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Equipment Discussions >> Classic Telescopes
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Ham Radio
professor emeritus
*****

Reged: 09/18/09

Loc: Baxter, Mn
Re: Early Tasco (and other) Production Numbers? new [Re: teast]
      #3586648 - 01/27/10 08:54 AM Attachment (51 downloads)
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OOpps sorry Darrell, that's what I get for not starting at the top of the story before sticky my foot in.. Anyway when I was in the process of acquiring the scope I started a thread on how to tell the 2 apart and that's how I have identified the scope. Look for the thread "10TE & 15TE" I have pictures there. The legs are 1.25 and the tray does have 7 holes. From what I have read and been told is another point is the fact that the 10TE had an azimuth circle on the base and the 15TE doesn't. Unfortunately mine is missing the clock drive and the erecting prism to make it complete. Here is a picture of my mount. If I am wrong on my conclusion, someone please steer me in the correct direction.

Darrell if you want to add my serial number to your list it is:
15TE 970677


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okiestarman56
professor emeritus
*****

Reged: 04/10/08

Loc: 36.9'33" N 95.23'29" W
Re: Early Tasco (and other) Production Numbers? new [Re: Ham Radio]
      #3587099 - 01/27/10 12:43 PM
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Tasco 15TE # 771027

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desertrefugee
Carpal Tunnel
*****

Reged: 08/06/07

Loc: Arizona
Re: Early Tasco (and other) Production Numbers? new [Re: strdst]
      #3587306 - 01/27/10 02:16 PM
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I'll make sure to update the list later this evening. There appear to be a number of new entries that will be interesting to add.

I'll also provide a link to the thread that discusses the prevailing theory behind the serial number format.

Tom in Kentucky has already figured out part of the story.

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starrancher
Carpal Tunnel
*****

Reged: 06/09/09

Loc: Northern Arizona
Re: Early Tasco (and other) Production Numbers? new [Re: desertrefugee]
      #3587470 - 01/27/10 03:30 PM
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Quote:

I'll make sure to update the list later this evening. There appear to be a number of new entries that will be interesting to add.

I'll also provide a link to the thread that discusses the prevailing theory behind the serial number format.

Tom in Kentucky has already figured out part of the story.



Here's another one ;....1957 or 1958 Royal built Tasco 7T ..60mm x 910mm . Only 5 digits on the focuser body . #22255 . .....I don't get it .
That should throw a wrench into the gears of it all !

Edited by starrancher (01/27/10 03:37 PM)

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Compressorguy
Carpal Tunnel
*****

Reged: 03/14/09

Loc: Clayton, NC
Re: Early Tasco (and other) Production Numbers? new [Re: starrancher]
      #3587950 - 01/27/10 07:02 PM Attachment (46 downloads)
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Ok, i'm still confused. My recent Tasco came with a manual marked 10TE-5. The scope has no azimuth circle on the base and it has the 1.25 inch legs and cast brackets. It also has the 7 hole eyepiece tray. It also has the two screws located in the RA housing for the electric motor mount. So is this really a 15TE less factory supplied motor making it a factory supplied 10TE-5? Or is it a 10TE-5 as supplied (base model) but if it had been supplied with a factory electric motor (the only difference?) it would have been classified as a 15TE? Is the only distinction the motor?

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Compressorguy
Carpal Tunnel
*****

Reged: 03/14/09

Loc: Clayton, NC
Re: Early Tasco (and other) Production Numbers? new [Re: Compressorguy]
      #3587952 - 01/27/10 07:03 PM Attachment (38 downloads)
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Here's my S/n for the record.

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Ham Radio
professor emeritus
*****

Reged: 09/18/09

Loc: Baxter, Mn
Re: Early Tasco (and other) Production Numbers? new [Re: Compressorguy]
      #3587962 - 01/27/10 07:10 PM
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I am not to sure.. Looks like we need the experts to clear it up! Maybe someone slipped an 10TE manual into the box because that is all they had?

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teast
professor emeritus


Reged: 11/10/07

Loc: Kentucky
Re: Early Tasco (and other) Production Numbers? new [Re: starrancher]
      #3588089 - 01/27/10 08:03 PM
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Quote:

Here's another one ;....1957 or 1958 Royal built Tasco 7T ..60mm x 910mm . Only 5 digits on the focuser body . #22255 . .....I don't get it .
That should throw a wrench into the gears of it all !



I'll have to check my 7TE more closely but a photo I have shows 261260 (I think - the photo is a little fuzzy.) I have an azimuth circle on my mount. Maybe the serial # format changed at some time. I have no idea how old mine is.

-Tom

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Compressorguy
Carpal Tunnel
*****

Reged: 03/14/09

Loc: Clayton, NC
Re: Early Tasco (and other) Production Numbers? new [Re: teast]
      #3588171 - 01/27/10 08:54 PM Attachment (36 downloads)
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Looking at my 10TE-5 manual, I noticed the sentence describing the azimuth circle has been blacked out (from the factory?). Is this common? My manual is copyright 1966.

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desertrefugee
Carpal Tunnel
*****

Reged: 08/06/07

Loc: Arizona
Re: Early Tasco (and other) Production Numbers? new [Re: Compressorguy]
      #3588197 - 01/27/10 09:07 PM
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Scott, you've got an interesting example there. I'm no expert - only the bookkeeper here who happens to have a couple of examples of these fine telescopes. Maybe someone knows why that setting circle is missing ... and why the text describing it was lined out in the manual.

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Ham Radio
professor emeritus
*****

Reged: 09/18/09

Loc: Baxter, Mn
Re: Early Tasco (and other) Production Numbers? new [Re: desertrefugee]
      #3588233 - 01/27/10 09:23 PM
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Does anyone have a manual for a 15TE?? Maybe that will shed so light on the situation.

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desertrefugee
Carpal Tunnel
*****

Reged: 08/06/07

Loc: Arizona
Re: Early Tasco (and other) Production Numbers? new [Re: desertrefugee]
      #3588240 - 01/27/10 09:27 PM
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Serial Number decoding for Royal instruments seems nearly understood, but there may still be some lingering inconsistencies in the prevailing theories. A very thorough discussion of that topic is covered in this very informative thread:

Royal Astro Discussion

Meanwhile, here's an updated list of RAO scopes owned by CN Classics afficionados. Please let me know where/when/if I get something transposed/omitted/scrambled:

------------------------------------------------
76mm 1200fl Royal Astro Optical
------------------------------------------------
070180....10TE...................Keith S.
570327....10TE...................Keith S. (gone)
770734....Mayflower............Keith S.
272086....Royal..................Mark (Aust)
740483....Royal..................Steve(Aust)
741117....Royal..(long OTA)...(Aust), (no drawtube!)
770442....10TE..................Drew
770591....10TE..................Darrell S.
770875....15TE..................Preston
971401....15TE?.................Joe
970311....Royal..................Mike C.
170574....10TE..................Gary B.
670161....15TEA................James E.
771201....15TE..................Chuck F.
271201....10TE..................Chuck F.
970677....15TE..................Rod L.
771027....15TE..................Jerry (OK)
870217....10TE..................Scott (NC)


-----------------------------------------
60mm 1000fl Royal Astro
-----------------------------------------
262017....Royal..................Steve (Aust)
762118....7TE-5.................Michael (Germany)
760652....7TE-5.................Andy M.
761356....7TE-5.................Keith S
961793....7TE-5.................Keith S.
861822....7TE-5.................Gary B.
861347....7TE-5.................Glenn K.
761596....7TE-5.................Darrell S.
862700....7TE-5.................James E.
661038....7TE-5.................Brian G.
760665....7TE-5.................Brian G.
760986....7TE-5.................Chuck F.


-----------------------------------------
90mm 1400fl Royal Astro (Sears)
-----------------------------------------

990141....Sears.................Richard D.

-----------------------------------------
108mm 1600fl Royal Astro
-----------------------------------------

910806...20TE...................Mike C.

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teast
professor emeritus


Reged: 11/10/07

Loc: Kentucky
Re: Early Tasco (and other) Production Numbers? new [Re: desertrefugee]
      #3588563 - 01/27/10 11:56 PM
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I had not read that thread before, but in doing so tonight I can see that JamesE speculated about the second digit representing the aperture range before I independently noticed the same thing last night.

As noted in the thread, however, there are a couple of scopes in Australia with serial #'s that do not follow this pattern. Could be either a regional variation or a change in the serial number format at some time.

-Tom

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starrancher
Carpal Tunnel
*****

Reged: 06/09/09

Loc: Northern Arizona
Re: Early Tasco (and other) Production Numbers? new [Re: desertrefugee]
      #3588571 - 01/28/10 12:05 AM
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Quote:

Serial Number decoding for Royal instruments seems nearly understood, but there may still be some lingering inconsistencies in the prevailing theories. A very thorough discussion of that topic is covered in this very informative thread:

Royal Astro Discussion

Meanwhile, here's an updated list of RAO scopes owned by CN Classics afficionados. Please let me know where/when/if I get something transposed/omitted/scrambled:

------------------------------------------------
76mm 1200fl Royal Astro Optical
------------------------------------------------
070180....10TE...................Keith S.
570327....10TE...................Keith S. (gone)
770734....Mayflower............Keith S.
272086....Royal..................Mark (Aust)
740483....Royal..................Steve(Aust)
741117....Royal..(long OTA)...(Aust), (no drawtube!)
770442....10TE..................Drew
770591....10TE..................Darrell S.
770875....15TE..................Preston
971401....15TE?.................Joe
970311....Royal..................Mike C.
170574....10TE..................Gary B.
670161....15TEA................James E.
771201....15TE..................Chuck F.
271201....10TE..................Chuck F.
970677....15TE..................Rod L.
771027....15TE..................Jerry (OK)
870217....10TE..................Scott (NC)


-----------------------------------------
60mm 1000fl Royal Astro
-----------------------------------------
262017....Royal..................Steve (Aust)
762118....7TE-5.................Michael (Germany)
760652....7TE-5.................Andy M.
761356....7TE-5.................Keith S
961793....7TE-5.................Keith S.
861822....7TE-5.................Gary B.
861347....7TE-5.................Glenn K.
761596....7TE-5.................Darrell S.
862700....7TE-5.................James E.
661038....7TE-5.................Brian G.
760665....7TE-5.................Brian G.
760986....7TE-5.................Chuck F.


-----------------------------------------
90mm 1400fl Royal Astro (Sears)
-----------------------------------------

990141....Sears.................Richard D.

-----------------------------------------
108mm 1600fl Royal Astro
-----------------------------------------

910806...20TE...................Mike C.



Darrel ! ...How come my 60mm x 910mm 7T #22255 aint on that list ?.....

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strdst
Post Laureate
*****

Reged: 03/23/08

Loc: Oregon Territory
Re: Early Tasco (and other) Production Numbers? new [Re: Ham Radio]
      #3588625 - 01/28/10 12:45 AM Attachment (48 downloads)
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Quote:

Does anyone have a manual for a 15TE?? Maybe that will shed so light on the situation.



Not a manual, but I just found out that I apparently have a 15TE.

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mikey cee
Postmaster
*****

Reged: 01/18/07

Loc: bellevue ne.
Re: Early Tasco (and other) Production Numbers? new [Re: strdst]
      #3588638 - 01/28/10 01:00 AM
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Quote:



Not a manual, but I just found out that I apparently have a 15TE.

And an upside down accessory tray! Mike

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strdst
Post Laureate
*****

Reged: 03/23/08

Loc: Oregon Territory
Re: Early Tasco (and other) Production Numbers? new [Re: mikey cee]
      #3588661 - 01/28/10 01:14 AM
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Yeah I've thought that too, but I set them this way. With the raised lip (around the hole) up, I can grip the eyepiece to lift up and out of the tray way better. Otherwise I need two hands, one to push from underneath, the other to lift, which would require me to set my observing beverage down, risking kicking it over in the dark.

I also wear my socks inside out.

other Keith

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7331Peg
Sirius Observer
*****

Reged: 09/01/08

Loc: North coast of Oregon
Re: Early Tasco (and other) Production Numbers? new [Re: Ham Radio]
      #3588680 - 01/28/10 01:54 AM
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Hey Rod,
I just came up with a 15T-E last week. Checked the manual and mine matches yours, except that the line drawn through the sentence is thinner and looks like it was done at the time of printing.
As info, the serial number on mine is 870207.

John

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Ham Radio
professor emeritus
*****

Reged: 09/18/09

Loc: Baxter, Mn
Re: Early Tasco (and other) Production Numbers? new [Re: 7331Peg]
      #3588982 - 01/28/10 08:49 AM
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Hi John, figures you would find another scope around the 80mm size.. I can't find anything around here lately.. I must have found them all between the Mizar and my Tasco 15TE.. I wish I could have afforded the Unitron that showed up, but a little to steep of a price for right now.

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7331Peg
Sirius Observer
*****

Reged: 09/01/08

Loc: North coast of Oregon
Re: Early Tasco (and other) Production Numbers? new [Re: Ham Radio]
      #3590684 - 01/29/10 01:11 AM
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Afraid a Unitron would probably be too rich for my budget right now unless I get incredibly lucky.
Haven't found the rich uncle, either, but if I do, I'll send part of him your way.

John

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