A copyscope is type of refracting telescope that can be made by hand rather than bought in which the objective lens comes from an old photocopy machine, hence the origin of the name.
They are usually modest diameter lenses, ranging from 50mm to 60mm, of short focal length, good for use in a portable, wide-field telescope, but unsuitable for higher magnifications.
Surplus photocopier lenses from 200 to 300 mm focal length along with PVC pipe components for the tube and lens holder were used to build the copyscope described in the magazine.
[3] Other parts of a copyscope include an eyepiece, typically with a barrel diameter of 1 1/4 inches with a focal length of 17 to 20 mm or longer.
The availability of components over the Web allows enthusiasts to build a copyscope that can replace small Newtonian design as their first serious telescope.