Here's what our finder scope looked like in November 2006. Exposure to the elements had badly tarnished and begun to erode the brass tube. The bronze mounting rings had been stripped of paint. The objective lens, despite wearing a cover when not in use, was filthy.

After skillful restoration, the now-polished finder gleams in the subdued sunlight falling within the dome. The tube is yellow brass and the object cell is red brass. The polished metal surfaces have been lacquered and baked. The lens is crystalline.

Uncovered in the restoration process were engraved or stamped letters spelling out, "J.A. Brashear / Allegheny Penn. Previously there had been some question as to the scope's origins. Construction of the object cell is a miniature of the 9-inch cell found on the Cooley Telescope.

Steven Korylak of North Olmsted, Ohio, did the restoration work. Here he is holding the finished telescope. Steven, a member of the Cuyahoga Astronomical Association, donated his efforts ... his hobby is restoring antique microscopes and telescopes. We are very grateful to Steven for his generosity.