Ok I have the chance to buy a Bausch & Lomb Balscope 60 15-60 x60 angles spotting scope made in rochester ny. This is an older scope from what looks like the 60's I am able to pick up for $75 us dollars. Is this a waste of money compared to todays optics or is this quality glass and just something cool to have. I have a Alpen rainer 20-60x80 HD ED glass that are super sweet but I love scopes and was wondering if anyone here knew anything about these old scopes. Attached is a picture of it with the leather case.
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Bausch & Lomb Balscope 60 Need any info (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter tazzilla
- Start date
henry link
Well-known member
The scope in the photo appears to be angled. I’ve never seen one like that. Our local bird club used to have the straight version zoom Balscope like the one here:
http://www.thegunrunner.com/listings/details/index.cfm?itemnum=987356727
I thought it was a pretty handy scope. Not very bright by modern standards and it exhibits plenty of chromatic aberration. That’s because the focal plane of the objective is about at the midpoint of the tube. The tube is long, but the objective focal legth is short. The design is something like a big riflescope. I once ran into a birder who used one of these with a shoulder stock as his only birding optic. He was amazingly good at holding it steady and getting it aimed at warblers in the trees. I’d be quite tempted at $75, especially since it looks like an unusual version.
http://www.thegunrunner.com/listings/details/index.cfm?itemnum=987356727
I thought it was a pretty handy scope. Not very bright by modern standards and it exhibits plenty of chromatic aberration. That’s because the focal plane of the objective is about at the midpoint of the tube. The tube is long, but the objective focal legth is short. The design is something like a big riflescope. I once ran into a birder who used one of these with a shoulder stock as his only birding optic. He was amazingly good at holding it steady and getting it aimed at warblers in the trees. I’d be quite tempted at $75, especially since it looks like an unusual version.
Thanks Henry. I found that same link you posted. The only angled version I found was it being mentioned in a 1963 ad it listed the stright version for $149 and the angled version for $159 but I have not seen pics of any listing for on. It looks cool but if the optics suck then it is just wasted money. I like vintage items would be great with my 68 mustang taking birding would be a step back into the past 
Last edited:
DocSarvis
Well-known member
Balscope Zoom 60
FYI... Both straight and angled versions can be more than occasionally found on the "big auction site" sometimes fetching rather high prices for such an old instrument. I have bought a couple of each version when available cheaply for use by my students. Finding someone to service them can be a problem. A much better buy is a Balscope Sr. of similar vintage. MUCH sharper, brighter and easier to have serviced.
FYI... Both straight and angled versions can be more than occasionally found on the "big auction site" sometimes fetching rather high prices for such an old instrument. I have bought a couple of each version when available cheaply for use by my students. Finding someone to service them can be a problem. A much better buy is a Balscope Sr. of similar vintage. MUCH sharper, brighter and easier to have serviced.
