While many of you who are new to astronomy may have never heard of Tectron Telescopes, from 1983 to 1999 Tectron built around two hundred large telescopes for amateurs from around the world. While our smallest production model was a 15", most of the telescopes built were 20" and larger. Tectron Machine Corporation is a machine shop in Sarasota, Florida. Tom Clark founded it, and ran it until he sold it and retired in 1997. While Tectron's main business was building replacement parts for military aircraft, we also produced collimation tools, clamp blocks and truss tubes, mirror cells, and the first low-profile rack-and-pinion focusers available for amateur telescope makers..

Tom wrote many telescope making articles for Sky and Telescope, Astronomy, and Telescope Making magazines. He also founded Amateur Astronomy Magazine in 1994 and published it until retiring in 2007. Tom's book The Modern Dobsonian has been in print since 1992, and was completely revised in 2004. It is still available, and for anyone interested in building their own telescope it is a must read. It covers everything from small travel scopes to the largest Dob you can imagine. Also, at the bottom of the Modern Dobsonian web page is a dozen articles on telescopes and observing.

Travel Scopes

After retiring from full time employment, Tom and Jeannie spend about half the year traveling the USA in their motorhome, and the other half at home in Chiefland. Time is spent in the workshop by day and observatory at night. Chiefland is one of the best observing sites in the east, and we welcome company. Come visit to try our travelscopes, and spend a night in the dome with us and our 42".Just email first for details.

The traveling brought about an interest in building very small travel scopes that fit nearly anywhere.

ATMers, visit Tom's Telescope Making Album to see 25 years of scope designing and building ideas for your next project.

These travel scopes have become so popular. Many of our friends who have seen them have asked if one could be built for them. Due to our travel schedule, Tom no longer takes orders for a full range of telescope sizes. But usually every winter he builds a batch for friends, and often will have a couple extra for sale to help support his own scope addiction. As you can see by the above photos, these scopes really fold up into tiny packages when not in use.

The photo also shows that I have too many scopes at the moment, and am always building a few more just for fun. These Dobsonians are professionally built using very good components. Construction uses the finest Oak plywood. Bearings are Teflon running on textured Formica for very smooth movements and easy hand tracking. Our truss tube system is not available anywhere else, and is the heart of the system. They make assembly quick and easy, with very little change in collimation. The precision machined aluminum clamp blocks are first class, not like troublesome wooden blocks.

These small Dobs were designed to be able to be taken along while taking very little space. Above is shown the 12" f/6 in one of the small storage bays in our motorhome.

Shown on the right is an 8" f/6 that folds to 12x12x13" high.

Under foot is the 12" f/6. It weighs only 54 pounds and measures 18x18x20". Compare that to your huge 90 pound 12" Lightbridge.

The latest one built is 10" f/5.6. It weighs 39 pounds and fits into a 16" cube.

Here we set up the 12" for some sidewalk astronomy at an RV park where we spend some time. Not long ago when someone mentioned travel scopes, you thought of a little 4" refractor or something similar. Not anymore! Now you can fit a couple of 12s on the back seat of your car.

Let me boldly say that the view of Saturn in a little 4"refractor leaves a lot to be desired compared the view in this 12". There is just no comparison. Go ahead and wow the crowd with a real telescope, not a little toy.

On the right our 12" is sitting in the back of our mini-van. There is so much room left over that we could probably fit 10 or 12 of them in there and still have four seats available.

The photo shows the finished prototype as the rest were nearing completion. Folded size is only 22x22x20" high and they only weigh 68 pounds. These scopes will fit nearly anywhere! The mounts are rock solid, have excellent movements, and a delight to use - very unlike poorly built Chinese scopes. These GSO mirrors are excellent when mounted properly instead of being glued in!

Price $3995    with Sky Commander installed $4495.

Making big scopes fit into small packages

These are excellent optics anyone would be proud to own.  Two-speed Crayford focusers are standard. The 2.75" diagonals float in Astro Systems holders provide great contrast and are easy to collimate.

2/7/10

Waiting for sundown.

The wives made the  tube covers for us. They do dress up the scopes a bit. Covers are not included, but are easily purchased.

We just spent the evening giving the first two scopes a good workout. Great night, great views, and great scopes. 

Some of the scopes have been delivered to their owners, and a left over one is in stock and ready for immediate pickup. Notice how small the two folded up scopes are.  We are happy to have you come visit and try out a 16" before you buy. You won't believe how good they are!

Note: We are out traveling in the west, observing and visiting the national parks. It is amazing just how small and portable 16" telescope can be. Ours fits into a small storage bay in our motorhome and sets up very quickly. We have been observing in the desert, RV parks,  and helped out with public viewing at Bryce Canyon. These 16" are excellent for observing and large enough that you can really see the universe at it should be seen. If you would like to have such a large scope that fits into such a tiny package, send me an email!