JamesE
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 10/22/07
Posts: 1120
Loc: Westbank, BC, Canada
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Dear All,
I finally got this scope on Thursday but have been too busy to post. I would like to share some pics of this rare find. Please chime in on your thoughts and experiences as I hope over the next year I can call upon folks here to help me with the restoration. It is going to be a big task for me.
There is a whole bunch of first impressions I got when I first set up this scope. Way to many to post here. Everything from excitement to disappointment, to amazement to confusion. Anyways, here we go.....
First up, the label says it all
The Full Monty. I can't star test because of smoke from the forest fires.
Tons of issues. Where do I start?
But with all the rust, the objective is good. And I could easily see Newtons rings.
Box is in great shape as is the accessories. It even came with a wrench and the manual.
All the lens caps are present
Check out the Latitude adjustment knob! The motor makes noise but I haven't had a chance to see if actually runs.
A cool feature. A cover for the Dec gearing
Last shot.
The OTA is much heavier than my 1966 10TE.
Anyways folks. I am not sure where to start. I feel a bit overwhelmed and humbled. Thanks though to those behind the scenes encouraging me and supporting me to get this. Thanks to the knowledge base on CN. I truly appreciate it. Hopefully I can do this justice.
Sincerest Regards,
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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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mikey cee
Post Laureate
Reged: 01/18/07
Posts: 3531
Loc: bellevue ne.
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James...  Where do I start? Hey mine looked worse but I just didn't have quite that much rust. But you've got something to work with here. Plus it's rarity will give you added incentive to toil away and the more you plow ahead the more satisfaction begins to grow!  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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JWW
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 12/12/05
Posts: 1107
Loc: Arizona or Mexico hard to tell
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James,
Looke fine to me, just needs some cosmetic work. If you don't want it send it my way. <smile ... just kidding> How is the objective, that's the most imporant part, at least to me. Everything else can be restored (based on your excellent images).
Congrats,
-JWW:
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mustgobigger
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 06/12/07
Posts: 2421
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great score james,
you will have that restored in no time.
a little paint and polishing and it will be good as new.
thats a rare one.
be sure to post lots of pictures.
Brian
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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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woodsman
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 03/12/08
Posts: 1079
Loc: Colorado Springs, CO
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Way cool James! That scope is definitely quite useable in its current condition. I love the wraparound rings for the guidescope. Can't wait to see it all restored. You did get quite a find there. Sure is nice to have all the lens caps. That scope will be a great showpiece.   Congrats. 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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astrodon
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 04/07/05
Posts: 1804
Loc: Hillsboro, OR, USA
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Great find! Looking forward to restoration photos!  
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Putting Tasco Refractors back on their mounts one scope at a time!
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mikesemmler
member
Reged: 06/01/09
Posts: 29
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Hello James!
Congratulation - a fine old scope.
Michael
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RLTYS
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 12/18/04
Posts: 2159
Loc: New York (Long Island)
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James
A beautiful, most impressive scope.
Good Luck
Rich (RLTYS)
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10" F4.8 Refl.
4" F5 Refr. (Genesis)
3" F4 Celestron FirstScope
50mm F12 Refr. (Tasco #6TE-5)
12x63 and 10x50 Binoculars.
"I want to do more then just look."
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Doug76
Postmaster
Reged: 12/05/07
Posts: 5574
Loc: SE Louisiana, future Texan
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Really really nice.
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Doug
Truckstop Astronomer
The Universe, the light of God, in all it's majesty
6 achro refractors, 50mm-150mm
1 apo refractor, 90mm
1 SCT, 8 inch
UO Abbe Volcano Tops
Faworski Ortho's
Panoptic 24mm
Carton 100mm f/13 under construction
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BHunt
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 12/31/06
Posts: 1384
Loc: NJ and PA
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Wow Jim,
What a great find. I am sure you will do this scope justice in the restoration. You can do it!
Bill
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apollo13
member
Reged: 08/05/09
Posts: 47
Loc: Texas
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What a wonderful scope. Great snag!!!!!! Can't wait to see more pics/progress reports.
Robert
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NIKON 10x70 IF HP WP
Steiner 7X50's M22
Bushnell 7X26 Custom Compact (birding)
Unitron Satellite 6X-50mm
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Awesomelenny
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 05/02/04
Posts: 2807
Loc: Long: 81.42 W Lat: 41.21 N
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Wow James did you get a dandy! Man would I love restoring that scope too! For sure, I would use JWW's recommendation for electro-rust removal. With 6 volts, you can really get rid of the rust. Right JW?
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Len
Meade 178 ED APO
127mm Astro_Tech ED APO
4" f/15 Model 166 Unitron with UNIWITT Pier
Televue Genesis SDF 101mm f/5.4
W.O. Zenithstar 66
2.4" f/15 Model 128C Unitron
Coronado Solarmax 90 DS Telescope
Losmandy Titan; G-11; all w/Gemini
All in a "Backyard Observatory"
"The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands."
Psalm 19:1
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rathbaster
professor emeritus
Reged: 03/21/08
Posts: 549
Loc: East Bridgewater, MA
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Very cool scope 
I've seen Newton's rings several times in my own 15TE, remarkable optics.
-Joe
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Bridgewater State College Observatory
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JWW
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 12/12/05
Posts: 1107
Loc: Arizona or Mexico hard to tell
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Quote:
For sure, I would use JWW's recommendation for electro-rust removal. With 6 volts, you can really get rid of the rust. Right JW?
Yep'er,
-JWW:
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rmollise
Post Laureate
Reged: 07/06/07
Posts: 4598
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Heck of a score! _Almost_ makes me want to get in the refractor biz! 
I think when you are done you will have an amazing looking and performing telescope.
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Uncle Rod
Rod's New Book:
Choosing and Using a New CAT
Available now!
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strdst
scholastic sledgehammer
Reged: 03/23/08
Posts: 834
Loc: Oregon USA
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Quote:
Wow James did you get a dandy! Man would I love restoring that scope too! For sure, I would use JWW's recommendation for electro-rust removal. With 6 volts, you can really get rid of the rust. Right JW?
Hi James,
How are those squigglies? By the looks of what you found, I'd guess worth a little anxiety! What a great project, and you know we're all here, behind you... learning. Even if you can't star test with the smoke, I hope you are enjoying the colorful moon/sun rises and sets.
Here is my brand new 10te. The focus tube/draw tube are the only really rough parts on mine. Compared to my photo, yours is looking downright pristine! See one less squigglie! I'm gonna need one of those electro-shock deals in the 12volt model! Where does the chrome plating go exactly?
other keith
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donnw
super member
Reged: 08/03/08
Posts: 166
Loc: Maryland
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Quote:
Quote:
For sure, I would use JWW's recommendation for electro-rust removal. With 6 volts, you can really get rid of the rust. Right JW?
Yep'er,
-JWW:
Hi James:
Did you post some specifics previously on how to remove rust with a 6 volt source? I searched the classics forum a bit, but couldn't find it. Could you please point me in the right direction on how to do this?  Many thanks...
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Peace & Blessings,
Donn Williams
Member - AAVSO
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Celestron EdgeHD 11 on CGE in SkyShed POD GL5
Meade Lightbridge 12", SN10, LX200 Classic 8", AR5, 314 Brass & ETX125PE
Lunt LS60T/DS, Stellarvue SV102ED, SV80BV, SV80/9D, SV NH2
Cave Astrolla 8", Zeiss Telementor II, Unitron 114, 128, 142
Towa 339, Royal Astro 76/1200, Pentax J80, Borg 100, AT 102-F/11
Goto 105, Various Sears/Tasco/Selsi/Towa 60-80mm's
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Venetia2004
sage
Reged: 08/27/05
Posts: 260
Loc: Lynnwood, WA
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Great scope James! As long as its optics is in good shape you can restore the scope...Lots of fun!
Vic
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JamesE
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 10/22/07
Posts: 1120
Loc: Westbank, BC, Canada
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Thanks all, I appreciate your praise and comments. Yes, Rich, it is usable at this point. I need though to tweak a few things so nothing gets busted.
Yes, Don, I am slowly weeding through the plethora of posts for resources on recondition/restoring that I can find. Let's see if I can find the 6v method of de-rusting. As well, there was a product people were suggesting for removal of some of those bolts that are in the mount. I don't think I can deep six the entire mount just to get the rust off a few screws.
Taking the rust off the chrome is something I have to figure out. And what pieces to start with.
JWW asked about the objective. It is in great shape actually. No clamshell chips or fungus. Coatings look good. The 6x30 finder is the only objective that has a bit of an issue. Looks like a bit of fungus. I will try to get a pic up of that later. The 12x40 finder is great shape other than a bit of cosmetic issues
I mounted the OTA on my 10TE tripod and got to look at Jupiter last night through boiling skies. The contrast was great. Even got to see the 4 main bands once in a while. Considering the altitude, smoke, moon and so forth, the views looked very promising. It looked like there is a bit of CA when I pointed to Vega. A bit of a violet halo at high powers but the stars were pinpoint and the background was nice and dark.
Anyways, just a quick update. I have a bunch of research to do now on restoring this. I am glad I made this purchase. It will be very satisfying to get this back up to speed.
Cheers,
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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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scopelover
member
Reged: 02/02/08
Posts: 81
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Awesome scope! Hurray! ... Rust or not, a beauty for sure!
Great SCORE!!
ps ...
RE Motor:
Anyone out there know where/what kind of motor I can get for the more common tripod-style of this EQ mounting?
I love my 76mm/1200mm ..... BUT really needs a drive + RA gear for the drive (the usual on these scopes)
Thanks all,
alexander
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