Meade 2nd gen Series 4000 SWA 24.5mm lower barrel assembly

This auction is for a 1996 Meade (Nihon Seiko/Nikon of Japan) Series 4000, 2nd generation, Super Wide Angle 24.5mm lower skirt assembly. Please note that this IS NOT a currently-working eyepiece; it is the lower-half portion of the 24.5mm that features the lower, cemented (2) elements that complete the 6-element optical arrangement that is the Super Wide Angle schematic. If you are not familiar with ocular optics and are not versed with the vintage Meade eyepieces, think a moment before bidding.  

What you are looking at here is the thread-on base that completes the lower half of the Meade Series 4000 SWA 24.5mm. If this eyepiece were a complete system, (4) elements would be included; a large, single, bi-concave lens at the center, above it a cemented 2-element bi-convex to a plano-concave, and finally a single concavo-convex acting as the eye lens. Only when this arrangement is completed as seen below will this be a full-working Super Wide Angle:  

(your eye here) (1)(2)(1)(2) (telescope focuser or diagonal here)  

How do we know this is for the 24.5mm SWA model only and that it is for their 2nd generation run?  

When Meade introduced their entire Series 4000 lineup back in early 1985, (5-element plossls, 6-element Super Wide Angles, 8-element Ultra Wide Angles), the barrels of these oculars would not have "J A P A N" inscribed on their barrels. Instead, it would be a deep, small "JAPAN" etch on the bottom portion of the black body where it meets the milled aluminum and brass barrel. "JAPAN" on the black body is a 1st gen (1985-1991). "JAPAN" on the milled aluminum and brass barrel is a 2nd gen (1992-2004).  

Now, we know that the 24.5mm was the only ocular in the SWA family to have the skirt-like, milled base because the 40mm and 32mm were strictly 2-inch barrels. The smaller 18mm and 13.8mm models had lower barrels that, when threaded to the black body, were perfectly flush; there was no narrowing or widening of the dimensions of the outside of the eyepiece where these portions married at the threads. ONLY the 24.5mm has a sudden narrowing of the body where the black body and the base barrel meet. Furthermore, this cannot be mistaken for the base of a Meade Ultra Wide Angle because the "skirts" on the 14mm and 8.8mm are a step up from 1.25-inches to 2-inches, which is not what we see here.  

And, finally, this cannot be from a Tele Vue Wide Field or early Type-1 Nagler (who Meade copied) because Tele Vue never had "J A P A N" inscribed on their lower barrels.  

So, as you can now rest assured, this is most definitely a Meade 2nd generation Super Wide Angle 24.5mm lower lens assembly. Do notice, however, this CAN BE used on your 1st gen SWA 24.5mm. It cannot be used on the Series 5000 from 2005-2019.  

Also, because this is virtually from the identical, Japan-made Tele Vue Wide Field 24mm, which Meade duplicated, there is a HIGH PROBABILITY this lower eyepiece barrel assembly will immediately marry to it as well. The difference in .5mm of focal length between these (2) different oculars is decided on the elements further down the optical arrangement; and their field of views (Tele Vue 65-degrees, Meade 67-degrees) is so close, I would be quite baffled this barrel would not produce a clean image in the Tele Vue. This said, I do NOT have a 24mm Wide Field on-hand to test. So, keep this as a secondary thought, not the primary.  

Why do we offer this if it is incomplete?  

It is here for you to bid on because this barrel assembly was from a distinct eyepiece design made in Japan that is now long out of production by a dismantled and discontinued brand, and a type of eyepiece you won't ever see manufactured again. Because the Meade 24.5mm eyepiece is decades out of production and you cannot send it to Meade for work (they don't exist there and wouldn't have optical replacements from their contracted Japanese manufacturers anyways), if you have this eyepiece and it needs replacement parts, the ONLY way to get them is to find them on the used market, to buy another 24.5mm on the used market in optical condition that you find acceptable, or you have a partially damaged ocular that must be discarded.  

If any portion of a vintage telescope part or accessory can find use in a repair situation, it is a TRAVESTY to throw it away as these items will never again see creation in any foreseeable future.  

Below is a breakdown of the Series 4000 SWA 24.5mm when viewed complete:  

Barrel size:  1.25-inch
Design:  6-element Super Wide Angle (2)(1)(2)(1) configuration
Optics:  multi-coated
Field of View:  67 degrees
Eye relief: 9mm
Exit aperture:  21.3mm
Threaded for filters:  yes
Materials:  milled and anodized aluminum, brass, optical glass
Weight:  7.2 oz  

Meade's much-loved Series 4000 Super Wide Angles have been around since 1985 and, like the Ultra Wide Angles, endured FAR fewer generation changes versus what we saw in the nearly (4) decades-long Super Plossls. Like other relatives in the Series 4000 ocular family, generation changes occurred during times when the company's mainstream telescope models were either modified or removed as a whole to the product lineup. In their entirety, none of any of the Series 4000 eyepieces changed their focal lengths nor their parfocal abilities to that class of eyepieces. Their coatings, materials, and appearance did change, and not always for the better; again, however, nearly always concerning the plossls only.  

As with all things Meade, though not always, their Japan era was that company's finest years on planet Earth.  

The Japanese Super Wide Angles came in (2) distinct generations. The first era dawned presence in the catalogs (and bulletins) in early 1985 and were dressed in smooth-style anodized aluminum and brass bodies. The larger focal lengths also had knurled metal grip rings. "JAPAN" was inscribed on the black body itself (Kowa or Nikon). On many accounts from highly reputable observers these ARE the Series 4000. For the 24.5mm model, it would fall under mpn 07187 and arrive in a hard cardboard, dual lid box.  

The 2nd generation surfaced either in winter of 1991 or January of 1992 (I have conflicting bulletins). Logic would dictate 1992 since this is when the LX200 took forefront and forever replaced the LX3, LX5, and LX6 of the Series 2000 schmidts (though they sold next to each other for a short time). These Super Wide Angles featured the same excellent optics and coatings, but now had an ergonomically-located rubber grip ring as well as a very thick, rubber eye guard. "JAPAN" was now inscribed on the chrome barrel in a smaller, round font. The mpn code would be revised to 07187-01 and the box this ocular arrived in would now be a thin, single piece, folded box.  

In concerning the rubber grip, which is made of tiny triangle-tipped squares, the grip width will be (9) squares.  

The final generation of the Super Wide Angle happens right around December 1999 into January 2000. In concerning the 24.5mm model, it will remain virtually indistinguishable from the previous run, except the rubber grip will now be (10) squares wide. In the very final years, this grip will be (11) squares wide; again, these being the only real changes. Coatings, element arrangements, source from Japan, and the box design with mpn will remain unchanged. December 2004 is the final appearance of the Japan-built Super Wide Angles. By January 2005 they are wholly replaced by the all-new, Series 5000 Super Wide Angles, still maintaining their 6-element design, though now sourced from China and revised to correct optical errors experienced (primarily) in fast newtonian reflectors.  

In all the years they were offered, the models never changed. There was the 40mm, 32mm, 24.5mm, 18mm, and 13.8mm. The 40 and 32 were solid 2-inch barrels and were not parfocal. The smaller (3) were all 1.25-inch barrels and were always parfocal.  

As in all Super Wide Angles, this ocular features a 6-element multi-coated design that yielded 67-degrees field of view. They will follow right alongside the Tele Vue Wide Fields it deliberately targeted against (hey, us classic lovers of the golden years of backyard astronomy KNOW who came first). It is very similar to a konig, but is not quite a konig. It has better eye relief and will yield a sharper image than the standard konig. These SWAs by Meade, unsurprisingly, will fall short of the legendary Tele Vue Panoptics, which were the advancement from the original Wide Fields. And like Meade would advertise, the smaller Super Wide Fields get even sharper when teamed up in their apochromat barlow, the tall and sleek Model 140. This would also work with the Orion and Celestron apo barlows equally well. It really is quite the eyepiece and built to a lovely level of quality craftsmanship.  

Though these Super Wide Angles are intended for open clusters, galaxies, diffuse nebulae, and star fields, by design they still have the ability to yield sharp views for planetary and lunar observing. At 24.5mm focal length, this is an excellent eyepiece for galaxies, open clusters, globular clusters in large reflectors, and all sorts of nebulae in telescopes like the Orion Premium Deep Space Explorer 12.5, Meade 7-inch LX50, Tele Vue Pronto, and the Vixen 102F. It is also a fantastic ocular to use in very well-made spotting scopes, such as the Meade 107D, Celestron S80, Tele Vue Ranger, and the 1st generation Brandon Master Birders.  

Eye positioning will not be fussy and, so, eager beginner viewers at your telescope shouldn't have any issues with blackouts or kidney beaning. Those with eyeglasses will be best suited if they can take them off while viewing. Those who cannot forgo glasses will have to sacrifice about 10 to 15 degrees the allotted field of view.

This lower eyepiece assembly, to include its optical elements, spacers, and retainers, are all original from Meade with no repairs or modifications. Remember, this is NOT a complete eyepiece and you cannot put it in your telescope right now and receive a focused image. It is a perfect working PORTION of an incomplete eyepiece ocular arrangement. Physical condition is perfect. The female and male threads are not flattened or crossed. The barrel is true in form with no flat spots or dents. The optics are in solid very excellent, crystal clear condition with no internal dust, fungus, haze, or delamination evident. Coatings are lovely and free of swirls and pits. I would state the optics are "mint" for their age. Cosmetics on the barrel that will be visible when placed on the completed eyepiece are excellent. The finish has a mirror-like reflection, but with a few hairlines. Almost no dimpling. NO cleaning needed ever if you keep it stored properly.

Happy to ship to anyone on the planet.