skyward_eyes
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 12/12/06
Posts: 2102
Loc: Arizona
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I have a Cave 6" f/4 RFT Primary mirror, how rare are these scopes/mirros?
I am starting to get fairly interested in Cave stuff.
I noticed they had a 4" and 6" refractor as well, I take it these are hard to come by as well?
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clintwhitman
Caveman
Reged: 01/01/07
Posts: 2431
Loc: ValVerde CA(SoEasyaCavemanCanD...
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I have the same mirror and am going to put her together using some old parts 1967 is the date. I have only seen three or four of these around so far so I would say they are rare.
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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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2manyscopes
sage
Reged: 09/16/06
Posts: 215
Loc: Pacific NW
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Quote:
I have a Cave 6" f/4 RFT Primary mirror, how rare are these scopes/mirros?
I am starting to get fairly interested in Cave stuff.
I noticed they had a 4" and 6" refractor as well, I take it these are hard to come by as well?
I've seen two 6" RFT's. One was totally trashed. It had lain out in a field for about twenty years. The Sun, wind, rain & snow took a hell of a toll on it. The other was in pretty decent shape. I think these were meant to be hand held sort of like the Edmund Astroscan.
I've only ever seen a picture of the Cave 4" refractor. If you search on Cave 4" Inch Refractor it should pop up. The owner sold it years ago. I currently own a Cave 6" F/15 refractor and I know of one other that currently resides in Athens, Greece. Lots of people claim to have seen or even owned a Cave 6" refractor but so far these are the only two I am aware of. I fully expect that over the next 20 years or so more of them will surface. Think about the age of people who could afford them when new....as they become old and unable to use them or die off their heirs will start disposing of them. The 6" f/15 is a beast of a telescope and not portable at all in my opinion. Be prepared to travel to pick one up if one ever becomes available.
Bill
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1962 8" f/8 Cave Astrola Model "B" Deluxe complete
1970 8" f/6 Cave Astrola Lightweight deluxe OTA
1976 6" f/15 Cave Astrola refractor
195? 10" f/7.3 Cave Astrola Newtonian
8" f/6 Richard Fagin Dob
198? Celestron SP-C8
2003 Celestron Fastar C-14
Meade 6" f/3.6 Schmidt Newtonian
4" f/15 ATM refractor circa 1959
4" f/6 BW Optik Semi-Apo refractor
Celestron C102
University Optics 80mm f/6.25 refractor kit scope
William Optics 80SD refractor
Celestron branded Losmandy G-11
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skyward_eyes
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 12/12/06
Posts: 2102
Loc: Arizona
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Thanks guys!
I am really interested in picking up a 12.5" f/7 Cave with the mount. I have to build an optical tube for my 6" optics.
I think I might have gotten the Cave bug!
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skyward_eyes
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 12/12/06
Posts: 2102
Loc: Arizona
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Thanks guys!
I am really interested in picking up a 12.5" f/7 Cave with the mount. I have to build an optical tube for my 6" optics.
I think I might have gotten the Cave bug!
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petrogeoman
super member
Reged: 11/27/05
Posts: 155
Loc: the late 1970s
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Caves are great, but a 12.5" f/5 on the lighter mount (with 1.5" shafts) was enough for me. The f/7 transportable is even more of a beast.
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Paul
Orange C14 with XLT
Orange C8, orange C5, orange C90
Meade 856, 645, 300PG
Edmund red 8" f/5 with fork mount, red 6" f/6 OTA
Telescope World 4.25" f/4 RFT
CGE, ST-9XE, ST-7E, Mira AP
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skyward_eyes
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 12/12/06
Posts: 2102
Loc: Arizona
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After some more research the f/6 looks nice. I would settle for a really nice 8" or 10" f/6 or f/7. Id like to make an observatory around one of these scopes someday and use my 16" Truss dob for portable use.
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actionhac
professor emeritus
Reged: 08/09/08
Posts: 734
Loc: WA
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Who made the 4" & 6" refractors that Cave sold?
Robert
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ltha
super member
Reged: 11/22/05
Posts: 189
Loc: Long Beach, CA
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I picked up an old Cave 6" F/4 a years or so back and have been really impressed with it. The optics are very nice and hold power well. It is not quite "hand holdable", but close enough to allow sitting out on the beach sweeping the sky. If it all works out, I'll piggyback it on the 12.5" F/6. I tried to upload a picture but even at 480x640 it is "too big" to work.
Edited by ltha (11/03/09 10:08 PM)
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tim53
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 12/17/04
Posts: 1454
Loc: Highland Park, CA
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Jaegers, IIRC
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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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ltha
super member
Reged: 11/22/05
Posts: 189
Loc: Long Beach, CA
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Picture
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Timber
sage
Reged: 11/08/08
Posts: 394
Loc: SW foothills of Mt. St. Helens
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I'm picking up my "new" 12.5" f/5 in January and will have it at the WSP in the keys. Stop by and lets chat.
Richard
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My four beautiful Saluki's; Barron, Sophie, Majnun and Kassandra, and I live on a small, rural, remote farm.
No close neighbors,
No streetlights,
No private security lights,
No power poles,
No traffic,
No TV,
No HOA 
No Mosquitoes
Rather Wonderful
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clintwhitman
Caveman
Reged: 01/01/07
Posts: 2431
Loc: ValVerde CA(SoEasyaCavemanCanD...
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The Cave bug is a great thing to have. I am lucky enough to have found my Cave a few years ago and am starting to see how rare this one is 1965 10" F8. She can really blow a hole in the sky. I would say that if you dont have an observatory dont get a 12" they are way to big to move around much.
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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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clintwhitman
Caveman
Reged: 01/01/07
Posts: 2431
Loc: ValVerde CA(SoEasyaCavemanCanD...
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Cave Star If you find an old Cave this might help I get thank yous from all over the world for posting the info.
(aveman
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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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skyward_eyes
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 12/12/06
Posts: 2102
Loc: Arizona
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Yes I am sure the 12.5" scopes are just monsters. A 10" f/7 wouldnt be bad, I think an f/6 would fit the bill as well. For more portable use an 8" would work too.
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Timber
sage
Reged: 11/08/08
Posts: 394
Loc: SW foothills of Mt. St. Helens
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"I would say that if you dont have an observatory dont get a 12" they are way to big to move around much."
We shall see, we shall see.
Richard
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My four beautiful Saluki's; Barron, Sophie, Majnun and Kassandra, and I live on a small, rural, remote farm.
No close neighbors,
No streetlights,
No private security lights,
No power poles,
No traffic,
No TV,
No HOA
No Mosquitoes
Rather Wonderful
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skyward_eyes
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 12/12/06
Posts: 2102
Loc: Arizona
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Do you have an experience with the Cave DK Cassegrains? Are they up to par with the newtonians?
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Timber
sage
Reged: 11/08/08
Posts: 394
Loc: SW foothills of Mt. St. Helens
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Nope
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My four beautiful Saluki's; Barron, Sophie, Majnun and Kassandra, and I live on a small, rural, remote farm.
No close neighbors,
No streetlights,
No private security lights,
No power poles,
No traffic,
No TV,
No HOA
No Mosquitoes
Rather Wonderful
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petrogeoman
super member
Reged: 11/27/05
Posts: 155
Loc: the late 1970s
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Quote:
"I would say that if you dont have an observatory dont get a 12" they are way to big to move around much."
We shall see, we shall see.
Richard
Below is my old 12.5" f/5 Cave packed in a Highlander. It wasn't the weight as much as it just was awkward to handle and also to mount on the saddle. As much as I loved showing it off, my C-14 is so much easier to transport; it easily fits in the backseat of a sedan. The Cave eventually got relegated to the garage. It was a beautiful scope, but in terms of hauling one of these around on a regular basis, it really depends what one's motivation level is!
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Paul
Orange C14 with XLT
Orange C8, orange C5, orange C90
Meade 856, 645, 300PG
Edmund red 8" f/5 with fork mount, red 6" f/6 OTA
Telescope World 4.25" f/4 RFT
CGE, ST-9XE, ST-7E, Mira AP
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petrogeoman
super member
Reged: 11/27/05
Posts: 155
Loc: the late 1970s
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Note that's the small mount, which really wasn't enough to handle a scope this size. The heavier mount with 2.5" shafts is much more massive. It really does belong in an observatory.
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Paul
Orange C14 with XLT
Orange C8, orange C5, orange C90
Meade 856, 645, 300PG
Edmund red 8" f/5 with fork mount, red 6" f/6 OTA
Telescope World 4.25" f/4 RFT
CGE, ST-9XE, ST-7E, Mira AP
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