Re: New AP scope and more

From: Craig Levine (apoguy_at_*spamkill*ns.sympatico.ca)
Date: 10/30/04 

Date: Sat, 30 Oct 2004 18:39:43 GMT

On Sat, 30 Oct 2004 12:11:49 -0400, "matt" <mariusrf@bellsouth.net>
wrote:

>
>nonsense, Craig . You forgot to say "with today's technology" .
>If you believe you're right, please use a hand made , actually the best hand
>made telescope of 200 years ago against a modern production line scope made
>in China .
> NASA or the large observatories use ion milling and other computer
>controlled methods rather than hiring Mr. Zambuto or Swayze . Craftsmanship
>my foot. It's only a matter of time. Your statement is from the slide rule
>era and riveted bridge structures at best .
>
>best regards,
>matt tudor
>

Well, I do use one of the best APO's made today, crafted by a Mr. R.
Christen. I also suspect that (modern glass coatings aside) anAlvan
Clark & Sons achromat would best any comparable "...modern production
line scope made in China". NASA's needs are well beyond the scope of
any craftsman. Most craftsemen that I'm aware off won't tackle mirrors
beyond 36"-42" inches simply because of the impracticality of
physically working with a glass that size. Of course you need
computerized technology to figure a mirror of that size.

I do hope that the quality of mass-produced items coming out of China
and elsewhere gets better. I hate to see poor-quality items landing in
the hands of unsuspecting consumers. Rght now, the quality is uneven,
and for every diamond, there's a pile of poop. I'm confident that the
scopes coming out of AP are all quality.

Personally, I like your child-like exhuberance for the future, but I
think it's more than a little naieve to say that the craftsman's time
is coming. To use another comparison, we have mass-produced home
fittings coming out of factories in the US and Asia and have been for
decades, yet experienced carpenters and woodworkers - craftsmen - are
booked up for months or years. The Industrial Revolution happened over
a century ago, and the craftsmen have not gone away, nor will they. I
suspect that the Roland Christens and TMB's of the future will have
many SAA'ers bemoaning their long lead times for a long time to come.

Clear skies,

 - Craig

Relevant Pages

  • Re: New AP scope and more
    ... On Sat, 30 Oct 2004 18:39:43 GMT, Craig Levine ... Craftsmanship ... >line scope made in China". ... >I do hope that the quality of mass-produced items coming out of China ...
    (sci.astro.amateur)
  • Re: Orders Of Magnitude, Relativity, Chaos Theory and Compensatory Craftsmanship
    ... It's just a coincidence that the guy using hand tools produces ... machines fills his house with finely crafted furniture. ... craftsmanship, then I agree wholeheartedly. ... I had been using hand tools all my life to clean up the poor quality ...
    (rec.woodworking)
  • Gates and Railing supplies?
    ... just thaught id like to mention the gates I reiceved from ... Im very impressed with the quality of the ... craftsmanship. ...
    (uk.rec.gardening)
  • Re: Exemplary customer service - Nails for 23 ga. pin nailer - Funny, too.
    ... On Mon, 12 Mar 2007 23:49:49 GMT, Lew Hodgett ... Tells me all I need to know about the quality of your craftsmanship. ... Are the attendants at the psych hospital letting you play on the ...
    (rec.woodworking)