so It’s just used.

 

[NickJ]

What's the best model of Ross for using on the hill chaps?

I got left a Grays when I was a teenager but it fogged up the whole time and I think I left it in a digs somewhere.

 

[Sealgair nam fiadh]

In my biased opinion, a Stalking Panacratic made of aluminium, see post# 28

 

[Dalua]

What's the best model of Ross for using on the hill chaps?

I got left a Grays when I was a teenager but it fogged up the whole time and I think I left it in a digs somewhere.

I'm not sure a Ross would be any less-likely to fog up than a Gray's?

 

[User00040]

What's the best model of Ross for using on the hill chaps?

I got left a Grays when I was a teenager but it fogged up the whole time and I think I left it in a digs somewhere.

Lucky you! Even they Gray's telescope is listed as 'out of stock' and for £1,250 at that...

Yours is most likely an early one with uncoated lenses. Not a disadvantage necessarily as you can strip them down to the bare lenses for cleaning.

You can't take your pick of Ross Telescopes models, at least as far as I know. Just buy whatever 3 draw that you can find for a semi-sensible price.

A few chancers in the Highlands running antique shops are asking £500 or more for a broken one, yet I have only just broke even at £300 after selling a very special one which I painstakingly restored: Sold: - Stunning Ross of London 3 draw Stalking Telescope with Original Case

If you find somewhere with a range of real Ross telescopes let mr know!

I only have one for personal use now, which is an extra large objective in brass. Had a case made which was dear but worth it. Image is the best of all I have seen, bit heavy but good for spying on a windy day!

I'm not sure a Ross would be any less-likely to fog up than a Gray's?

Depends really.

At least with a Ross the user can do something about it if they feel confident enough to repack it, or I can help you.

Won't touch a Gray's due to fear of warranty being void.

Another fact is that all telescopes have to draw and expel air. If you take one out from room temperature to -3°C then yeah it will fog.

Before a cold day on the hill, leave it in the pickup. Most of the hill stalkers I know do that anyway!

 

[Freeforester]

I know that tis is an old post that for some reason I missed.
Might be worth further investigation.
I do know that Ross made telescopes for Macphersons, Sporting ,Stores Inverness.
I suspect that yours is actually a Ross.

FWIW, we used to get in for repair deer- and pannier saddles also stamped MacPherson, Inverness; they were apparently a one-stop-shop for all things sporting estate in the heyday, but are long since gone. Like the telescopes, the deer-saddles (Strathfarrar type) were almost certainly not made in-house, as they weren’t Saddlers per se.

 

[Sika98k]

Would the knowledgeable amongst us know anything about this draw telescope ? Marked J. Lizars, Glasgow & Edinburgh. Marked to R. McMullan

 

[User00040]

Would the knowledgeable amongst us know anything about this draw telescope ? Marked J. Lizars, Glasgow & Edinburgh. Marked to R. McMullan

More pictures of better quality needed.