· Get a Cloudy Nights T-Shirt · Submit a Review / Article Click here if you are having trouble logging into the forums Privacy Policy | Please read our Terms of Service | Signup and Troubleshooting FAQ | Problems? PM a Red or a Green Gu… uh, User You are not logged in. [Login] Entrance · Main Index · Search · New user · Who's Online FAQ · Calendar Equipment Discussions >> ATM, Optics and DIY Forum Previous   Index   Next   Threaded   Pages: 1 Kunama super member Reged: 10/22/12 Loc: Australia Gaunt meets Istar ...... mount restoration log:       #5514127 - 11/11/12 09:15 AM Attachment (63 downloads) Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   While waiting for my new Vixen GPD2 to arrive from Japan I decided I needed an astronomy restoration project to keep me busy. Here she is: This is my 'Gaunt Equatorial Telescope Stand' made by Thomas Gaunt, Optician and Jeweller, Melbourne circa 1885. She is certainly no lightweight: The triangular pier stands 41" tall and weighs in at 137lbs The iron and brass equatorial mount is a relative lightweight at 82lbs The single counterweight is a featherlight 35lb I will be restoring the mount to its former glory over the next few months and once complete she will scan the heavens from Jindabyne, Australia. Being a bit of a brute of a mount, she needed something equally hefty to carry, luckily I was able to buy a mint condition Istar Perseus AT150 F10 and although they had an age difference of 125 years, it was a match made in heaven. Post Extras:       Kunama super member Reged: 10/22/12 Loc: Australia Re: Gaunt meets Istar ...... mount restoration log: [Re: Kunama]       #5514134 - 11/11/12 09:22 AM Attachment (34 downloads) Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   So after the quick test fitting of the Perseus AT150F10 it was time to begin the restoration. Previous ownership of the mount has not been kind to her, several holes have been tragically drilled in key parts of the mount as well as some machining of the setting circles. In view of this the restoration will not attempt to retain all the accumulated patina hiding under multiple layers of black and brown paint. Here are some of parts after dismantling earlier today: Post Extras:       Kunama super member Reged: 10/22/12 Loc: Australia Re: Gaunt meets Istar ...... mount restoration log: [Re: Kunama]       #5514140 - 11/11/12 09:27 AM Attachment (27 downloads) Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Some more parts showing previous unsympathetic alterations: Post Extras:       Kunama super member Reged: 10/22/12 Loc: Australia Re: Gaunt meets Istar ...... mount restoration log: [Re: Kunama]       #5514147 - 11/11/12 09:31 AM Attachment (26 downloads) Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   After a couple of hours and very sore fingertips: Post Extras:       Kunama super member Reged: 10/22/12 Loc: Australia Re: Gaunt meets Istar ...... mount restoration log: [Re: Kunama]       #5514151 - 11/11/12 09:33 AM Attachment (32 downloads) Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   and the last update for today: Post Extras:       Sean Cunneen Let Me Think Reged: 08/01/07 Loc: Blue Island Illinois Re: Gaunt meets Istar ...... mount restoration log: [Re: Kunama]       #5514212 - 11/11/12 10:35 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   That looks great, stick some diving weights in the back of that OTA to get the nose up some and you'll have a real winner! I have never heard of Gaunt, do you have any history? Sean Post Extras:       John Jarosz Astro Gearhead Reged: 04/25/04 Loc: Chicago area, IL Re: Gaunt meets Istar ...... mount restoration log: [Re: Sean Cunneen]       #5514454 - 11/11/12 01:03 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   very cool. And that is one heck of observing spot. Wish I had a view like that. Where is it? Post Extras:       Kunama super member Reged: 10/22/12 Loc: Australia Re: Gaunt meets Istar ...... mount restoration log: [Re: John Jarosz]       #5514491 - 11/11/12 01:34 PM Attachment (25 downloads) Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Thanks Sean and John, Thomas Gaunt established Melbourne's leading watchmaking, optical and jewellery business during the second half of the 19th century. Gaunt arrived in Melbourne in 1852, and by 1858 had established his own business in Little Bourke Street. Around 1869 he moved to new premises in Bourke Street on the corner of Royal Arcade, and Gaunt's shop quickly became a Melbourne institution. He also developed a department that focussed on scientific instrumentation, making thermometers and barometers (from imported glass tubes), telescopes, surveying instruments and microscopes. He died in 1890. As for the view behind the scope John, it is Lake Jindabyne, with the Snowy Mountains of Australia in the background. We bought the property for this : Cheers, Matt Post Extras:       tim53 Postmaster Reged: 12/17/04 Loc: Highland Park, CA Re: Gaunt meets Istar ...... mount restoration log: [Re: Kunama]       #5514659 - 11/11/12 03:36 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Wow! Scope and observing site both! Post Extras:       Kunama super member Reged: 10/22/12 Loc: Australia Re: Gaunt meets Istar ...... mount restoration log: [Re: Kunama]       #5515563 - 11/12/12 07:27 AM Attachment (24 downloads) Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Bit more progress today with the RA Index plate and setting circle getting stripped of multiple layers of paint: Edited by Kunama (11/12/12 07:29 AM) Post Extras:       Kunama super member Reged: 10/22/12 Loc: Australia Re: Gaunt meets Istar ...... mount restoration log: [Re: Kunama]       #5523615 - 11/16/12 11:17 PM Attachment (12 downloads) Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Lots of brass polishing lately Post Extras:       Kunama super member Reged: 10/22/12 Loc: Australia Re: Gaunt meets Istar ...... mount restoration log: [Re: Kunama]       #5523617 - 11/16/12 11:18 PM Attachment (19 downloads) Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   as well as lots of paint removal, priming & painting Post Extras:       Kunama super member Reged: 10/22/12 Loc: Australia Re: Gaunt meets Istar ...... mount restoration log: [Re: Kunama]       #5523623 - 11/16/12 11:21 PM Attachment (16 downloads) Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   and this (RA axis carrier) Post Extras:       Kunama super member Reged: 10/22/12 Loc: Australia Re: Gaunt meets Istar ...... mount restoration log: [Re: Kunama]       #5523626 - 11/16/12 11:22 PM Attachment (14 downloads) Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   .....mount base plate .... Post Extras:       Kunama super member Reged: 10/22/12 Loc: Australia Re: Gaunt meets Istar ...... mount restoration log: [Re: Kunama]       #5523638 - 11/16/12 11:27 PM Attachment (16 downloads) Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Declination axle........... Post Extras:       Kunama super member Reged: 10/22/12 Loc: Australia Re: Gaunt meets Istar ...... mount restoration log: [Re: Kunama]       #5534904 - 11/23/12 05:55 AM Attachment (19 downloads) Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Lot has happened since the previous post: All the bits and pieces were painted with Black Gloss Epoxy enamel, All the brassy bits were clear coated, managed to source some extra brass and some brass washers and then spent a couple of hours this morning putting it all back together again. Due to the removal of lots of old paint it was necessary to shim a couple of parts to get good alignment and smooth movement of the axes. Here is a pic of the finished mount: Post Extras:       Kunama super member Reged: 10/22/12 Loc: Australia Re: Gaunt meets Istar ...... mount restoration log: [Re: Kunama]       #5534906 - 11/23/12 05:58 AM Attachment (21 downloads) Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   And another view: Post Extras:       bremms scholastic sledgehammer Reged: 08/31/12 Loc: SC Re: Gaunt meets Istar ...... mount restoration log: [Re: Kunama]       #5535101 - 11/23/12 09:26 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   That mount is a thing of beauty. Looks like you have a nice site there down under. Post Extras:       Don Allen professor emeritus Reged: 07/07/05 Loc: Charleston, SC Re: Gaunt meets Istar ...... mount restoration log: [Re: bremms]       #5537041 - 11/24/12 11:04 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   A thing of beauty. Mr Gaunt would be happy. Post Extras:       snommisbor sage Reged: 06/15/09 Loc: Cedar Park, TX Re: Gaunt meets Istar ...... mount restoration log: [Re: Don Allen]       #5538111 - 11/25/12 12:35 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   awesome job Post Extras:       Pages: 1 Previous   Index   Next   Threaded   Extra information 9 registered and 24 anonymous users are browsing this forum. 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