Sarkikos
Postmaster
Reged: 12/18/07
Loc: Suburban Maryland, USA
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Re: Should I Get Rid of the Telrad?
[Re: okieav8r]
#5657166 - 02/01/13 09:25 PM
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My Telrad changed my life! It cleared up my acne, helped me to lose 50 pounds, got me dates with the hottest girls, caused my truck to get an extra 5 miles per gallon, and its mere presence in my house raised the value of my home by $10,000.
Howzat ya'll? 
Sounds good to me. Even more reasons to keep the Telrad. 
Mike
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Sarkikos
Postmaster
Reged: 12/18/07
Loc: Suburban Maryland, USA
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Re: Should I Get Rid of the Telrad?
[Re: turtle86]
#5657178 - 02/01/13 09:33 PM
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Man, you'll really cringe when you learn that there's a Telrad on the 48" UK Schmidt at Siding Spring Observatory, and on the 60" at Mount Wilson, shown below. I have seen Telrads on other observatory scopes, and they are only installed for the case when the pointing is not established or working correctly.
Tom
Great pic. I was surprised to see that the 24" Clark refractor at Lowell Observatory also has a Telrad. I'm sure Percival Lowell found it handy for tracking down Mars. 
Come on, now, we have to admit that's a funny pic!
Mike
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turtle86
Pooh-Bah Everywhere Else
Reged: 10/09/06
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Re: Should I Get Rid of the Telrad?
[Re: Sarkikos]
#5657244 - 02/01/13 10:10 PM
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Come on, now, we have to admit that's a funny pic!
Mike
It was oddly anachronistic to say the least!
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UncleMossy
member
Reged: 02/08/12
Loc: downtown Toronto
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Re: Should I Get Rid of the Telrad?
[Re: turtle86]
#5657419 - 02/01/13 11:56 PM
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I use my Telrad even though it's ugly and I have GoTo.
I don't use it as a finder as much as a show-er.
As in it shows me where my scope is pointing.
This is why we see them attached to those wonderful large observatory scopes, to show where the scope is pointing.
You can be 3 feet away and still see the bulls eye.
Makes for a simple answer to "So what are we looking at?"
Fact is everybody would probably have one on their scope if they weren't so ugly.
Telrad, are you listening?
Seriously, make them better looking and sell four times as many.
Cheers
Jim
p.s. if anyone has pictures of a Telrad that has been chopped I'd like to see them to give me some ideas.
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Sarkikos
Postmaster
Reged: 12/18/07
Loc: Suburban Maryland, USA
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Re: Should I Get Rid of the Telrad?
[Re: UncleMossy]
#5657713 - 02/02/13 08:52 AM
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There were several threads about cutting a Telrad down to size, with pics.
Here ya go:
I cut my Telrad in HALF!
And here:
Cutting Telrad in Half!
Also:
Telrad Mods
Mike
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Jon Isaacs
Postmaster
Reged: 06/16/04
Loc: San Diego and Boulevard, CA
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Re: Should I Get Rid of the Telrad?
[Re: Sarkikos]
#5658404 - 02/02/13 03:53 PM
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There were several threads about cutting a Telrad down to size, with pics.
Don Pensock's comment was the most perceptive, "You don't need to cut the Telrad in half, only the base."
Jon
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stevew
Now I've done it
Reged: 03/03/06
Loc: British Columbia Canada
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Re: Should I Get Rid of the Telrad?
[Re: Sarkikos]
#5658580 - 02/02/13 05:40 PM Attachment (6 downloads)
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I for one, have always loved the legendary Telrad.
I currently own 3, and about 7 or 8 bases, so I can swap them out on different scopes. I have tried different red dot finders and found all but the TV Starbeam to be cheap imitations that use button type batteries that are expensive and don't last very long.
Most of the time I only use a Telrad with out any other optical finder. I have great success star hoping just using a Telrad and a low power eyepiece. I do this with everything from a 4 inch F-6 to a C11 and a 16 inch reflector.
Steve
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rockethead26
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 10/21/09
Loc: Indiana, USA
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Re: Should I Get Rid of the Telrad?
[Re: stevew]
#5658646 - 02/02/13 06:11 PM
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Hey Steve, where did you get the cool little triangular map tool?
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stevew
Now I've done it
Reged: 03/03/06
Loc: British Columbia Canada
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Re: Should I Get Rid of the Telrad?
[Re: rockethead26]
#5658665 - 02/02/13 06:19 PM
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Hey Steve, where did you get the cool little triangular map tool?
I bought it at my local astronomy shop back in the early 1990s. I have not seen any others since.
It's designed to mimic the Telrad pattern, and be sized for use with Sky Atlas 2000.
Wish I could point you in the direction to purchase one, but I'm not sure they are made any more.
I'm sure it would be easy enough to make one from a bit of plastic or glass.
Steve
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Doc Bob
professor emeritus
Reged: 02/27/09
Loc: Maryland, USA
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Re: Should I Get Rid of the Telrad?
[Re: stevew]
#5658739 - 02/02/13 07:05 PM
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Hey Mike,
Send me your Telrad! I kinda like them and if you have any issues, they would be mitigated by ridding yourself of those pesky things. . . and you would enjoy listening to the lamentations of all those folks who disagree with you!!
And if you really missed the Telrad - I would immediately return it to you!
Needing one for my newly acquired DOB - your friend,
Bob
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rockethead26
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 10/21/09
Loc: Indiana, USA
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Re: Should I Get Rid of the Telrad?
[Re: stevew]
#5658844 - 02/02/13 08:11 PM
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Hey Steve, where did you get the cool little triangular map tool?
I bought it at my local astronomy shop back in the early 1990s. I have not seen any others since.
It's designed to mimic the Telrad pattern, and be sized for use with Sky Atlas 2000.
Wish I could point you in the direction to purchase one, but I'm not sure they are made any more.
I'm sure it would be easy enough to make one from a bit of plastic or glass.
Steve
Thanks! Well, money saved for other goodies. I've never seen one before.
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johnnyha
Postmaster
Reged: 11/12/06
Loc: Sherman Oaks, CA
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Re: Should I Get Rid of the Telrad?
[Re: rockethead26]
#5658902 - 02/02/13 08:46 PM
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The half-Telrad mod is interesting. I would mount the battery on the top though... or, there also appears to be enough room inside for AAA batteries... 
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Sarkikos
Postmaster
Reged: 12/18/07
Loc: Suburban Maryland, USA
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Re: Should I Get Rid of the Telrad?
[Re: Doc Bob]
#5658921 - 02/02/13 09:00 PM
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Hey Mike,
Send me your Telrad! I kinda like them and if you have any issues, they would be mitigated by ridding yourself of those pesky things. . . and you would enjoy listening to the lamentations of all those folks who disagree with you!!
And if you really missed the Telrad - I would immediately return it to you!
Needing one for my newly acquired DOB - your friend,
Bob
Hi Bob,
Sorry, but I've decided to keep the Telrad just for my 10" Dob when I go to the dark site, at least for now. After I have a chance to try my ES finder on the C6, I might want to replace the Telrad on the 10" with the ES finder, too. So it looks like you'll have to wait for that Telrad. If I ever get rid of it, you'll be the first to know. 
On the other hand, Telrads are pretty cheap, compared to a lot of the other accessories amateurs buy for their scopes. You could just buy one. 
Since the Telrad is such an inexpensive gizmo, I'm kind of surprised that it's developed such a loyal fan base. Think about it. The Telrad doesn't cost multiple hundreds of dollars, it has no green letters, there is no long waiting list to buy one, I doubt if it's ever backordered, it's not made in Japan or Germany ... what's up with that?
(Wait for the obvious answer from the usual suspects.)
Mike
P.S.: What is your newly acquired Dob? I don't see it in your sig. You know that under the TOS, any new acquisition over $50 is supposed to be listed down there.
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Jon Isaacs
Postmaster
Reged: 06/16/04
Loc: San Diego and Boulevard, CA
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Re: Should I Get Rid of the Telrad?
[Re: Sarkikos]
#5658964 - 02/02/13 09:36 PM
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Since the Telrad is such an inexpensive gizmo, I'm kind of surprised that it's developed such a loyal fan base. Think about it. The Telrad doesn't cost multiple hundreds of dollars, it has no green letters, there is no long waiting list to buy one, I doubt if it's ever backordered, it's not made in Japan or Germany ... what's up with that?
Good stuff doesn't have to be expensive nor fancy.
Lew Chilton's short piece on the invention of the Telrad is always a good read:
Lew Chilton and the Telrad
Jon
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stevew
Now I've done it
Reged: 03/03/06
Loc: British Columbia Canada
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Re: Should I Get Rid of the Telrad?
[Re: Jon Isaacs]
#5658998 - 02/02/13 10:09 PM
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Hands up for those that have left their Telrad turned on only to discover it was turned on during the next observing session... 
Those batteries seem to last forever.....
Steve
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Sarkikos
Postmaster
Reged: 12/18/07
Loc: Suburban Maryland, USA
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Re: Should I Get Rid of the Telrad?
[Re: Jon Isaacs]
#5659041 - 02/02/13 10:36 PM
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Good stuff doesn't have to be expensive nor fancy.
+1
Mike
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GeneT
Ely Kid
Reged: 11/07/08
Loc: South Texas
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Re: Should I Get Rid of the Telrad?
[Re: Sarkikos]
#5659072 - 02/02/13 10:56 PM
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I recommend both a Telrad and an optical finder. They complement each other very well. I prefer the Telrad over any other red dot finder.
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Dave Mitsky
Postmaster
Reged: 04/08/02
Loc: PA, USA, Planet Earth
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Re: Should I Get Rid of the Telrad?
[Re: Sarkikos]
#5660110 - 02/03/13 02:36 PM
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A Telrad is the only finding device on my 12.5" truss-tube Dob and I've managed to observe a lot of objects using it.
Dave Mitsky
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Doc Bob
professor emeritus
Reged: 02/27/09
Loc: Maryland, USA
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Re: Should I Get Rid of the Telrad?
[Re: Dave Mitsky]
#5660495 - 02/03/13 06:05 PM
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Hi Mike, et al;
The DOB is a 2006 model Zumell 10" f/4.92 - given to me for trial - if I like it, my friend will get a couple of hundred $$. Honesty, I can't see not buying this scope! It's very nice!! There's a Telrad mount already attached. So far it seems like a really nice scope. . . of course since I received it - the sky has been nothing but clouds and snow!!! So the curse extends to trials as well as purchases ! ! ! Go figure.
Looking forward to joining you in the Hershel 400 search at our dark site ! !
Good viewing,
Bob
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Jon Isaacs
Postmaster
Reged: 06/16/04
Loc: San Diego and Boulevard, CA
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Re: Should I Get Rid of the Telrad?
[Re: GeneT]
#5660629 - 02/03/13 07:46 PM
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I recommend both a Telrad and an optical finder. They complement each other very well. I prefer the Telrad over any other red dot finder.
That's about the long and short of it.. 138 posts and you said all that needs be said.
Jon
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