Before the advent of modern mass-produced telescopes, the price of even a modest instrument was often beyond the means of an aspiring amateur astronomer. Building your own was the only economical method to obtain a suitable telescope for observing. Many published works piqued interest in building telescopes, such as the 1920 book The Amateur's Telescope by Irish telescope maker Rev. W. F. A. Ellison.
before the advent of modern mass-produced telescopes the price of even a modest instrument was often beyond the means of an aspiring amateur astronomer building your own was the only economical method to obtain a suitable telescope for observing many published works piqued interest in building telescopes such as the 1920 book the amateur's telescope by irish telescope maker rev w f a ellison