aa5te
Genial Procrastinator
Reged: 08/30/08
Posts: 416
Loc: Clinton, TN
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So, what do you use it for and when? I've got a Sears 80mm f/15 that is superb in the daytime compared to all of my scopes except for my 10" dob, but my 10" dob beats it in all aspects at night (using the same eyepieces). I'm not trying to start a flame war here, I'm just curious as to what objects/uses you guys use your classics for.
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Binos: Apogee 25x100 / Burgess Optical 25x100 / Pentax 20x60 PCF WP / Tasco InFocus 10x50
Tripods: Sunpak PlatinumPlus Ultra 7500TM / Quickset Samson
Refractors: Meade DS-2102AT-TC 102mm f/7.8; Sears Discoverer 3 (4454) 80mm f/15; Jason 313 Discoverer 60mm f/15.2
Reflectors (Dob): Hardin Optical DSH10 10" f/5
EP's: Zoom: Zhumell 8-24mm & Circle K 7.5-22.5mm 0.965"; 9-52mm Plössls; Zhumell 2x barlow
Kodak Z760; Orion SteadyPix camera mount
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jayscheuerle
Post Laureate
Reged: 01/16/06
Posts: 4064
Loc: S. Philadelphia, PA
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My 8" f/5 Edmund Red Tube Fork Mount is my only scope with tracking, so it's nice for higher powered lunar/planetary viewing. I had it out last night for the first time in years. Man, that thing can stop cars...
It's a giant pain to set up and the balance is not where I'd like it to be yet, but since I've added Wilcox rings to it, it's been a blast to use. - j
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Fight indignorance!
The Green Goblin - 12" of dobsonian excellence!
The PortaBowl-a $100 4.5" f/8 ball-scope YOU can build!
Eero2-a 6" f/5 ball-scope you probably can't. 
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Lew Chilton
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 10/20/05
Posts: 1010
Loc: SoCal
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I mostly use my classic scopes to prevent my wife from parking her car in the garage! 
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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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oldtimer
sage
Reged: 11/13/08
Posts: 299
Loc: NW Illinois
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DUH......Observing
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Da Bear
professor emeritus
Reged: 11/21/06
Posts: 591
Loc: Kali-Forn-Ya
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During the winter I remove the objective and place the open tube in the garden. When used as rain gauge, the tube collects water, which can then be emptied and measured by removing the Celestron X- Cel eyepiece.
Da Bear
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Telescopes are instruments of hope and faith. Hope that a better, clearer and brighter universe can be observed. Faith that we can bring these discoveries back to our small planet and create positive changes for all of it's inhabitants.
Edited by Da Bear (07/02/09 01:54 PM)
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JamesE
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 10/22/07
Posts: 1097
Loc: Westbank, BC, Canada
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I just used my 76mm Tasco (10TE) last night to look at the moon, Lyra, Albireo, M13. I especially liked it on the moon. Lots of contrast. Easy to set up for a quick 10 minute peak. I have it set up that when I view things at Zenith, I can lay down on my grass and look through the EP in a nice relaxed manner. It is very enjoyable.
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James
(Thanks to Attilla for the Clear Sky charts)
Current Projects : Tasco 15TEA - 3 inch pier mounted planetary scope
Priorities : Wife, Kids
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rathbaster
professor emeritus
Reged: 03/21/08
Posts: 533
Loc: East Bridgewater, MA
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I use my Tasco 10TE a lot on The Moon and Planets. I've been experimenting with it on DSOs.
My old 6" Newt is considered a classic by some and I've used that on everything over the last 20 years. Its still my biggest scope.
-Joe
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Bridgewater State College Observatory
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desertrefugee
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 08/06/07
Posts: 1210
Loc: Arizona
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For planets, Moon and double stars, I reach for a classic refractor - usually the 10TE or the 80/1200 Circle T. Also, quite frequently, I'll use a 60mm - and even the 50mm for quick lunar work.
And I don't reach for them just because they're classic, I reach for them because they're the best tools for the job currently in my arsenal.
(But, it's cool that they do happen to be anywhere from two to five decades old).
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"Illimitable ocean, without bound, Without dimension, where length, breadth, and height, And time, and place are lost." - Milton
-Darrell
Reflectors - 76 to 305mm (f4.7 to f9.2)
Refractors - 50 to 120mm (f5 to f16.7)
Binoculars - 6x15 to 22x100
N. Phoenix, AZ
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Preston Smith
Military Observer
Reged: 04/24/05
Posts: 3427
Loc: Eureka, Pa
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Quote:
I mostly use my classic scopes to prevent my wife from parking her car in the garage!
 
I take mine apart and get them powder coated cool colors..... 
Then they look really great and at the same time I get all my purist classic scope friends all fired up that they are no longer white... 
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Preston
Lift your eyes and look to the heavens: Who created all these? He who brings out the starry host one by one, and calls them each by name. Because of His great power and mighty strength, not one of them is missing. Isaiah 40:26
SV115T,NHII,SV70,SV50 and Tele Vue Ranger
Vintage Refractors: Asahi-Pentax, Edmund Scientific, Tasco, Unitron
60mm Telescope Club
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Patricko
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 01/30/07
Posts: 1530
Loc: SE New Mexico USA
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I use mine for all objects in the night sky and really enjoy it. I has a 60/1000mm lens made by Carton.
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Clear skies,
Patrick
INTERNATIONAL DARK SKY ASSOCIATION
60MM TELESCOPE CLUB!
"You can always have better, but will you ever be happy with what you have?" - Me, myself, and I
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rmollise
Post Laureate
Reged: 07/06/07
Posts: 4553
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Quote:
So, what do you use it for and when?
My Pal Junior? I occasionally observe with her these days; she really is a good little scope. Mostly? She sits in the livin' room, and I'll walk over once in a while and pat her tube, savoring the memories of the observing runs of 40 years ago when it was all so new and wonderful (it is still wonderful today, but nothing can really ever duplicate the joy of those first faltering steps out into the cosmos).
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Uncle Rod
Rod's New Book:
Choosing and Using a New CAT
Available now!
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dfell
professor emeritus
Reged: 06/25/05
Posts: 576
Loc: Wetaskiwin, Alberta, Canada
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My Towa 339 makes a great white light solar scope with a baader white light filter, usually tandem it with the PST on the EQ6 for solar imaging.
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www.spacealberta.com
12" collapsible Dob
25" Round Table Platform
Ethos 13mm
original TV smoothside plossls
80mm f/15 Towa Refractor
PST
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mikey cee
Post Laureate
Reged: 01/18/07
Posts: 3507
Loc: bellevue ne.
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I use this one to fawn over!  Mike
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7x35 and 10x50 sears tower binocs, 3" f/10 edmunds reflector, 2.4" f/11.7 manon refractor, 6" f/8 jaegers refractor, "The 8 Ball" 8" f/13.3 brandt refractor, 3" f/15.8 sans&streiffe refractor, 3.1" f/15 selsi refractor(towa 339), 2.4" f/15 sears refractor, selsi 30x30mm spyglass, criterion 5-draw 25x45x75x spyglass(1957), 4.25" f/14.8 tasco 20te.
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actionhac
professor emeritus
Reged: 08/09/08
Posts: 731
Loc: WA
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I use my classic scopes for all my amateur astronomy, we understand each other.
I especially like the classic refractors for high mag. viewing. It is very difficult to get my modern short fl refractors to high X without adding more glass and using expensive ep's.
I also have a strong dislike to plastic on scientific instruments.
Robert
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refractory
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 02/05/05
Posts: 1233
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I use mine to search for extrasolar planets, which has become much easier now that my eyesight is starting to go. You wouldn't believe how many things I've seen circling other stars!
Jess Tauber
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mustgobigger
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 06/12/07
Posts: 2420
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nice collection lew,
looks like my garage only less cluttered.
hey mike ill trade you a 4" unitron for that tasco
so you dont have to fawn over it so much.
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RV-6
Meade 826
Meade 880 Deluxe
Unitron's 114,128,140,142,150,152,155,160
4" Jaegertron
4.5" A.E f/14 Refractor
4" f/15 Edmund's Refractor
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Doug76
Postmaster
Reged: 12/05/07
Posts: 5536
Loc: SE Louisiana, future Texan
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Quote:
DUH......Observing
Yeah, as in everything!
And it's almost always these two, when I go the classic route...
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Robert Provin
professor emeritus
Reged: 08/14/06
Posts: 691
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Quote:
I mostly use my classic scopes to prevent my wife from parking her car in the garage!
Good one Lew!
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Happy-Idiot
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 04/06/06
Posts: 2780
Loc: 3rd Rock
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Post deleted by Happy-Idiot
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Brian
A small scope that gets used often is a better investment than a big scope that stays in the closet.
Unitrons, you spend more time looking at them than you do through them.
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woodsman
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 03/12/08
Posts: 1069
Loc: Colorado Springs, CO
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What can you expect? Look at the license plates. Arkansas! I lived there, and that doesn't surprise me! Rich
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artisticwoods
C-14 Orange Tube, C-8, C-5, C-90 Astro Model, C8 Schmidt Camera 8" f1.5, C5.5 Schmidt Camera f1.65, SPI 42mm f/19 Refractor, Sears 90mm f/15.56 Ref, Sears 80mm f/15 Ref, Swift 77mm f/13 Model 831, Scope 60mm f/11.7, Sears 50mm f/12
Unitron Model 140 75mm/1200mm, Unitron model 128 60mm/900mm
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mikey cee
Post Laureate
Reged: 01/18/07
Posts: 3507
Loc: bellevue ne.
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Hey Brian Now why would I want to do something like that. I heard somewhere that 4" Unitrons were a dime a dozen these days! Mike 
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7x35 and 10x50 sears tower binocs, 3" f/10 edmunds reflector, 2.4" f/11.7 manon refractor, 6" f/8 jaegers refractor, "The 8 Ball" 8" f/13.3 brandt refractor, 3" f/15.8 sans&streiffe refractor, 3.1" f/15 selsi refractor(towa 339), 2.4" f/15 sears refractor, selsi 30x30mm spyglass, criterion 5-draw 25x45x75x spyglass(1957), 4.25" f/14.8 tasco 20te.
Edited by mikey cee (07/03/09 12:18 AM)
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strdst
scholastic sledgehammer
Reged: 03/23/08
Posts: 830
Loc: Oregon USA
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Scope?
You guys have garages?
And wives... still?
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rmollise
Post Laureate
Reged: 07/06/07
Posts: 4553
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Quote:
I use this one to fawn over! Mike
As well you should...
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Uncle Rod
Rod's New Book:
Choosing and Using a New CAT
Available now!
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rwiederrich
Goldfinger
Reged: 11/17/05
Posts: 8300
Loc: Bremerton Washington
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Hmmm...let me see..what do I use my classic scopes for....let me think on that one for a while....
Rob
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www.goldmtobservingcenter.com
A great place for amateur astronomers, and ATM's to come and enjoy their hobby.
http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/HomemadeRefractorTelescopes/ My homemade refractor group.
www.vimeo.com/6014031
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Preston Smith
Military Observer
Reged: 04/24/05
Posts: 3427
Loc: Eureka, Pa
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Quote:
So, what do you use it for and when? ...I'm just curious as to what objects/uses you guys use your classics for.
Well, I guess Shane deserves a serious answer from me - although that is QUITE hard to get!
I only have refractors, so I mostly use the smaller ones for planetary while the larger ones are for all targets.
I primarily enjoy taking them out to star watches so I can educate both astronomers and the public that there is nothing wrong with owning (or looking to purchase) an older telescope.
When it looks like a star watch is going to be on a night with exceptional sky conditions, I'll bring out the 4" Unitron with the weight-driven clock drive. It's a beauty and a true classic. I must admit that I kinda enjoy it when another astronomer at the star watch has a power cell that goes dead. I walk over to tell him/her that they need to get a Unitron - and then rewind my weight drive with the distinctive clicking sound from the ratchet mechanism in the drive... for another hour of battery-free observing.
But there are nights when I just like to take one of my vintage scopes out, using .965 eyepieces and enjoy the nostalgia of using, simpler equipment to (visually) accomplish just about the same thing that the shorter focal length refractors can do today.
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Preston
Lift your eyes and look to the heavens: Who created all these? He who brings out the starry host one by one, and calls them each by name. Because of His great power and mighty strength, not one of them is missing. Isaiah 40:26
SV115T,NHII,SV70,SV50 and Tele Vue Ranger
Vintage Refractors: Asahi-Pentax, Edmund Scientific, Tasco, Unitron
60mm Telescope Club
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clintwhitman
Caveman
Reged: 01/01/07
Posts: 2425
Loc: ValVerde CA(SoEasyaCavemanCanD...
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TO look into dark Sky and see faint fuzzies up close!!! (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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clintwhitman
Caveman
Reged: 01/01/07
Posts: 2425
Loc: ValVerde CA(SoEasyaCavemanCanD...
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Debbie and I use the restored telescopes we have for the following, Outreach to city kids who are at risk of gang life, For her and I to get out into nature and hike and go hang out all night with our freinds who are all sober!! Well most of them. The sence of saving somthing that was on the edge of being trash and saving it for the next generation, For me to do my own small reaserch programs. Clint & Debbie Whitman
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Gerd
sage
Reged: 09/02/05
Posts: 272
Loc: near Stuttgart Schwabenländle
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Very good work, Caveman! 
Cool scopes and nice Guys!
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Gerd
Member of the Backnanger Sterngucker
(stargazers of the area round Backnang, Germany)
www.bksterngucker.de
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Carl Kolchak
professor emeritus
Reged: 08/02/06
Posts: 544
Loc: Northeast, Florida
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Hi aa5te,
I use it for everything I use my modern scopes for. But I will say the Meade 300 is very good on lunar, planets and double stars.
peace & clear skies,
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Richard H.
Antares 105mm f/9.5 Elite Series Refractor
AstroTelescopes 102mm f/7 Refractor
Orion ShortTube 90mm f/5.6 Refractor
Meade Model 300 80mm f/15 Refractor
Tasco Cosmic 6TE-5 50mm f/12 Refractor
Orion SkyView Pro 8" Intelliscope
Orion Scenix 10x50 Binoculars
Zhumell SuperGiant 20x80 binoculars
NightSky Journal
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John rombi
professor emeritus
Reged: 08/14/05
Posts: 597
Loc: Sydney, Australia
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Since I bought my Light Bucket, my two Unitrons are only assembled every couple of months, just so I can look at them!!
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Meade Lightbridge 12" Deluxe (Modified)SiebertOptics
Unitron 4" Alt-Az
Unitron 2.4" Alt-Az
www.macastro.org.au "A New Eye On the Sky"
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Roel
sage
Reged: 04/22/07
Posts: 209
Loc: Deventer, The Netherlands
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My new 2" Polarex splitted all four members of Epsilon Lyrae last night!!
I use my Polarex 3" mainly for sketching the Moon and Sun. I think that, especially for solar observing, nothing beats a good old long refractor. Today for example, a nice new group of spots formed on the Sun:
Edited by Roel (07/04/09 09:56 AM)
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Patricko
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 01/30/07
Posts: 1530
Loc: SE New Mexico USA
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Quote:
My new 2" Polarex splitted all four members of Epsilon Lyrae last night!!
 That is this first time I've ever heard of this! My 60/1000mm does it with ease but I never had the chance to try in a 50mm. Good job!
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Clear skies,
Patrick
INTERNATIONAL DARK SKY ASSOCIATION
60MM TELESCOPE CLUB!
"You can always have better, but will you ever be happy with what you have?" - Me, myself, and I
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BarabinoSr
sage
Reged: 11/17/05
Posts: 305
Loc: Slidell La
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Hi All! Interesting post!I use mine for general observing,though of late the 10TE has been getting a lot of use lately on the moon and planets.However I have not trained any of them sunward,though I have assigned the TASCO 9TE-5 as the sun scope.I have equipped this with a modified 4" Thousand Oaks front end glass solar filter and the views are incredible.Looks like there are finally some sizeable sunspots on Sol. Gary Sr
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12"GSO f/5.3" Newtonian Reflector 10" Meade LX-50 Fork Mounted Schmidt-Cassegrain
8" Hardin f/6 Newtonian reflector
6" Konus f/8 Refractor,Yulin 5"f/9 refractor,
4.5"TASCO Luminova f/9 Newtonian Reflector 4.5"TASCO 11TR(Lunagrosso) Red reflector
90mm Meade f/11 refractor,Tasco 10TE 76mm 1200mm f/l Refractor
60mm TASCO 7TE-5 1000mm f/16.7 Refractor 60mm TASCO 9TE 700mm f/l refractor
60mm TASCO 9TE-0 710mm f/l Refractor 50mm-TASCO 6TE-5 600mm f/l Refractor
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TimD
scholastic sledgehammer
Reged: 02/16/05
Posts: 864
Loc: CA USA
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Sometimes just as decoration! ain't them old scope real perty just to look AT!
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Takahashi TSC 225
WO Megrez 102
Meade ETX 90, ETX 125
Meade LX90
Classic Orange tube C14, C90, C5+
Etc,Etc,Etc!!
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