Datapanic
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 10/17/09
Loc: Tucson, Arizona
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Re: A Mystery Scope!
[Re: Datapanic]
#4119053 - 10/15/10 10:48 PM
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>click!<
First, there was a sighting of this telescope in the October '77 issue of S&T - Mr. Clark's telescope not only won a Merit Award at the Riverside Telescope Makers Convention in 1980 for Excellent Craftsmanship, he also won first place at the National Amateur Astronomers convention for Newtonian Telescopes. Here you can see it in what looks like nice new paint and there actually is some sort of viewfinder mounted on the upper rotating ring:
Although this photo does not point out Mr. Clark's telescope, it was in the background and I was able to enhance and zoom in on the original...
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tim53
Postmaster
Reged: 12/17/04
Loc: Highland Park, CA
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Re: A Mystery Scope!
[Re: Datapanic]
#4119080 - 10/15/10 10:57 PM
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Very cool!
How's it coming? 
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Datapanic
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 10/17/09
Loc: Tucson, Arizona
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Re: A Mystery Scope!
[Re: Datapanic]
#4119087 - 10/15/10 11:00 PM Attachment (49 downloads)
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Also this week, two things got delivered! Shown here is the focuser mount base, and the new focuser adapter plate made by Bob Burns that allows 2-24 threaded focusers and filters and such to be installed on it and a 2" Crawford Machine Shop focuser made by Dan Crawford. Once the base is installed on the tube, I can easily swap out this heavy duty assembly with the original motorized 1.25" focuser.
Thanks Bob and Dan!!! 
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Datapanic
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 10/17/09
Loc: Tucson, Arizona
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Re: A Mystery Scope!
[Re: Datapanic]
#4119094 - 10/15/10 11:02 PM Attachment (47 downloads)
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Here's a closeup of Bob's work - exactly to the specs of the drawing I made 
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Datapanic
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 10/17/09
Loc: Tucson, Arizona
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Re: A Mystery Scope!
[Re: Datapanic]
#4119102 - 10/15/10 11:08 PM Attachment (47 downloads)
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And here it is all put together including a 1.5" long 2" extender!
There's still some more to do before the entire scope is complete. Bob is making the replacement reinforcement ring for the secondary holder (it was cracked) and he's also making a new set of 3 leveling knob assemblies - the knobs and specially machined 1/2 diameter bolts that attach to the 'landing pads' shown in the picture above.
Things like this take a lot of patience, but I'm sure it's worth it in the end!
There's also one more cool surprise coming up!
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sashaskywatch
member
Reged: 10/13/10
Loc: Florida/ Los Angeles
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Re: A Mystery Scope!
[Re: Datapanic]
#4119345 - 10/16/10 01:14 AM
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Work of art! Wow... truly inspired
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Datapanic
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 10/17/09
Loc: Tucson, Arizona
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Re: A Mystery Scope!
[Re: tim53]
#4123005 - 10/17/10 09:23 PM
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Very cool!
How's it coming?
I guess I was slackin' a little bit, but this weekend, I finished finishing the tube. I was able to wet sand it to 1500 grit, then polish it with rubbing compound. After that, I wiped it down with acetone and then applied two coats of car wax. It's nice and shiny! I also polished up the focuser base and retainer ring. The fiberglass tube does have some spider cracks, but they are barely noticeable from about 5 feet away.
Before putting the parts back on the tube, I need to do the weight and balance sheet for future reference.
I'm also contemplating on what to do about a finder. I have some vintage Cave finder rings for a 50mm finder, but this scope never had one mounted on the tube. From the '77 photo, it's apparent he had something mounted on the top of the forward rotating ring. I guess I should just wait and see how well balanced the tube is without a finder first and then take it from there. If a finder is not used, I think the mount has enough precision that the setting circles could be used instead. Maybe that was Mr. Clark's intention?
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clintwhitman
Caveman
Reged: 01/01/07
Loc: CALI SoEasyACavemanCanSlewIt
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Re: A Mystery Scope!
[Re: Datapanic]
#4123454 - 10/18/10 01:57 AM
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It's coming together very fast! As soon as Bob finishes the remaining parts it will be no time at all to complete it.
Dan hurry up and get the tube in the thing!!! Geesesss! I am waiting on the photos!!! This is really somthing to see this scope being restored and you still have the only Caveman award for doing it,,,,, Bob takes a while but his work is perfect... somewhere between a piano maker and a machinist....
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EricP
sage
Reged: 11/09/07
Loc: Dallas, Texas
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Re: A Mystery Scope!
[Re: clintwhitman]
#4125650 - 10/18/10 10:44 PM
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Dan,
Glad to see this thread light up again. In the picture you copied from the S&T DVD, it shows a finderscope mounted on the upper tube ring, as you pointed out. Why not do something similar? Also, do you think that could be Mr. Clark himself, in the foreground? That's almost how I pictured him.
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Gallentine
member
Reged: 10/14/10
Loc: FL.
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Re: A Mystery Scope!
[Re: EricP]
#4125702 - 10/18/10 11:08 PM
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This is too cool!!
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GeneT
Ely Kid
Reged: 11/07/08
Loc: South Texas
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Re: A Mystery Scope!
[Re: Datapanic]
#4125841 - 10/19/10 12:11 AM
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This is an extremely interesting post. I am looking forward to seeing the final refurbished product.
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Datapanic
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 10/17/09
Loc: Tucson, Arizona
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Re: A Mystery Scope!
[Re: EricP]
#4402659 - 02/21/11 09:59 PM Attachment (28 downloads)
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Dan,
Glad to see this thread light up again. In the picture you copied from the S&T DVD, it shows a finderscope mounted on the upper tube ring, as you pointed out. Why not do something similar? Also, do you think that could be Mr. Clark himself, in the foreground? That's almost how I pictured him.
I thought I had replied to this, but apparently not!
The man in the forefront is Howard Thomas with his (at the time) 30 year old very portable Solar Telescope. He also won an award at this convention for Special Instruments. The OTA unfolds, as shown in the photo and mounts on the tripod to his left. The total setup time is about 2 minutes.
For the people standing around the Maynard Clark scope, I sure can't tell who is who, but I think I can get some more info soon. I need to follow up with the person I got this scope from who is the daughter of friends of Mr. & Mrs. Clark. Mrs. Clark moved back to California to her daughter's after Mr. Clark passed away and she and her mom have not been able to find her.
Regarding the finder, there were no mounting brackets for it so one would have to be designed and made. From the photo, that would not be too hard to do and it looks like it's a 50mm or 60mm.
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Datapanic
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 10/17/09
Loc: Tucson, Arizona
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Re: A Mystery Scope!
[Re: clintwhitman]
#4402709 - 02/21/11 10:20 PM
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It's coming together very fast! As soon as Bob finishes the remaining parts it will be no time at all to complete it.
Dan hurry up and get the tube in the thing!!! Geesesss! I am waiting on the photos!!! This is really somthing to see this scope being restored and you still have the only Caveman award for doing it,,,,, Bob takes a while but his work is perfect... somewhere between a piano maker and a machinist....
I hear ya, Clint! I didn't expect this restore to take that long, but when I came across the broken spider retainer ring, it changed things... Bob did a super job on the 2" focuser base and I know that when he finishes up the rest of the parts (spider retainer ring, new leveler knobs and screws), this thing is going to go back together real quick.
The fiberglass tube has been smoothed and polished, I'll get some pictures of it on here real soon.
There's also a secret thing regarding the mirror box - the old beat up moldy box is being replaced with something really cool!
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DarkSkys
professor emeritus
Reged: 10/11/10
Loc: In the dark desert of Eastern ...
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Re: A Mystery Scope!
[Re: Datapanic]
#4521216 - 04/15/11 10:22 PM
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Any news????
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Datapanic
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 10/17/09
Loc: Tucson, Arizona
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Re: A Mystery Scope!
[Re: DarkSkys]
#4521351 - 04/16/11 12:11 AM
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Any news????
I know this project is dragging out, but I think Maynard Clark probably spent more time making this scope than I have restoring it! Nothing new to report. I can't wait to try it out, the mechanics of the mount are awesome and I bet the mirror, which has yet to have first light since who knows when the last person looked through it was, will be something else!
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Hamsterdam
super member
Reged: 03/23/11
Loc: smack dab in the middle of the...
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Re: A Mystery Scope!
[Re: tim53]
#4523200 - 04/16/11 10:43 PM
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Tim, I have to agree 99.999999999%...theres always a entropic constant somewhere, but that looks EXACTLY like the early Schaefer. Comparing all photos, it looks all Schaefer, not a Cave stand even, the early pic on the Schaefer matches the stand, the mount, even the bands and bars on the tube exteriror. If this isn't a Schaefer, it is one heck of a great counterfeit or copy....The one thing that leads me to believe this is the real deal is the quality welds and construction, its built like a brick water closet, and that MIRROR! That mirror, considering its approximate age is beyond sublime, it is exquisite. As a rule age doesn't always make for worse glass. Just as Zeiss of today doesn't hold the same superior place amongst lens makers for me, the original and old school Zeiss Ikon lenses are beyond quality, imho.
I am sure more care was taken on the optics back then in many ways, when a true craftsman made these mirrors, grinding them by hand, polishing with jeweler's rouge. Of course in today's world they have been improved in many ways due to automation, there is consistency, and the coatings have improved as years have gone by.
This is truly exciting to me. just to follow this unfolding story. I really am anticipating more discovery on this, but Im almost sure that Tim has solved the mystery, and man, what a find! Good on ya, mate! 
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jmpolitte
member
Reged: 04/03/11
Loc: Conway, AR
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Re: A Mystery Scope!
[Re: Hamsterdam]
#4523290 - 04/16/11 11:29 PM
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Wow, I just finished reading this thread. Amazing find and exemplary work - your dedication is to be commended!
I'm looking forward to seeing this finished.
Jason
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neotesla
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 11/18/10
Loc: Canada
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Re: A Mystery Scope!
[Re: jmpolitte]
#5594085 - 12/29/12 10:25 AM
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Just wondering if there are any new updates about this scope? Has it seen first light yet?
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Datapanic
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 10/17/09
Loc: Tucson, Arizona
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Re: A Mystery Scope!
[Re: neotesla]
#5594172 - 12/29/12 11:06 AM
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Just wondering if there are any new updates about this scope? Has it seen first light yet?
Still waiting on the replacement secondary holder reinforcement ring to be made, and one of the inner rotating rings is at that shop as a reference to get the diameter right so it fits on the tube just right. So, I can't put the tube on the mount. It shouldn't be too much longer.
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