Kay Optical offer an unbeatable service in the supply and maintenance of BINOCULARS, TELESCOPES and associated equipment for BIRD WATCHING, ASTRONOMY and in fact, ALL applications. Experience and expertise count in optics and ours dates back to 1962. Our interest in advising and supplying our customers is rewarded by so many of them returning to us and recommending us.

Kay Optical was launched in 1962 as a business for repairing and servicing binoculars of pre-war anduiugui 1950's vintage with a large proportion of ex-government binoculars, etc.

Most equipment at that time was of British, French and German origin. With the Japanese "invasion" in the late 1960's, servicing work expanded considerably.

Gradually, all types of optical servicing was added (telescopes, microscopes, etc.), in particular the servicing of ophthalmic instruments for lens manufacturers and opticians was an important part of our work. Due to popular demand, the sales of binoculars, telescopes, tripods, etc. was begun, particularly for birdwatchers, in the 1970's.

All MAKES and AGES of binoculars and telescopes can be repaired in our workshop including Zeiss, Swarovski, Leica, Leitz, Nikon, Opticron, Optolyth, Miyauchi, Fujinon, Helios, Kowa, Bausch and Lomb, Meade, Skywatcher, Barr and Stroud, etc etc. Partial repair or full overhaul's including Nitrogen Purging when required. Kay Optical can repair the oldest to the newest and ALL estimates are FREE.

Does it need servicing?

Very often the user of an optical instrument does not realise that it will benefit from being serviced. Repair of an instrument is obviously needed when it is broken but there are other cases, less obvious, when an instrument needs servicing and the following are a few notes on such cases. These notes apply to optical instruments in general, including binoculars, telescopes, microscopes, etc.

Insidious effects over time cause the performance of an instrument to fall off very gradually due to reducing light transmission. A build-up of dirt is the most obvious cause but, even in a well-sealed instrument, oxidation of the optics can occur. In this, magnesium oxide from an alloy body casting is attracted to the optical surfaces, usually the prisms, and forms a film on the surfaces. Another unfortunate effect can be caused by fungal spores, which may have entered the instrument during manufacture or in use in humid conditions and, later, this fungus will secrete an acid that attacks the optical surfaces. Such damage will get worse with time until it cannot be completely remedied. Diminution of performance can also be caused by the ingress of moisture, which will cause fogging to a greater or lesser extent, and this will never clear without a strip down, drying and servicing. A similar effect can be caused by the evaporation or dispersion of lubricants. In the cities and towns, the air will be polluted by traffic dust and fumes and this will, in time, deposit a light-reducing film on the optics. At Kay Optical, wherever an instrument is sealed and suitable, we will purge and fill with nitrogen. The purpose of this is to exclude oxygen and thereby eliminate fogging and oxidation.

Optical misalignment will have various bad effects including lack of, or only partial, focus, inaccurate readings and, in the case of a binocular instrument, double vision. It will be better if an instrument is grossly misaligned because then it will not be used until it is repaired. If, however, it is only slightly misaligned, the user may continue to use it and thereby obtain poor results. In the case of a slightly misaligned binocular instrument, for example, the user’s eye muscles will tend to compensate for the optical misalignment with a headache or nausea being the end result.

On the mechanical side, a stiff or inaccurate mechanism can be caused by damage, dirt or grit or by ageing lubricants and repair or servicing is clearly required. Never be tempted to oil an instrument, much less use penetrating liquid, since this will only result in a bigger repair bill.

All the above problems and many more can be solved at a good optical repair centre but, these days, such centres are few and far between. All too often evidence of poor work or damage from amateurism is found. This is commonly hidden inside an instrument and includes damaged screws, misfitted or omitted seals, failure to relubricate, failure to find and correct the original fault and a failure to render the optics immaculately clean. Even more obvious is when an instrument has not been adjusted or collimated exactly. Such treatment of precision optical instruments is enough to make a skilled optical technician weep and shows a lack of appreciation of the instrument and a lack of pride in one’s work. No such problems exist at Kay Optical where taking a pride in producing the best possible work is fundamental to our ethos and dates back to 1960. Regular servicing of an instrument not only keeps it in good condition but also extends its life and avoids breakdown or more expensive work later on.

WANTED: for recycling. Unwanted binoculars and telescopes are needed for the re-use of parts. Quite often, this is the only way we can obtain parts for the repair of older models. We will refund your postage and be most appreciative of your help.