Own A 1-Of-A-Kind Piece of TMB History [Added DPAC Photo]

Apologies, but this will be long:

After much hemming and hawing, I have decided to part ways with this unique (perhaps 1-of-a-kind) telescope.  While I love the scope, I’m strictly visual and mostly Chicago Suburban skies planetary and lunar observing - so I’m moving to a slower scope (f/8 or higher).

This is a LZOS 102/650 sitting in a Williams Optics Fluorostar 105 tube, sold directly by TMB.

WHAT I KNOW:  Back in 1999, Markus struck a deal with LZOS to manufacture some lenses.  Per emails with Markus, those first LZOS lenses were 102/650 designed by Valery Deyuzhin.  Per Markus (from a chat group (in German) from some time ago):

“LZOS built a few 102/650s before the TMB era.  These were corrected on the axis and poor in the field.  In addition, some of them had severe zone problems, so much so that we even sent them back for rework . . . the first 102 mm lenses from LZOS had serial numbers 980002 (93.9% Strehl), 980005 (94.0% Strehl, 980006 (95.7% Strehl) and were delivered in March 1999 . . . I have an email from LZOS dated October 11, 1999 in which LZOS writes that they are ready to send the last 5 lenses 102/650, after which there will be the new version 105/650 calculated by TMB.”

This scope was purchased directly from Tom by the original owner (I have been in contact with him).

WHAT I CAN SAFELY PRESUME: Since Tom took this non-TMB designed lens cell and sold it under TMB, anyone who knows about Tom would know that he was not the type of seller to push something out the door unless it met his exacting standards (especially, I would think, given that this was one of his very early/first TMB scopes (this was the era of the LZOS 105/650s - the very first line TMB/APM brought out)).

This lens cell is from the second batch of LZOS 102/650s - which by then Tom had reviewed and came up with the 105/650 replacement.  While he did not design the lens, he certainly reconfigured it to correct issues before selling this scope. Are there other 102s sold by TMB out there?  I haven’t found any evidence of them.  

It is highly likely to be one of the very first telescopes ever sold under the TMB Optical banner, and a rare exception where Tom put his personal stamp of approval on a Valery Deryuzhin design.

I have upgraded the focuser to a FF - but do have the original WO focuser available (with Finderscope bracket - but missing one knob, as original owner modified it for use with motor focuser).

Includes rings and plate.

Buyer pays PP fees.  Seller pays shipping/insured CONUS.

Of course, as in my earlier ad - happy to trade for a TMB 100/800  

I'm adding a photo I took with a home-made DPAC using 250 LPI Ronchi with my iPhone - so apologies on quality

NOTE: I can send more photos