mikey cee
Post Laureate
Reged: 01/18/07
Posts: 3530
Loc: bellevue ne.
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Well every so often the Midwest strikes a coupe for the patient hearted. Back in 1977 the Omaha Astronomical Society received a donated Tasco 20TE from a local MD physician. I was given the scope to store in my townhouse garage for two years. At the time I was building my 6" f/8 Jaegers and had no interest in this old "relic". In 1979 the club attempted to sell the scope but one of the club patriarchs came forward and purchased it for $500. He then donated it back to the club around 1993. The club then put it away in storage after several outings with club members by 1995 or so. Things become sketchy do to membership turnover and lack of records etc. But basically the club had no use for it. Then in 2008 the 92 year old patriarch and his second wife died. The club then decided to put it up for sale again. I had rejoined the club in 2007 after leaving for personal reasons in 1982. The few members that had seen the scope weren't real positive of it's heritage and I put two and two together and thought this must be the same scope. Sure enough it was and they proceded to vote selling the scope to me for $125. Here is a picture of it in my observatory after a whole lot of extensive cleaning.  Mike
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7x35 and 10x50 sears tower binocs, 3" f/10 edmunds reflector, 2.4" f/11.7 manon refractor, 6" f/8 jaegers refractor, "The 8 Ball" 8" f/13.3 brandt refractor, 3" f/15.8 sans&streiffe refractor, 3.1" f/15 selsi refractor(towa 339), 2.4" f/15 sears refractor, selsi 30x30mm spyglass, criterion 5-draw 25x45x75x spyglass(1957), 4.25" f/14.8 tasco 20te.
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mikey cee
Post Laureate
Reged: 01/18/07
Posts: 3530
Loc: bellevue ne.
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Here's a picture of the scope taken from a slide around 1979 at my home. Mike
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7x35 and 10x50 sears tower binocs, 3" f/10 edmunds reflector, 2.4" f/11.7 manon refractor, 6" f/8 jaegers refractor, "The 8 Ball" 8" f/13.3 brandt refractor, 3" f/15.8 sans&streiffe refractor, 3.1" f/15 selsi refractor(towa 339), 2.4" f/15 sears refractor, selsi 30x30mm spyglass, criterion 5-draw 25x45x75x spyglass(1957), 4.25" f/14.8 tasco 20te.
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mikey cee
Post Laureate
Reged: 01/18/07
Posts: 3530
Loc: bellevue ne.
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Another pic of all that came with it. Mike
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7x35 and 10x50 sears tower binocs, 3" f/10 edmunds reflector, 2.4" f/11.7 manon refractor, 6" f/8 jaegers refractor, "The 8 Ball" 8" f/13.3 brandt refractor, 3" f/15.8 sans&streiffe refractor, 3.1" f/15 selsi refractor(towa 339), 2.4" f/15 sears refractor, selsi 30x30mm spyglass, criterion 5-draw 25x45x75x spyglass(1957), 4.25" f/14.8 tasco 20te.
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mikey cee
Post Laureate
Reged: 01/18/07
Posts: 3530
Loc: bellevue ne.
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And some more eyepieces too!
Edited by mikey cee (03/07/09 11:18 AM)
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JamesE
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 10/22/07
Posts: 1117
Loc: Westbank, BC, Canada
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Mike
Unbelievable............!
James
P.S. I can't wait to hear more about this.....more pics......more stories.......more info......let me get my coffee. Great deal. Those are Royal Astro Optics too eh!
This is one of those rarest Japanese scopes out there. What's the serial number. First a schmidt camera then a a 4 incher on a pier. Boy this is going to be a fun weekend.
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James
(Thanks to Attilla for the Clear Sky charts)
Current Projects : Tasco 15TEA - 3 inch pier mounted planetary scope
Priorities : Wife, Kids
Edited by JamesE (03/07/09 11:17 AM)
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woodsman
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 03/12/08
Posts: 1079
Loc: Colorado Springs, CO
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Ok, are you just trying to irritate us by showing all that came with it.. $125 huh, did you say 1,2,5, as in dollars?? That just clinches it, I'm never going to feel guilty ever again about my Sears 90mm. By the way, I only paid $120, you paid $125    Congratulations, you must be ecstatic.  Rich
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artisticwoods
C-14 Orange Tube, C-8, C-5, C-90 Astro Model, C8 Schmidt Camera 8" f1.5, C5.5 Schmidt Camera f1.65, SPI 42mm f/19 Refractor, Sears 90mm f/15.56 Ref, Sears 80mm f/15 Ref, Swift 77mm f/13 Model 831, Scope 60mm f/11.7, Sears 50mm f/12
Unitron Model 140 75mm/1200mm, Unitron model 128 60mm/900mm
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woodsman
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 03/12/08
Posts: 1079
Loc: Colorado Springs, CO
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Ok Mike, now I went back through the old posting when I got my Sears 90mm, and this is what you wrote to me:
Richard......For a paltry $120 you should be strung up and shot!! Hope you sleep well!! Mike
Hey James, he lives in Nebraska, I'm sure we can find out where. Do you think he keeps his Observatory door locked?? You know, night vision Goggles aren't that expensive on the internet, and even so, I'm sure Preston has some laying around somewhere that we could borrow.... 
NICE, NICE, NICE!!
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artisticwoods
C-14 Orange Tube, C-8, C-5, C-90 Astro Model, C8 Schmidt Camera 8" f1.5, C5.5 Schmidt Camera f1.65, SPI 42mm f/19 Refractor, Sears 90mm f/15.56 Ref, Sears 80mm f/15 Ref, Swift 77mm f/13 Model 831, Scope 60mm f/11.7, Sears 50mm f/12
Unitron Model 140 75mm/1200mm, Unitron model 128 60mm/900mm
Edited by woodsman (03/07/09 11:40 AM)
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Dan /schechter
sage
Reged: 12/21/06
Posts: 365
Loc: Long Beach, Calif.
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Great acquisition Mike. It must have been a great feeling to get reaquainted with that 20 TE. Excuse my ignorance, but what is the aperture and focal length of a 20 TE.
Thanks,
Dan
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mikey cee
Post Laureate
Reged: 01/18/07
Posts: 3530
Loc: bellevue ne.
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The scope has vital statistics of 108mm(clear) x 1600mm. The Guide scope is a 25x50 and the finder is 6x30. I took the motor cover off to rewire the motor becuse it had the leads yanked loose. It has a stamped tag on it that shows 1969-5.Mike
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7x35 and 10x50 sears tower binocs, 3" f/10 edmunds reflector, 2.4" f/11.7 manon refractor, 6" f/8 jaegers refractor, "The 8 Ball" 8" f/13.3 brandt refractor, 3" f/15.8 sans&streiffe refractor, 3.1" f/15 selsi refractor(towa 339), 2.4" f/15 sears refractor, selsi 30x30mm spyglass, criterion 5-draw 25x45x75x spyglass(1957), 4.25" f/14.8 tasco 20te.
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woodsman
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 03/12/08
Posts: 1079
Loc: Colorado Springs, CO
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Mike, are those 0.965 lenses in the Unihex or are they 1.25 eps with one 2 inch ep? Rich
Also, nice pier!
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artisticwoods
C-14 Orange Tube, C-8, C-5, C-90 Astro Model, C8 Schmidt Camera 8" f1.5, C5.5 Schmidt Camera f1.65, SPI 42mm f/19 Refractor, Sears 90mm f/15.56 Ref, Sears 80mm f/15 Ref, Swift 77mm f/13 Model 831, Scope 60mm f/11.7, Sears 50mm f/12
Unitron Model 140 75mm/1200mm, Unitron model 128 60mm/900mm
Edited by woodsman (03/07/09 11:43 AM)
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mikey cee
Post Laureate
Reged: 01/18/07
Posts: 3530
Loc: bellevue ne.
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Rich...They are only .965's. Everything comes with a price tho'! Some so an' so took the 40mm Mono and cut half the tube off of it!  Probably to seat it in a star diagonal...who knows.  Mike
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7x35 and 10x50 sears tower binocs, 3" f/10 edmunds reflector, 2.4" f/11.7 manon refractor, 6" f/8 jaegers refractor, "The 8 Ball" 8" f/13.3 brandt refractor, 3" f/15.8 sans&streiffe refractor, 3.1" f/15 selsi refractor(towa 339), 2.4" f/15 sears refractor, selsi 30x30mm spyglass, criterion 5-draw 25x45x75x spyglass(1957), 4.25" f/14.8 tasco 20te.
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Happy-Idiot
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 04/06/06
Posts: 2835
Loc: 3rd Rock
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Brian
A small scope that gets used often is a better investment than a big scope that stays in the closet.
Unitrons, you spend more time looking at them than you do through them.
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Siderea
Astronomess
Reged: 11/21/05
Posts: 2066
Loc: Left Coast
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Lucky dude, Mike!
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lc Carol
..."Then the blue above grows darker and a million stars erupt
From the places where they hide throughout the day
Into pictures in the heavens even we cannot corrupt
And the vastnesses of time can't wash away..."Jeff Green
60mm Telescope Club
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desertrefugee
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 08/06/07
Posts: 1219
Loc: Arizona
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Congratulations, Mike.
I'm sure you won't be letting it go again.
Gorgeous scope. And quite scarce, I would imagine. Not sure if it's as rare as the Sears 90 (but this one's a full 4")!
Unbelievable.
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"Illimitable ocean, without bound, Without dimension, where length, breadth, and height, And time, and place are lost." - Milton
-Darrell
Reflectors - 76 to 305mm (f4.7 to f9.2)
Refractors - 50 to 120mm (f5 to f16.7)
Binoculars - 6x15 to 22x100
N. Phoenix, AZ
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strdst
scholastic sledgehammer
Reged: 03/23/08
Posts: 834
Loc: Oregon USA
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WOW, Not exactly your 1960's department store Tasco! Beautiful! How is this "relic" optically? Not quite a 7te...he... he... 5, but probably still pretty good?
other Keith
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woodsman
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 03/12/08
Posts: 1079
Loc: Colorado Springs, CO
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That scope is as beautiful as the Unitron 160 models that we all drool over. I especially like the counterweight assemblies. For a 4.25 inch refractor, how can it get any nicer, plus it has the clock drive. I'd only heard rumors of the Tasco 20TE existence, now it shows up, and in this condition. Terrific!
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artisticwoods
C-14 Orange Tube, C-8, C-5, C-90 Astro Model, C8 Schmidt Camera 8" f1.5, C5.5 Schmidt Camera f1.65, SPI 42mm f/19 Refractor, Sears 90mm f/15.56 Ref, Sears 80mm f/15 Ref, Swift 77mm f/13 Model 831, Scope 60mm f/11.7, Sears 50mm f/12
Unitron Model 140 75mm/1200mm, Unitron model 128 60mm/900mm
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mikey cee
Post Laureate
Reged: 01/18/07
Posts: 3530
Loc: bellevue ne.
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Keith.......Optically this scope is in a league of it's own. It literally is a step above my Sans & Streiffe 76mm x 1200mm. I was viewing Castor the other night. You could definitely see the different subtle hues....and talk about difraction rings....and this was at 400x!! The Moon was near the Zenith at half phase and I could not detect any purple in the crater shadows at 400x! Now you can say bull but I couldn't detect any. At the limb of the Moon you could just detect that something just wasn't quite correct about this "reflector" like image. I'm simply blown away with this lens. Then I go over to the 8-inch and the stars are softer due to the seeing which had a slow boil and a much brighter view of course. The lenses have not been touched. Some dust on back and front sides but no sleeks or scratches or coating flaws. Thank God they received little active duty and were well capped.  Mike
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7x35 and 10x50 sears tower binocs, 3" f/10 edmunds reflector, 2.4" f/11.7 manon refractor, 6" f/8 jaegers refractor, "The 8 Ball" 8" f/13.3 brandt refractor, 3" f/15.8 sans&streiffe refractor, 3.1" f/15 selsi refractor(towa 339), 2.4" f/15 sears refractor, selsi 30x30mm spyglass, criterion 5-draw 25x45x75x spyglass(1957), 4.25" f/14.8 tasco 20te.
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woodsman
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 03/12/08
Posts: 1079
Loc: Colorado Springs, CO
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Does anyone have any idea of how many of these were made, and for how many years?
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artisticwoods
C-14 Orange Tube, C-8, C-5, C-90 Astro Model, C8 Schmidt Camera 8" f1.5, C5.5 Schmidt Camera f1.65, SPI 42mm f/19 Refractor, Sears 90mm f/15.56 Ref, Sears 80mm f/15 Ref, Swift 77mm f/13 Model 831, Scope 60mm f/11.7, Sears 50mm f/12
Unitron Model 140 75mm/1200mm, Unitron model 128 60mm/900mm
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mikey cee
Post Laureate
Reged: 01/18/07
Posts: 3530
Loc: bellevue ne.
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The scope will obviously need some big bucks to bring it back to near 100%. The chrome draw tubes are woefully pitted.....but identical in condition as back in 1977! So to get in that condition by 1977 who knows how old this puppy is. The declination shaft as well as the tube weight bars also need replating. The mount itself is to me a real surprise. All those summers in that storage shed cooking away near 90°-100° days and it still glides smoothly. Absolutely no slop or play(backlash)!  Mike
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7x35 and 10x50 sears tower binocs, 3" f/10 edmunds reflector, 2.4" f/11.7 manon refractor, 6" f/8 jaegers refractor, "The 8 Ball" 8" f/13.3 brandt refractor, 3" f/15.8 sans&streiffe refractor, 3.1" f/15 selsi refractor(towa 339), 2.4" f/15 sears refractor, selsi 30x30mm spyglass, criterion 5-draw 25x45x75x spyglass(1957), 4.25" f/14.8 tasco 20te.
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gts055
super member
Reged: 05/01/06
Posts: 158
Loc: Victoria, Australia
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Congratulations on acquiring your magnificent 20TE. I imagine it would have been long unloved and in a dusty and neglected state. Wonderful u have it now to appreciate 
Wishing great views, Mark
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strdst
scholastic sledgehammer
Reged: 03/23/08
Posts: 834
Loc: Oregon USA
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Quote:
...and talk about difraction rings....and this was at 400x!! I'm simply blown away with this lens. The lenses have not been touched... no sleeks or scratches or coating flaws. Thank God they received little active duty and were well capped. Mike
Mike, that is all just fantastic. I can't imagine how crazy good it must feel acquiring that scope...and to have it be optically perfect...It came back to the right home for sure!
I think someone needs to update their scope/signature list!
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mikey cee
Post Laureate
Reged: 01/18/07
Posts: 3530
Loc: bellevue ne.
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I can't believe this but it is true. The dew cap measures a whopping 6-1/8" in diameter!  Mike
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7x35 and 10x50 sears tower binocs, 3" f/10 edmunds reflector, 2.4" f/11.7 manon refractor, 6" f/8 jaegers refractor, "The 8 Ball" 8" f/13.3 brandt refractor, 3" f/15.8 sans&streiffe refractor, 3.1" f/15 selsi refractor(towa 339), 2.4" f/15 sears refractor, selsi 30x30mm spyglass, criterion 5-draw 25x45x75x spyglass(1957), 4.25" f/14.8 tasco 20te.
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Preston Smith
Military Observer
Reged: 04/24/05
Posts: 3445
Loc: Eureka, Pa
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Wow!!!!!!!
Congrats - great find. I am not jealous. I am not jealous. I am not jealous..... 
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Preston
Lift your eyes and look to the heavens: Who created all these? He who brings out the starry host one by one, and calls them each by name. Because of His great power and mighty strength, not one of them is missing. Isaiah 40:26
SV115T,NHII,SV70,SV50 and Tele Vue Ranger
Vintage Refractors: Asahi-Pentax, Edmund Scientific, Tasco, Unitron
60mm Telescope Club
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stevenk
super member
Reged: 07/01/05
Posts: 143
Loc: Melbourne, Australia
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Mike
Can you take a shot of the focusser.
Does it have the Royal Astro Optical Insignia stamped on it ?
Steve
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mikey cee
Post Laureate
Reged: 01/18/07
Posts: 3530
Loc: bellevue ne.
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Steve...No it does not. It's a pretty "plane jane" version compared to other Royal Astro products. I'm very fortunate it survived intact anyways!  Mike
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7x35 and 10x50 sears tower binocs, 3" f/10 edmunds reflector, 2.4" f/11.7 manon refractor, 6" f/8 jaegers refractor, "The 8 Ball" 8" f/13.3 brandt refractor, 3" f/15.8 sans&streiffe refractor, 3.1" f/15 selsi refractor(towa 339), 2.4" f/15 sears refractor, selsi 30x30mm spyglass, criterion 5-draw 25x45x75x spyglass(1957), 4.25" f/14.8 tasco 20te.
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tim53
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 12/17/04
Posts: 1458
Loc: Highland Park, CA
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I just don't know what to say...
how 'bout HOLY COW!
Man, what a beauty!
-Tim.
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"We`re just waiting looking skyward as the days come down.
Someone promised there`d be answers, if we stayed around."
-Orchestral Maneuvers in the Dark, "The Romance of the Telescope"
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strdst
scholastic sledgehammer
Reged: 03/23/08
Posts: 834
Loc: Oregon USA
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Quote:
Wow!!!!!!!
Congrats - great find. I am not jealous. I am not jealous. I am not jealous.....
You are too. You are too. You are too...
So am I. So am I. So am I...
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habsburg8
scholastic sledgehammer
Reged: 07/07/05
Posts: 806
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Mr. Cee:
Wonderful acquistion! I am also the proud owner of a Tasco #20TE equatorial refractor. Mine once belonged to Simon Holler, owner of Cleveland Astronomics, a supplier of quality ATM parts during the early 1960s. I purchased the scope directly from him, and then 'lent' it to a local observatory for about ten years. I reacquired the big Tasco about four years ago.
An article about my personal #20TE appeared in an issue of The Rosette Gazette Newsletter, a monthly publication of The Rose City Astronomers of Portland, Oregon. This February 2007 2-page article was titled 'A Lunar Gallery--III.'
Your electric motor drive is most interesting. My original RA drive mechanism, which was Tasco's standard model, did not have an outer plastic casing. The motor itself and insulated lead wires were all exposed. I have recently replaced this with an RA drive from one of my vintage Sears 90mm scopes, which is identical in design to the one shown on your scope. Optica b/c and SPI also sold their 108mm equatorial scopes with hard plastic RA drive casings.
The serial number on your instrument is also intriguing. The number on mine is 21006. I STRONGLY SUSPECT that Tasco Sales, Inc. rebranded your scope from another supplier. However, there really is no real difference between your #20TE and other examples sold. These were originally manufactured by Royal Astro Optical Industries Co., Ltd. of Tokyo, Japan as #R-102.
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stevenk
super member
Reged: 07/01/05
Posts: 143
Loc: Melbourne, Australia
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Mike
Congratulations what a find!
To me this is the most wanted scope
May you use it in good health
Steve
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mikey cee
Post Laureate
Reged: 01/18/07
Posts: 3530
Loc: bellevue ne.
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Habsburgh......My motor housing isn't plastic it's bonafide magnet food. The original owner's manual that came with the scope was for the 15TE Planetary piered job. Go figure. Maybe they didn't have any and substituted the other's manual. I've also noticed that the RA assembly is slightly larger than the "earlier" versions. The RA slow motion is now further up above the gear wheel. Also the tube weight brackets have been moved further back on the OTA. I can still see where the old hole pattern used to be.....very faint but detectable. Oh well.  Mike
Edited by mikey cee (03/07/09 11:43 PM)
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habsburg8
scholastic sledgehammer
Reged: 07/07/05
Posts: 806
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A brief article about the #20TE can be found at:
www.rca-omsi.org/news/gazette_07/2007_03.pdf
The article, found on pages 3 and 4, is called a 'Lunar Gallery--III' and it displays a photograph of the author's #20TE along with some lunar images taken through the instrument. There is also a nice image of an R-102 (Optica b/c #2009-B) from a catalog on the second page of the article.
Take especial note of the motor drive casing.
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mustgobigger
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 06/12/07
Posts: 2421
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hi mike,
you lucky dog you.
I am jealous. I am jealous. I am jealous.
but than so is everyone else even if they wont admit it.
Congrats,
Brian
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RV-6
Meade 826
Meade 880 Deluxe
Unitron's 114,128,140,142,150,152,155,160
4" Jaegertron
4.5" A.E f/14 Refractor
4" f/15 Edmund's Refractor
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clintwhitman
Caveman
Reged: 01/01/07
Posts: 2435
Loc: ValVerde CA(SoEasyaCavemanCanD...
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Mike!!! TasoZilla!!! Sounds like a research grade Telescope for a good price. A really good price. (aveman Deal, Kudos on the deal of the year! 
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Clint&Debbie Whitman (aveman
1960s 6"F15 Jaegers-Unipons by John Pons on a Byers 812, 1947 4" F15 TINSLEY, 1965 10" F8 CAVE, 1950 5CM & 6.5CM Nippon Kogakus (the twins), 1960s UNITRONS a 152 restored a 160 numbered green lens original mint a 114 original 50s mint, 1950s UNITRON M100 100mm F15 OTA, WO 80mm Florite, ASTROPHYSICS 155 EDFS on LOSMANDY G11, a bunch of Tascos,Sears Mayflowers The list goes on Add infinitum.
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trainsktg
Post Laureate
Reged: 08/23/05
Posts: 4586
Loc: Pacific Northwest
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Wow. What a great sight to be greeted to apon returning to the Forum.
Congratulations.
Keith
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He was a good little monkey and always very curious.
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JWW
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 12/12/05
Posts: 1107
Loc: Arizona or Mexico hard to tell
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Incredible, congrats Mike!
-JWW:
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desertrefugee
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 08/06/07
Posts: 1219
Loc: Arizona
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You know the funny thing about this thread? While there's no question that this is an incredible find and has gone to one of our own - for that we're all elated. (And it shows in here). And even though this thing dwarfs (literally) in both physical stature and value the 9TE I recently acquired, the interest, feedback and kind words were very similar.
What a great corner of the web.
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"Illimitable ocean, without bound, Without dimension, where length, breadth, and height, And time, and place are lost." - Milton
-Darrell
Reflectors - 76 to 305mm (f4.7 to f9.2)
Refractors - 50 to 120mm (f5 to f16.7)
Binoculars - 6x15 to 22x100
N. Phoenix, AZ
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trainsktg
Post Laureate
Reged: 08/23/05
Posts: 4586
Loc: Pacific Northwest
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Quote:
You know the funny thing about this thread? While there's no question that this is an incredible find and has gone to one of our own - for that we're all elated. (And it shows in here). And even though this thing dwarfs (literally) in both physical stature and value the 9TE I recently acquired, the interest, feedback and kind words were very similar.
What a great corner of the web.
I agree. Nearly the same level of enthusiasm is displayed when talking about a common 60mm Tasco as or a hens' teeth rare 150mm Goto. A great bunch here. Shows its about love of the hobby and not love of 'our stash'.
Keith
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He was a good little monkey and always very curious.
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Bob S
member
Reged: 05/02/07
Posts: 53
Loc: Illinois
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I found a Tasco ad in "The Telescope Catalog of Catalogs" from 1979. In it, the 20T is listed at $4,999.95. I think you got a great deal for $125! Congratulations on acquiring such a terrific and rare Tasco.
Does anyone have an idea about how many of these Tasco sold?
Bob Schoenstene
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rwiederrich
Goldfinger
Reged: 11/17/05
Posts: 8334
Loc: Bremerton Washington
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OK OK OK....I just looked at this thread again....and I have to say...If I didn't already hate you...I'd start hating you right now......
Through clenched teeth......I'm gonna say....Gongrats.....Grrrrrrr Dude!
For under 2 bills you walked away with this awesome scope with that cheezy grin...and all that attitude......
You da man...da man...da man...
Great snag bro.... 
Reminds me of the time I nearly was given a 130 Starfire....free. At the last minute the person who had it decided to hang on to it cuz his kids might use it..... 
He had no idea what he had. He picked it up in an estate sale. He goes in and liquidates estates when the families pass away. Any that's enough about that...
Rob
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www.goldmtobservingcenter.com
A great place for amateur astronomers, and ATM's to come and enjoy their hobby.
http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/HomemadeRefractorTelescopes/ My homemade refractor group.
www.vimeo.com/6014031
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rmollise
Post Laureate
Reged: 07/06/07
Posts: 4585
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Quote:
Well every so often the Midwest strikes a coupe for the patient hearted. Back in 1977 the Omaha Astronomical Society received a donated Tasco 20TE from a local MD physician.
All I can say is: beautiful, wonderful scope...and that is comin' from a dude who is not known as a fan of long focal length achromats...
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Uncle Rod
Rod's New Book:
Choosing and Using a New CAT
Available now!
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mikey cee
Post Laureate
Reged: 01/18/07
Posts: 3530
Loc: bellevue ne.
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Tonight it's "Scrutinizing Saturn" time with the refractor family. While the 8" Brandt provides the brightest views it's the 4.25" Tasco that has the "sharper" image most likely due to the seeing. The Shrine Manon is dim by comparison but still tack sharp. At this point in time the planet is only half way to the meridian. Mike
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7x35 and 10x50 sears tower binocs, 3" f/10 edmunds reflector, 2.4" f/11.7 manon refractor, 6" f/8 jaegers refractor, "The 8 Ball" 8" f/13.3 brandt refractor, 3" f/15.8 sans&streiffe refractor, 3.1" f/15 selsi refractor(towa 339), 2.4" f/15 sears refractor, selsi 30x30mm spyglass, criterion 5-draw 25x45x75x spyglass(1957), 4.25" f/14.8 tasco 20te.
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rwiederrich
Goldfinger
Reged: 11/17/05
Posts: 8334
Loc: Bremerton Washington
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Beautiful bro.....
Rob
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www.goldmtobservingcenter.com
A great place for amateur astronomers, and ATM's to come and enjoy their hobby.
http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/HomemadeRefractorTelescopes/ My homemade refractor group.
www.vimeo.com/6014031
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Awesomelenny
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 05/02/04
Posts: 2803
Loc: Long: 81.42 W Lat: 41.21 N
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What a thread! That Tasco is a real beauty!
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Len
Meade 178 ED APO
127mm Astro_Tech ED APO
4" f/15 Model 166 Unitron with UNIWITT Pier
Televue Genesis SDF 101mm f/5.4
W.O. Zenithstar 66
2.4" f/15 Model 128C Unitron
Coronado Solarmax 90 DS Telescope
Losmandy Titan; G-11; all w/Gemini
All in a "Backyard Observatory"
"The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands."
Psalm 19:1
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mikey cee
Post Laureate
Reged: 01/18/07
Posts: 3530
Loc: bellevue ne.
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Well I've decided to bump this thread. The reason being I've just recently restored this Tasco 20TE to near new condition. Of course I cleaned it up as best I cold for the previous pictures in this thread with rags, toothbrush and cleaners. But first I'd like to show the condition this scope was in when I first aquired it. Some people here on CN can appreciate the labor of love that must go into a total restoration. Others can simply be enlightened. James from Canada is going through the same horrific mess that I've gone thru with his very very rare pier mounted Tasco 15TE. I want to help give him the necessary encouragement that he may need to see his project completed. This telescope of mine was a nightmare. This was the result of 12-15 years of neglect. Membership changes in my local club and lack of records caused some problems with an accurate timeline of events. Annectdotal evidence suggests that this scope was locked away in an inoperable ROR observatory since 1993 at our club's rural observing sight. Here follows some but not all pictures that I've documented. Mike
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7x35 and 10x50 sears tower binocs, 3" f/10 edmunds reflector, 2.4" f/11.7 manon refractor, 6" f/8 jaegers refractor, "The 8 Ball" 8" f/13.3 brandt refractor, 3" f/15.8 sans&streiffe refractor, 3.1" f/15 selsi refractor(towa 339), 2.4" f/15 sears refractor, selsi 30x30mm spyglass, criterion 5-draw 25x45x75x spyglass(1957), 4.25" f/14.8 tasco 20te.
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mikey cee
Post Laureate
Reged: 01/18/07
Posts: 3530
Loc: bellevue ne.
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Luckily the lenses were kept covered and survived in near mint condition if you can believe that!
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7x35 and 10x50 sears tower binocs, 3" f/10 edmunds reflector, 2.4" f/11.7 manon refractor, 6" f/8 jaegers refractor, "The 8 Ball" 8" f/13.3 brandt refractor, 3" f/15.8 sans&streiffe refractor, 3.1" f/15 selsi refractor(towa 339), 2.4" f/15 sears refractor, selsi 30x30mm spyglass, criterion 5-draw 25x45x75x spyglass(1957), 4.25" f/14.8 tasco 20te.
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mikey cee
Post Laureate
Reged: 01/18/07
Posts: 3530
Loc: bellevue ne.
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Looks like mud daubers were busy as bees.
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7x35 and 10x50 sears tower binocs, 3" f/10 edmunds reflector, 2.4" f/11.7 manon refractor, 6" f/8 jaegers refractor, "The 8 Ball" 8" f/13.3 brandt refractor, 3" f/15.8 sans&streiffe refractor, 3.1" f/15 selsi refractor(towa 339), 2.4" f/15 sears refractor, selsi 30x30mm spyglass, criterion 5-draw 25x45x75x spyglass(1957), 4.25" f/14.8 tasco 20te.
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mikey cee
Post Laureate
Reged: 01/18/07
Posts: 3530
Loc: bellevue ne.
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The auxillary scopes lenses were well capped also!
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7x35 and 10x50 sears tower binocs, 3" f/10 edmunds reflector, 2.4" f/11.7 manon refractor, 6" f/8 jaegers refractor, "The 8 Ball" 8" f/13.3 brandt refractor, 3" f/15.8 sans&streiffe refractor, 3.1" f/15 selsi refractor(towa 339), 2.4" f/15 sears refractor, selsi 30x30mm spyglass, criterion 5-draw 25x45x75x spyglass(1957), 4.25" f/14.8 tasco 20te.
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mikey cee
Post Laureate
Reged: 01/18/07
Posts: 3530
Loc: bellevue ne.
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Next picture.
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7x35 and 10x50 sears tower binocs, 3" f/10 edmunds reflector, 2.4" f/11.7 manon refractor, 6" f/8 jaegers refractor, "The 8 Ball" 8" f/13.3 brandt refractor, 3" f/15.8 sans&streiffe refractor, 3.1" f/15 selsi refractor(towa 339), 2.4" f/15 sears refractor, selsi 30x30mm spyglass, criterion 5-draw 25x45x75x spyglass(1957), 4.25" f/14.8 tasco 20te.
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mikey cee
Post Laureate
Reged: 01/18/07
Posts: 3530
Loc: bellevue ne.
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These wasps or whatever really had a heyday(s) in there. The indoor carpet was wall to wall with dead bugs and flies.
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7x35 and 10x50 sears tower binocs, 3" f/10 edmunds reflector, 2.4" f/11.7 manon refractor, 6" f/8 jaegers refractor, "The 8 Ball" 8" f/13.3 brandt refractor, 3" f/15.8 sans&streiffe refractor, 3.1" f/15 selsi refractor(towa 339), 2.4" f/15 sears refractor, selsi 30x30mm spyglass, criterion 5-draw 25x45x75x spyglass(1957), 4.25" f/14.8 tasco 20te.
Edited by mikey cee (11/05/09 06:15 PM)
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mikey cee
Post Laureate
Reged: 01/18/07
Posts: 3530
Loc: bellevue ne.
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Next
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7x35 and 10x50 sears tower binocs, 3" f/10 edmunds reflector, 2.4" f/11.7 manon refractor, 6" f/8 jaegers refractor, "The 8 Ball" 8" f/13.3 brandt refractor, 3" f/15.8 sans&streiffe refractor, 3.1" f/15 selsi refractor(towa 339), 2.4" f/15 sears refractor, selsi 30x30mm spyglass, criterion 5-draw 25x45x75x spyglass(1957), 4.25" f/14.8 tasco 20te.
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mikey cee
Post Laureate
Reged: 01/18/07
Posts: 3530
Loc: bellevue ne.
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The rust and pitting was everywhere.
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7x35 and 10x50 sears tower binocs, 3" f/10 edmunds reflector, 2.4" f/11.7 manon refractor, 6" f/8 jaegers refractor, "The 8 Ball" 8" f/13.3 brandt refractor, 3" f/15.8 sans&streiffe refractor, 3.1" f/15 selsi refractor(towa 339), 2.4" f/15 sears refractor, selsi 30x30mm spyglass, criterion 5-draw 25x45x75x spyglass(1957), 4.25" f/14.8 tasco 20te.
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mikey cee
Post Laureate
Reged: 01/18/07
Posts: 3530
Loc: bellevue ne.
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Onward we proceed.
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7x35 and 10x50 sears tower binocs, 3" f/10 edmunds reflector, 2.4" f/11.7 manon refractor, 6" f/8 jaegers refractor, "The 8 Ball" 8" f/13.3 brandt refractor, 3" f/15.8 sans&streiffe refractor, 3.1" f/15 selsi refractor(towa 339), 2.4" f/15 sears refractor, selsi 30x30mm spyglass, criterion 5-draw 25x45x75x spyglass(1957), 4.25" f/14.8 tasco 20te.
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mikey cee
Post Laureate
Reged: 01/18/07
Posts: 3530
Loc: bellevue ne.
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Yuck!
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7x35 and 10x50 sears tower binocs, 3" f/10 edmunds reflector, 2.4" f/11.7 manon refractor, 6" f/8 jaegers refractor, "The 8 Ball" 8" f/13.3 brandt refractor, 3" f/15.8 sans&streiffe refractor, 3.1" f/15 selsi refractor(towa 339), 2.4" f/15 sears refractor, selsi 30x30mm spyglass, criterion 5-draw 25x45x75x spyglass(1957), 4.25" f/14.8 tasco 20te.
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mikey cee
Post Laureate
Reged: 01/18/07
Posts: 3530
Loc: bellevue ne.
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Again please.
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7x35 and 10x50 sears tower binocs, 3" f/10 edmunds reflector, 2.4" f/11.7 manon refractor, 6" f/8 jaegers refractor, "The 8 Ball" 8" f/13.3 brandt refractor, 3" f/15.8 sans&streiffe refractor, 3.1" f/15 selsi refractor(towa 339), 2.4" f/15 sears refractor, selsi 30x30mm spyglass, criterion 5-draw 25x45x75x spyglass(1957), 4.25" f/14.8 tasco 20te.
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mikey cee
Post Laureate
Reged: 01/18/07
Posts: 3530
Loc: bellevue ne.
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Bubble? Where?  Amazingly it's under there and in very good shape I might ad!
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7x35 and 10x50 sears tower binocs, 3" f/10 edmunds reflector, 2.4" f/11.7 manon refractor, 6" f/8 jaegers refractor, "The 8 Ball" 8" f/13.3 brandt refractor, 3" f/15.8 sans&streiffe refractor, 3.1" f/15 selsi refractor(towa 339), 2.4" f/15 sears refractor, selsi 30x30mm spyglass, criterion 5-draw 25x45x75x spyglass(1957), 4.25" f/14.8 tasco 20te.
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mikey cee
Post Laureate
Reged: 01/18/07
Posts: 3530
Loc: bellevue ne.
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Last one. Unbelieveable what heat and humidity with a little help from insects and dust laden wind can accomplish..huh? Makes you want to just lick everything clean as a whistle. Mike
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7x35 and 10x50 sears tower binocs, 3" f/10 edmunds reflector, 2.4" f/11.7 manon refractor, 6" f/8 jaegers refractor, "The 8 Ball" 8" f/13.3 brandt refractor, 3" f/15.8 sans&streiffe refractor, 3.1" f/15 selsi refractor(towa 339), 2.4" f/15 sears refractor, selsi 30x30mm spyglass, criterion 5-draw 25x45x75x spyglass(1957), 4.25" f/14.8 tasco 20te.
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BarabinoSr
sage
Reged: 11/17/05
Posts: 329
Loc: Slidell La
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Mike!This great story should've been in my post "Who Hooked You Up with your Classic Scope?"You've done an outstanding job restoring that 20TE and your entry signifies the hard work and appreciation we have for our scopes.The scope is beautiful!!!Great lunar pics as well!I enjoyed reading your contribution to this thread.Again,congrats.Gary G
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12"GSO f/5.3" Newtonian Reflector 10" Meade LX-50 Fork Mounted Schmidt-Cassegrain
8" Hardin f/6 Newtonian reflector
6" Konus f/8 Refractor,Yulin 5"f/9 refractor,
4.5"TASCO Luminova f/9 Newtonian Reflector 4.5"TASCO 11TR(Lunagrosso) Red reflector
90mm Meade f/11 refractor,Tasco 10TE 76mm 1200mm f/l Refractor
60mm TASCO 7TE-5 1000mm f/16.7 Refractor 60mm TASCO 9TE 700mm f/l refractor
60mm TASCO 9TE-0 710mm f/l Refractor 50mm-TASCO 6TE-5 600mm f/l Refractor
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JamesE
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 10/22/07
Posts: 1117
Loc: Westbank, BC, Canada
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Hey Mike,
Thanks for the before pics and encouragement. I don't feel so bad now. Do you have any restored shots. I would be interested to see what you have done.
Thanks
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James
(Thanks to Attilla for the Clear Sky charts)
Current Projects : Tasco 15TEA - 3 inch pier mounted planetary scope
Priorities : Wife, Kids
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Max Lattanzi
sage
Reged: 06/27/07
Posts: 230
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Quote:
Some people here on CN can appreciate the labor of love that must go into a total restoration.
Mike, be assured we do...
Now give us the after-restoration pix pls...
Max
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mikey cee
Post Laureate
Reged: 01/18/07
Posts: 3530
Loc: bellevue ne.
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I'll get things in order here this weekend sometime guys. I have a hectic week coming up as I'm going in Monday for a lumbar fusion. They say I'll be in the hospital for 3-4 days. Needless to say I won't be pushing any observatory roofs open and closed for sometime. Oh well life goes on....at least we're all lucky in that sense for the moment. Mike 
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7x35 and 10x50 sears tower binocs, 3" f/10 edmunds reflector, 2.4" f/11.7 manon refractor, 6" f/8 jaegers refractor, "The 8 Ball" 8" f/13.3 brandt refractor, 3" f/15.8 sans&streiffe refractor, 3.1" f/15 selsi refractor(towa 339), 2.4" f/15 sears refractor, selsi 30x30mm spyglass, criterion 5-draw 25x45x75x spyglass(1957), 4.25" f/14.8 tasco 20te.
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mikey cee
Post Laureate
Reged: 01/18/07
Posts: 3530
Loc: bellevue ne.
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Here are a couple of more shots. The camera doesn't do justice here. The scope was gouged pretty much all over the tube from the cradle corners. I took care of that problem with a dremel stone later. Mike
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7x35 and 10x50 sears tower binocs, 3" f/10 edmunds reflector, 2.4" f/11.7 manon refractor, 6" f/8 jaegers refractor, "The 8 Ball" 8" f/13.3 brandt refractor, 3" f/15.8 sans&streiffe refractor, 3.1" f/15 selsi refractor(towa 339), 2.4" f/15 sears refractor, selsi 30x30mm spyglass, criterion 5-draw 25x45x75x spyglass(1957), 4.25" f/14.8 tasco 20te.
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mikey cee
Post Laureate
Reged: 01/18/07
Posts: 3530
Loc: bellevue ne.
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Another shot of th accessory tray.
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7x35 and 10x50 sears tower binocs, 3" f/10 edmunds reflector, 2.4" f/11.7 manon refractor, 6" f/8 jaegers refractor, "The 8 Ball" 8" f/13.3 brandt refractor, 3" f/15.8 sans&streiffe refractor, 3.1" f/15 selsi refractor(towa 339), 2.4" f/15 sears refractor, selsi 30x30mm spyglass, criterion 5-draw 25x45x75x spyglass(1957), 4.25" f/14.8 tasco 20te.
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akman1955
sage
Reged: 09/07/09
Posts: 372
Loc: Alaska, USA
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Hey Mike, All the best and hope everything turns out good. John 
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