Telescope Reviews: Edmund 4.25” Deluxe Space Conqueror

That was my first scope that I really put thru the paces. Prior, I had a couple of smaller refractors including a Mayflower 60..AZ that seems to get alot of love by some.

My buddy up the street had an Edmund D.S.C. and I just had to talk Dad into getting me one for Christmas. It was alot of $$ in that day, but Dad made a good investment. It was Christmas 1968 and I was 12 years old. Over the next 2.5 years I was as dedicated and as stalwart an observer as is possible! All weathers (clear to not so) and all temps in that Chicago suburb, all hours.

My Deluxe Space Conqueror changed my life. It fit right into my science hobby world, in a huge way. I still spent plenty of time with my microscope, etc, but astronomy took first place. I really value my notebook from those days.

As equipped, the 18-point-something Kellner EP got the most use, yielding as I recall 48x. I still have it but just cant find it...must dig it out! The barlow was ok with that EP, not up to modern stds by any means. The "high power" Ramsden was worthless...never used it. I dreamed of having other EPs but alas...no $$$$

My D.S.C. lives on in my world in a different form; many years ago I acquired a very nice Edmund 4.25" f4 mirror...and so I chopped the tube down. At the time of this writing, the newly refinished tube is drying, awaiting wet sanding/buffing. The extra holes were Bondo'd over...the tube will match the reflective/anodised look of the poles and finder on my new ATM build. I built a new focuser for it too.

The Circle T 6x30 finder and rings, I still have them. Not a bad finder! In addition, the original mirror cell is in use, altho I replaced the stalk secondary holder with a 3 vane spider this time around.

The original secondary was not a rectangular mirror on mine, rather, it was a first surface coated prism.

Im delighted to see Tom's writeup...I'd buy one again given the chance. That telescope was my main love...until I discovered girls, Les Pauls, and 50w Marshall half stacks (those took many many miles of grass cutting to acquire!)

Oh and BTW my OTA was not strapped on...it was held via 2 bolts at the bottom edge of the tube. Other than that and the secondary it seems to be identical to Toms scope....except that my brand new drive never worked!

I also had the optional sun projection screen (the bracket holes for which comprise that set of 4 holes in the tube at the EP end). Used it to time sunspot disappearances (with my buddy Ken Hardy) during a partial eclipse and actually got our names in Sky and Telescope!

Edited by tcmzodiac (11/22/12 08:51 PM)