Vintage Binocular Mount Refurb

[Deleted]

I get the odd little job come my way, usually from the yachting fraternity, and this binocular mount is no exception, although it is a little more interesting than shortening propshaft cutless bearings!

The owner says he uses it to view yachts in the Solent, but we all know differently don't we.......

This was made by a Alphonse Bourdereau, a Frenchman, who made his name in early mechanical drive movie cameras. I've done some Googling, but haven't found this gadget yet. The two worm wheels are mounted on adjustable eccentrics, and precise 'aiming' is possible.

I got it in a sorry state: you wouldn't believe how many little studs had been sheared off, and other threads stripped in the cast ally body! The screw sizes are a bit odd: some screws are a BA fit, but the small top hat fixing screws are 2x0.5mm pitch.

One 'top hat' shaft bearing was missing, you can see the new one I've made, fitted waiting for drilling for fixing screws. The gadget needs a cover plate to replace the tatty brass one - I'll probably make it in stainless, and some new handles would be nice. Hopefully I'll get it finished
by next Tuesday!
PS: Nothing more heard on the Rainhill....
JB






It has three worms in it, the vertical axis being quickly disengaged to catch the odd fleeting beauty - yacht that is!

[alanstepney]

I wonder if the threads might be Thury rather than BA?
Although the latter was based upon the former, there are slight differences.

More importantly, Thury was widely used by clock & watchmakers.
That might mean that that mechanism was made by a clockmaker.

Some nicely machined gears but would anyone design such a complex gadget just to align some binoculars? I suspect not and wonder what it was for originally?

[Jim]

Just an update John,

cinematographes.free.fr/bourdereau.html

The website shows a picture of one of his movie cameras mounted on what looks like your mount. Could be it be worth a mint???

Jim

[Deleted]

Apr 28, 2012 23:54:49 GMT Jim said:

Just an update John,

cinematographes.free.fr/bourdereau.html

The website shows a picture of one of his movie cameras mounted on what looks like your mount. Could be it be worth a mint???

Jim

My word, it does look like said gadget! I wonder if the owner knows?
We are meeting tomorrow to discuss further work on it: I'll be able to raise my fee from my normal gardener's rates!
JB

[Jim]

Here it is in action John. I'd say your gardener's fee has just gone up to head botanist. ;D

cinematographes.free.fr/bourdereau-cinex-notice-1927.html

Jim

Now I really should be doing my boiler.

[Deleted]

Our man wasn't aware of the provenance: it was a gift from his (now x)wife, bought from a specialist binocular shop. He's got the original tripod too! If that was the condition it was sold in then I do despair!

Now finished, ready for collection tomorrow. I thoroughly enjoyed the 13 hours I put in to it: in fact when I get back I might just do some advertising! I'll charge more than £10/hr though.....
JB