Anybody got instructions? Back in the '40s, it was not unusual for kids to make as a science project their own scope. I'm not looking at competing with Zeiss, Swarvoski, Leupold or any of the other big boys. Rather, I'm thinking 19th Century technology. Any manuals anywhere?
I'm not sure how you would do that without spending more on tooling than you would on a good factory scope. The equipment for grinding, and polishing lenses alone would cost more than a good Leupold.
Sometimes money isn't an option, it's the task and accomplishment they are after. But to the OP I have no clue. I remember a science project were I made a mirrored box to see around a corner though!
As a young boy back in the 40s/50s I used a collapsible telescope.Some black tape,a shim to hold the eye peas up level,a dot of paint on the lens. Mounted the rig on a Cadet 22 with practice it worked.