· Get a Cloudy Nights T-Shirt · Submit a Review / Article Click here if you are having trouble logging into the forums Privacy Policy | Please read our Terms of Service | Signup and Troubleshooting FAQ | Problems? PM a Red or a Green Gu… uh, User You are not logged in. [Login] Entrance · Main Index · Search · New user · Who's Online FAQ · Calendar Equipment Discussions >> Classic Telescopes Previous   Index   Next   Threaded   Pages: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | (show all) Masvingo sage Reged: 01/10/12 Loc: Ayrshire, Scotland Re: Celestron C8 Registry [Re: actionhac]       #5628533 - 01/17/13 05:36 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Thanks Johann and Robert. It's great to get some more 8xxxxx style SNs with motor dates. Even though the dates aren't definitive given that they could have sat around in inventory for an unknown time (7 years or so in the case of Robert's!) they do serve as a guide to the earliest date that a 'scope could have been made and other than a known original sale date there is precious little else to go on with these later numbers. James Post Extras:       John Higbee super member Reged: 07/17/12 Loc: Virginia Re: Celestron C8 Registry [Re: Masvingo]       #5628998 - 01/17/13 10:18 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   James - with respect to the "Celestron Pacific versus Celestron International " discussion, I think I can push the transition date earlier than the 77-78 time frame. The Celestron catalog that came with my C-8 in June 1976 is labeled "Celestron International" on the back page and "GC 76-1 - Effective January 1976" at the bottom of the front page. Also have an operating manual showing Celestron International and the Jan 76 date in the same documentation package. Different note - my fork on the mount is a solid casting (no holes, just the cast-in circles with two vertical lines through them). My June 76 date may thus be very close to the transition point from "pierced forks" to "solid forks". John Post Extras:       Masvingo sage Reged: 01/10/12 Loc: Ayrshire, Scotland Re: Celestron C8 Registry [Re: John Higbee]       #5629312 - 01/18/13 03:27 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   John Thanks for that, most interesting. It looks like the name change happened earlier than I originally thought. It's also good to get a closer fix on when the change in the mounts occurred. i'm hoping, if I have time, to update the SN list at weekend so this is good to know. James Post Extras:       Roger64 member Reged: 04/13/05 Loc: Syracuse, NY Re: Celestron C8 Registry [Re: Masvingo]       #5629543 - 01/18/13 09:25 AM Attachment (17 downloads) Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   John, Here are the numbers from a scope I just acquired. The original owner said he bought it in the fall of 1976. 3 6308 6 Roger Post Extras:       Masvingo sage Reged: 01/10/12 Loc: Ayrshire, Scotland Re: Celestron C8 Registry [Re: Roger64]       #5629924 - 01/18/13 01:06 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Roger, thanks for the number, a fall 1976 purchase date ties in with the SN which suggests that your 'scope was produced in the 3rd quarter of 1976 and, barring the odd 'special' was the 6,308th C8 made. James Post Extras:       Masvingo sage Reged: 01/10/12 Loc: Ayrshire, Scotland Re: Celestron C8 Registry Update [Re: Masvingo]       #5632996 - 01/20/13 11:13 AM Attachment (13 downloads) Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   I've updated the register for all the latest additions including some more results from Googling. Because of the CN file size limits I've only I've only shown the top part of the list (down to the start of the 8xxxxx series numbers) in the attached image and there is a link to the full register below: Celestron C8 Registry It now looks like there was a short lived SN sequence used for 1978 which bridged the ending of the QxxxxY date type format, which was already up to #9,107 (#3 9120 7) by the 3rd quarter of 1977 and the start of the 8xxxxx format which, based on production numbers, I don't think can have started before 1979, eg #801697 which was reported as being purchased from Edwin Hirsch Co in 1979. Therefore it looks like the 5 digit numbers like those reported by Robert (actionhac) (#22908) and kansas skies (31xx8) - which both have, incidentally, Oct 1977 motor dates - come from 1978 using an abbreviated version of the date sequence (xxxxY) omitting the quarter indicator. Also it looks like the change from sand cast forks to die cast occurred sometime during the 1st and 2nd quarters of 1976, Jon's (PiSigma) C8 with sand cast forks made in the 1st qtr and John Higbee's C8 with die cast forks made in the 2nd quarter. Also, as John has noted, the Celestron International name was at least being used from the start of 1976. James Post Extras:       apfever Carpal Tunnel Reged: 05/13/08 Loc: Colorado Re: Celestron C8 Registry Update [Re: Masvingo]       #5633410 - 01/20/13 03:08 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Millionaire's Orange C8, string in Classics forum some where. Serial #467936. Smooth velvet tone (not pebble finished), die cast arms (not sand cast), both Synchron motors have the exact same band writing as follows with underlines representing spaces and dashes are actual dashes: 610_110V_60CY_3W_1_RPH_(SA symbol)_353731-2WA-4-6_9-76 Any other questions about this one or the Ultima8, just ask. Post Extras:       Masvingo sage Reged: 01/10/12 Loc: Ayrshire, Scotland Re: Celestron C8 Registry Update [Re: apfever]       #5634949 - 01/21/13 01:14 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Thanks Neil, I remember that thread and will add the SN into the next revision of the list. Your Ultima is a 1989 model isn't it? James Post Extras:       Ham Radio professor emeritus Reged: 09/18/09 Loc: Baxter, Mn Re: Celestron C8 Registry Update [Re: Masvingo]       #5659822 - 02/03/13 11:48 AM Attachment (11 downloads) Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Well I finally got out to the garage to get the serial number off of my 1977 (at least that is what I was told) C-8. It is 471896. Here is a picture of the scope. Post Extras:       Masvingo sage Reged: 01/10/12 Loc: Ayrshire, Scotland Re: Celestron C8 Registry Update [Re: Ham Radio]       #5660049 - 02/03/13 02:02 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   GD OM Thanks Rod, that's a nice looking scope, I really like the look of the orange tube Celestrons. I had picked up your serial number as 471886 from an earlier post so it's good to have the correction. The number indicates a production date in the 4th quarter of 1976 which fits in with a 1977 sale date. 73 de James Post Extras:       Dennis53121 member Reged: 08/28/12 Re: Celestron C8 Registry Update [Re: Masvingo]       #5660161 - 02/03/13 03:03 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   I have a black tube C8 ser #873982 and I am not sure but I believe it was manufactured 1989 or 1990. Dennis Post Extras:       Masvingo sage Reged: 01/10/12 Loc: Ayrshire, Scotland Re: Celestron C8 Registry Update [Re: Dennis53121]       #5660302 - 02/03/13 04:28 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Thanks Dennis, it's good to have another data point later on in the 8xxxxx series, I'll put it in the next revision of the register. James Post Extras:       Thomas Parr journeyman Reged: 02/04/13 Re: Celestron C8 Registry Update [Re: Masvingo]       #5666091 - 02/06/13 09:52 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   824523 On my pebbled orange tube. Post Extras:       Masvingo sage Reged: 01/10/12 Loc: Ayrshire, Scotland Re: Celestron C8 Registry Update [Re: Thomas Parr]       #5666440 - 02/07/13 03:35 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Thanks Thomas, I will add your 'scope to the next revision of the register. If you get a chance it would be nice to know the date on the two drive motors in the base - usually shown as a numeric month and two year digits somewhere on the motor. James Post Extras:       SteveNH professor emeritus Reged: 07/10/11 Loc: Millbrae, CA Re: Celestron C8 Registry Update [Re: Masvingo]       #5667673 - 02/07/13 07:04 PM Attachment (9 downloads) Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Hi James, Here is my orange C8 for your list, serial no. 807390, from the early 80's(?). Very good optics. The motors seem to be dated 11/79. Steve Post Extras:       Michael2 member Reged: 06/01/11 Loc: Australia Re: Celestron C8 Registry Update [Re: SteveNH]       #5667986 - 02/07/13 10:31 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   G'day James My Orange Tube C8 is Serial Number 800773 and the one Motor date that I can see is 9-78 (September 1978). I purchased it second hand in about 1980. It now has a new lease of life on an Ioptron Mini Tower MK2. Really nice optics! Keep up the good work on the Registry Michael Australia. Post Extras:       Masvingo sage Reged: 01/10/12 Loc: Ayrshire, Scotland Re: Celestron C8 Registry Update [Re: Michael2]       #5668303 - 02/08/13 03:17 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   G'day Michael Thanks for your serial number and the motor date - it's good to have a motor date for one of the early 8xxxxx series C8s although there's always the caveat about not knowing how long the motors sat around in stock. However, going by the numbers to hand it looks like the 8xxxxx series came in in 1979 which would make yours an early 1979 model I guess. Thanks also for your kind words about the registry. Enjoy the Southern skies, I grew up in Africa and still miss Crux and Omega Centauri and Scorpio! James Post Extras:       SteveNH professor emeritus Reged: 07/10/11 Loc: Millbrae, CA Re: Celestron C8 Registry Update [Re: Masvingo]       #5669424 - 02/08/13 05:01 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Hello again, James - I hope you didn't miss my entry (with the photos), just above Michael's from Australia - just checkin'! Steve Post Extras:       Masvingo sage Reged: 01/10/12 Loc: Ayrshire, Scotland Re: Celestron C8 Registry Update [Re: SteveNH]       #5669452 - 02/08/13 05:19 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Steve, my apologies, I don't know how I missed that when I checked the thread this morning! Doesn't say much for my observational skills. Thanks for the prompt, it's great to have another early 8xxxxx one with motor dates. I've seen reports which suggest production got up to around 5,000 per year and your motor dates would be consistent with this (given the unknown of how long they sat on a shelf before being used) and the start of the 8xxxxx series in 1979 as your serial number would then point to a production date roughly around mid 1980. Thanks again and my apologies for the oversight. James Post Extras:       Masvingo sage Reged: 01/10/12 Loc: Ayrshire, Scotland Re: Celestron C8 Registry Update [Re: SteveNH]       #5669464 - 02/08/13 05:25 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Hi again Steve I was just adding your details to the list and I see that desertrefugee's C8 is very close, with a serial of 807397 but with motors dated 2/80. James Post Extras:       Pages: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | (show all) Previous   Index   Next   Threaded   Extra information 19 registered and 14 anonymous users are browsing this forum. 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