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Equipment Discussions >> Classic Telescopes

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Shadowalker
Unpretentious Rocket Scientist
*****

Reged: 11/23/04
Posts: 3560
Loc: Poplarville, MS, USA
Gilbert Reflector to Criterion RV-6
      #3382890 - 10/10/09 09:51 PM

When I was about 8 or 9 my dad got me one of those little reflectors. I think the mirror was 2.5 or 3 inches. A single EP, probably a Ramsden, providing maybe 40x or so. The moon was pretty cool. I could see Jupiter's moons. I didn't know what I was looking at, and I thought I was seeing another solar system.

It came with a projection screen for solar observing. Saw lots of sunspots, and observed at least one partial eclipse.

In high school my dad got me a Criterion RV-6. Saw lots more stuff. Dabbled in astrophotography (with film - ugh!). Late in college I put it all away, got married and didn't do much astronomy for the next 20 years.

Not sure what happened to the Gilbert. I see several on eBay at a reasonable price. Was thinking of getting one just for the heck of it.

The RV-6 reached a sad end. I carried that scope around with me from move to move. In September of 2001 my house caught on fire. The RV-6 was destroyed. I was able to clean up the pedastal legs, though and still have those.

So the question is, Do I "restore" my RV-6 from the legs up? Or ask if someone might need those legs to restore their own RV-6?

--------------------
Tom Nicolaides
http://www.first-light.org
My evil self is at that door, and I have no power to stop it
-- Dr. Edward Morbius


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deSitter
Carpal Tunnel


Reged: 12/09/04
Posts: 2928
Re: Gilbert Reflector to Criterion RV-6 new [Re: Shadowalker]
      #3383190 - 10/11/09 03:57 AM

Oh man I would search around until I could by a whole one on the Mart or wherever, and use the burned legs as a 9/11 memorial.

I had an RV-6 - when I went to college I gave it to my buddy Drew's 11-year old kid. I never asked what became of it after and still don't know. It was a great scope.

-drl


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rmollise
Post Laureate
*****

Reged: 07/06/07
Posts: 4598
Re: Gilbert Reflector to Criterion RV-6 new [Re: Shadowalker]
      #3383305 - 10/11/09 08:27 AM

Quote:

When I was about 8 or 9 my dad got me one of those little reflectors. I think the mirror was 2.5 or 3 inches. A single EP, probably a Ramsden, providing maybe 40x or so. The moon was pretty cool. I could see Jupiter's moons. I didn't know what I was looking at, and I thought I was seeing another solar system.





Buy an RV-6 (they are plentiful), and replace the legs with the ones from your scope.

As for the Gilbert? Here are my thoughts on it:

http://uncle-rods.blogspot.com/2007/03/sky-adventures-with-my-ac-gilbert.html

--------------------
Uncle Rod

Rod's New Book:
Choosing and Using a New CAT
Available now!


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Shadowalker
Unpretentious Rocket Scientist
*****

Reged: 11/23/04
Posts: 3560
Loc: Poplarville, MS, USA
Re: Gilbert Reflector to Criterion RV-6 new [Re: rmollise]
      #3384955 - 10/12/09 08:33 AM

I enjoyed the blog, Rod. That's pretty much what I remember using that little scope. Found one on ebay for 20 bucks. Pulled the trigger on it

Danny, that's a good idea. Problem I have is I'd want to restore it to original. Then I wouldn't use it, as I'm pretty much a Go-To guy these days. Modifying it for go-to would be a fun project... But then it wouldn't be an RV-6.

Oh well, It's not like I need another scope.

--------------------
Tom Nicolaides
http://www.first-light.org
My evil self is at that door, and I have no power to stop it
-- Dr. Edward Morbius


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Steve C.
super member


Reged: 01/24/08
Posts: 103
Loc: Sugar Land, TX
Re: Gilbert Reflector to Criterion RV-6 new [Re: Shadowalker]
      #3385115 - 10/12/09 11:01 AM Attachment (10 downloads)

Speaking of Gilberts, a very young me with first bicycle and first telescope.

--------------------
Steve Clayworth

Astro-Physics 130 EDT F/8
Celestron 9.25 NexStar GPS
Celestron C-11
Celestron C-8 Classic
Meader ETX 125AT
Tele Vue Pronto
G-11 Gemini
5mm Radian, 8mm Ethos, 9mm Nagler Type 1, 17mm and 24mm Baader Hyperion, 40mm Meade Plossl, 20mm TV Plossl, 1.8x TV Barlow


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wfj
sage
*****

Reged: 01/10/08
Posts: 260
Loc: California, Santa Cruz County
Re: Gilbert Reflector to Criterion RV-6 new [Re: Steve C.]
      #3385308 - 10/12/09 12:56 PM

Could also have been the Spitz Moonscope (3" f/6), which had a single lens eyepiece at around 30x.

Lost the EP, but still have the scope. The one I have has a surprisingly good primary with a lousy secondary.


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RLTYSModerator
Carpal Tunnel
*****

Reged: 12/18/04
Posts: 2159
Loc: New York (Long Island)
Re: Gilbert Reflector to Criterion RV-6 new [Re: Steve C.]
      #3386654 - 10/13/09 05:59 AM

Quote:

Speaking of Gilberts, a very young me with first bicycle and first telescope.




Steve

That must have been a memorable Christmas, your fist bike and your first telescope. What year was it?

Rich (RLTYS)

--------------------
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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Steve C.
super member


Reged: 01/24/08
Posts: 103
Loc: Sugar Land, TX
Re: Gilbert Reflector to Criterion RV-6 new [Re: RLTYS]
      #3386775 - 10/13/09 08:41 AM

Quote:

Quote:

Speaking of Gilberts, a very young me with first bicycle and first telescope.




Steve

That must have been a memorable Christmas, your fist bike and your first telescope. What year was it?

Rich (RLTYS)




Rich, that was 1960. Or, as I like to say now, a prior millenium.

--------------------
Steve Clayworth

Astro-Physics 130 EDT F/8
Celestron 9.25 NexStar GPS
Celestron C-11
Celestron C-8 Classic
Meader ETX 125AT
Tele Vue Pronto
G-11 Gemini
5mm Radian, 8mm Ethos, 9mm Nagler Type 1, 17mm and 24mm Baader Hyperion, 40mm Meade Plossl, 20mm TV Plossl, 1.8x TV Barlow


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deSitter
Carpal Tunnel


Reged: 12/09/04
Posts: 2928
Re: Gilbert Reflector to Criterion RV-6 new [Re: Steve C.]
      #3388285 - 10/13/09 10:54 PM

Quote:

Speaking of Gilberts, a very young me with first bicycle and first telescope.




Grab 'n go! but your bike needs eyepiece brochures clipped to flap in the spokes.

-drl


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