Lew Chilton
scholastic sledgehammer
Reged: 10/20/05
Posts: 984
Loc: SoCal
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Last night I attended my first full-moon star party on the front driveway of John Pons' home in North Hollywood, California. John provided the telescopes, his wife the refreshments. The guest list was impressive: Caveman and wife Debbie, Dan Mounsey of Woodland Hills Camera, my wife Carla and myself, a number of refractor friends of John and Dan, and some of his neighbors.
The real celebrities of the evening were Pons' 6-inch Goto prototype refractor, built in 1954, and his larger custom-made refractor, based on Zeiss designs, that was made to hold a number of different objective lenses (more on this later).
But first, the little star of the show was Caveman's circa 1953 Nippon Kogaku 50mm refractor on its original mount. Its performance amazed everybody! It provided color-free, ultra-sharp views of Venus. It also provided comparatively better views of Jupiter than its larger brethren because it was less sensitive to seeing conditions. The "Little Scope that Could" is a definite keeper - I wish it were mine.
Here's a picture of the "Little Scope that Could" and its owner, Caveman (aka Clint Whitman), looking thru one of the two original tack-sharp eyepieces.
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I don't get no respect, but my scopes do! 
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1961 Swift 60mm model 839 (2); 2003 TV-102/GM-8; 1959 8" f/6 Treckerscope; 1959 8" f/7.4 Murray Scope; 1959 Fecker Celestar-4; 1978 4" Edmund Astroscan; c. 1986 4-inch Celestron-Vixen SP-C102; c. 1950 20X60 Saturn spotting scope; 1963 7X50 Nippon Kogaku binoculars; Unitron #114 alt-az mount (Swifty-tron)
Edited by Lew Chilton (06/30/07 10:39 PM)
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Siderea
Astronomess
Reged: 11/21/05
Posts: 2066
Loc: Left Coast
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Isn't that something!
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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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Glassthrower
Vendor - Galactic Stone & Ironworks
Reged: 04/07/05
Posts: 16328
Loc: Kuiper Belt
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Sweet little scope.
Bigger is not always better. 
It reminds me of my little Tasco white tube 60mm. Although, that's like comparing a AMC Pacer to a Shelby Cobra. 
Regards and clear skies,
MikeG
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Michael Gilmer - Member of the Meteoritical Society & Collector of Falling Stars.
Meteorites, Moon Rocks, Mars Rocks, Tektites, Fossils, Minerals, Crystals, & Trinitite.
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Lew Chilton
scholastic sledgehammer
Reged: 10/20/05
Posts: 984
Loc: SoCal
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Here's the business-end of the amazing 6-inch Goto refractor owned by John Pons. Originally built in 1954, acquired by Joe Choate of Los Angeles, CA in 1956, it was destined for the landfill when John acquired it some years ago. It was a basket case until John's magic brought it back to its former glory. Today, it appears exactly as it looked in mid-1950s Sky & Telescope advertisements.
I'll let you in on a little secret. The objective lens presently installed in the Goto is actually a prototype 6-1/4 inch clear aperture Unitron lens. The Goto objective is carefully wrapped and stored elsewhere, but can be reinstalled at any time. Both objectives are superb examples of the opticians art.
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I don't get no respect, but my scopes do!
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1961 Swift 60mm model 839 (2); 2003 TV-102/GM-8; 1959 8" f/6 Treckerscope; 1959 8" f/7.4 Murray Scope; 1959 Fecker Celestar-4; 1978 4" Edmund Astroscan; c. 1986 4-inch Celestron-Vixen SP-C102; c. 1950 20X60 Saturn spotting scope; 1963 7X50 Nippon Kogaku binoculars; Unitron #114 alt-az mount (Swifty-tron)
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Glassthrower
Vendor - Galactic Stone & Ironworks
Reged: 04/07/05
Posts: 16328
Loc: Kuiper Belt
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English language and CN graemlins cannot express my envy.
Awesome scope. And a great story about how it was saved from the trash heap!
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Michael Gilmer - Member of the Meteoritical Society & Collector of Falling Stars.
Meteorites, Moon Rocks, Mars Rocks, Tektites, Fossils, Minerals, Crystals, & Trinitite.
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Lew Chilton
scholastic sledgehammer
Reged: 10/20/05
Posts: 984
Loc: SoCal
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Here's the Goto with its proud owner, John Pons. Of the many telescopes John owns or has owned, I get the impression that this one is his favorite.
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I don't get no respect, but my scopes do!
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1961 Swift 60mm model 839 (2); 2003 TV-102/GM-8; 1959 8" f/6 Treckerscope; 1959 8" f/7.4 Murray Scope; 1959 Fecker Celestar-4; 1978 4" Edmund Astroscan; c. 1986 4-inch Celestron-Vixen SP-C102; c. 1950 20X60 Saturn spotting scope; 1963 7X50 Nippon Kogaku binoculars; Unitron #114 alt-az mount (Swifty-tron)
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Glassthrower
Vendor - Galactic Stone & Ironworks
Reged: 04/07/05
Posts: 16328
Loc: Kuiper Belt
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The pier, mount, and drives are as amazing as the scope.
What workmanship and quality.
It exudes an air of days gone by when real craftsmen took pride in their work.
Amazing.
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Michael Gilmer - Member of the Meteoritical Society & Collector of Falling Stars.
Meteorites, Moon Rocks, Mars Rocks, Tektites, Fossils, Minerals, Crystals, & Trinitite.
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Lew Chilton
scholastic sledgehammer
Reged: 10/20/05
Posts: 984
Loc: SoCal
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Here's the nameplate on the east side of the Goto mount.
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I don't get no respect, but my scopes do!
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1961 Swift 60mm model 839 (2); 2003 TV-102/GM-8; 1959 8" f/6 Treckerscope; 1959 8" f/7.4 Murray Scope; 1959 Fecker Celestar-4; 1978 4" Edmund Astroscan; c. 1986 4-inch Celestron-Vixen SP-C102; c. 1950 20X60 Saturn spotting scope; 1963 7X50 Nippon Kogaku binoculars; Unitron #114 alt-az mount (Swifty-tron)
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Lew Chilton
scholastic sledgehammer
Reged: 10/20/05
Posts: 984
Loc: SoCal
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Here's the nameplate on the west side of the Goto mount...
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I don't get no respect, but my scopes do!
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1961 Swift 60mm model 839 (2); 2003 TV-102/GM-8; 1959 8" f/6 Treckerscope; 1959 8" f/7.4 Murray Scope; 1959 Fecker Celestar-4; 1978 4" Edmund Astroscan; c. 1986 4-inch Celestron-Vixen SP-C102; c. 1950 20X60 Saturn spotting scope; 1963 7X50 Nippon Kogaku binoculars; Unitron #114 alt-az mount (Swifty-tron)
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Lew Chilton
scholastic sledgehammer
Reged: 10/20/05
Posts: 984
Loc: SoCal
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Here's the Goto objective - actually a Unitron 160mm (6.3 -inch clear aperture), 2600mm f.l. objective lens.
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I don't get no respect, but my scopes do!
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1961 Swift 60mm model 839 (2); 2003 TV-102/GM-8; 1959 8" f/6 Treckerscope; 1959 8" f/7.4 Murray Scope; 1959 Fecker Celestar-4; 1978 4" Edmund Astroscan; c. 1986 4-inch Celestron-Vixen SP-C102; c. 1950 20X60 Saturn spotting scope; 1963 7X50 Nippon Kogaku binoculars; Unitron #114 alt-az mount (Swifty-tron)
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Lew Chilton
scholastic sledgehammer
Reged: 10/20/05
Posts: 984
Loc: SoCal
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The 6-inch Goto clock drive is powered by a falling weight, just like a grandfather clock. The falling weight is regulated by a ball governor, seen here in the enclosed glass case. It can truly be said that this scope has balls!
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I don't get no respect, but my scopes do!
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1961 Swift 60mm model 839 (2); 2003 TV-102/GM-8; 1959 8" f/6 Treckerscope; 1959 8" f/7.4 Murray Scope; 1959 Fecker Celestar-4; 1978 4" Edmund Astroscan; c. 1986 4-inch Celestron-Vixen SP-C102; c. 1950 20X60 Saturn spotting scope; 1963 7X50 Nippon Kogaku binoculars; Unitron #114 alt-az mount (Swifty-tron)
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93alien
sage
Reged: 04/26/07
Posts: 407
Loc: Glencoe,OK
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mac patten
astronomy club of tulsa
Nexstar 8
orion epic 9.5,12.3,22
17mm televue plossl
30mm GSO superview
a bunch of other cheap but useful eyepieces
2 inch antares SCT diagonal
oh yeah,and a shoestring budget
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JWW
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 12/12/05
Posts: 1107
Loc: Arizona or Mexico hard to tell
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Simply amazing ...
-JWW:
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trainsktg
Post Laureate
Reged: 08/23/05
Posts: 4586
Loc: Pacific Northwest
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Jon looks to be in as good a shape as his instruments. He's got to be pushing 70 if I'm not mistaken.
BTW Is it Jon or John? I've seen both spellings an equal number of times.
Keith
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He was a good little monkey and always very curious.
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Siderea
Astronomess
Reged: 11/21/05
Posts: 2066
Loc: Left Coast
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pushing 70?
Those scopes must weigh more than that!! That guy needs an observatory!
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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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clintwhitman
Caveman
Reged: 01/01/07
Posts: 2403
Loc: ValVerde CA(SoEasyaCavemanCanD...
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Jon or John is as hyper as a person can be at 12 years old much less less at nearly 70 he amazed me. Some people say I a litter hyper he zooms past me like i am standing still
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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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JWW
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 12/12/05
Posts: 1107
Loc: Arizona or Mexico hard to tell
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must be all the health food. <grin>
-JWW:
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GeneDiG
sage
Reged: 05/31/05
Posts: 286
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I bet he gets that build by lugging that 'scope around! I on the other have a body sculpted by Tasco 9VR!
Edited by GeneDiG (06/30/07 06:49 PM)
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ngc2289
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 04/13/05
Posts: 1855
Loc: SouthTexas
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Quote:
The 6-inch Goto clock drive is powered by a falling weight, just like a grandfather clock. The falling weight is regulated by a ball governor, seen here in the enclosed glass case. It can truly be said that this scope has balls!
OOOoooo....thats terrible! 
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Mike Traub(Mr. Congeniality): I've learned that I don't suffer from insanity, I enjoy it!:Shipfitters mottos; Cut to suit, pound to fit, paint to hide!: If it dosen't fit get a bigger hammer!......Retired and BROKE!!!!!Refractors are like a fine wine!They just get better with age!!!!!! :SV102ED with Moonlite triknob focuser(Light Hawk):80mm f/11.25 homemade refractor(Star Sapphire):LXD55 AR5(The Incredible Bulk):PST: New version Williams EZ Touch Alt-Az mount:Vixen green version GP .
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trainsktg
Post Laureate
Reged: 08/23/05
Posts: 4586
Loc: Pacific Northwest
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Aa advertisement from March 1957 Sky and Telescope, reads: This complete GOTO 6" EQUATORIAL was recently exported to the TITAN OBSERVATORY in Los Angeles.
Same one?
Keith (I'd post a pic, but I'm having trouble figuriong out how to convert TIFFs to JPEGs)
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He was a good little monkey and always very curious.
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