This company was started as W. R. Parks in 1954. Later they were known as Parks Optical. Although they have produced several types of telescopes they are best known for their pedestal mount Newtonian reflectors.
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In 1978 Parks began combining the parts it had been selling into a line of telescopes to compete with Cave and Star Liner. The 6" f/8 was supplied on a pedestal mount German Equatorial mount with 1" shafts. The 8" f/7 and 10" f/5.6 optical tubes were supplied with a massive cast aluminum German Equatorial head with 1 ½" shafts on a 6 ½" diameter pier. "Standard" units received a 1 ¼" focuser and 6x30 finder. "Deluxe" units added an electric drive, setting circles and a 8x50 finder. | |
| Superior 10" f/5 | ||
| In 1986 the line was expanded and adjusted. The Precision Series made up the least costly telescopes. Optical tube choice included 6" f/6, 6" f/8 or 8" f/6. These were pedestal mounted GEM telescopes with 1" shafts. They came with 1 ¼" focuser and 6x30 finder. | ||
| The Superior Series included 8" f/6, 10" f/5 and 12 ½" f/5 optical tubes. These were placed on a 6" pedestal mounted 1 ½" shaft GEM. They were equipped with dual electric drives, setting circles, rotating rings, a 2" focuser and 8x50 finder. | ||
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In 1988 a Parks Dobsonian line was added as well. The optical tubes of these telescopes were mounted in a box which held the altitude bearings which, in turn sat on the main mounting box. The 6" f/6, 6" f/8 and 8" f/6 were supplied with a 1 ¼" focuser and 6x30 finder. The 10" f/5 and 12 ½" f/5 came with a 2" focuser and 8x50 finder. | |
| 8" f/6 Dobsonian | ||
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In 1991 the HIT series was added. This was a combination telescope that could optically be configured either for f/3.5 Newtonian or f/15 Cassegrain operation. They were offered in sizes ranging from 6" to 16" although only the 6", 8", 10" and 12 ½" were sold within our less than $5000 category. These quality telescopes were accompanied by a 2" focuser at the Newtonian focus and a 1 ¼" focuser at the Cassegrain end. They were mounted on suitably heavy, pier mounted GEMs with dual axis AC motors and a drive corrector. | |
| 10" HIT | ||
| Also in 1991 a series of wide field reflectors was introduced. The Companion was a 4 ½" f/5 reflector obviously designed with portability in mind. The tube was less than 24" long, and was supplied with a 6x30 finder, 1 ¼" focuser and eyepiece and a tripod block for mounting on a standard photo tripod. The Nitelite series used f/3.5 optical tubes, and was available in 8", 10" and 12 ½" diameters with a 2" focuser and 8x50 finder. These optical tubes were mounted on the heavy 1 ½" shaft GEM noted above, and were supplied with dual axis drives and a controller. | ||