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Classic Telescopes

Telescopes from an era gone by. The place to discuss older telescopes. Antiques, flea market finds, and scopes from grandpa's attic. From the 1780's to the mid-1990's - refractors, reflectors, and early SCT's. Discussing all aspects of restoring, collecting, and observing with older scopes. Discussion of 25-year-old scopes still in production is OK but please don't post newer examples of those, except for actual side-by-side comparisons to demonstrate detail changes.

Important Update to Our Policies for Classifieds

Posted by MJB87

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Topic	Stats	Last Post Info
Pinned Classic Telescopes Looking for Odds and Ends-The Ask Away Thread Started by mdowns , 13 Mar 2022 1 2 3 47 →	Hot 1,159 replies 310,374 views	Senex Bibax Today, 09:34 AM
Pinned The How to Thread Started by mdowns , 03 Dec 2022 1 2 3 6 →	Hot 131 replies 105,808 views	clamchip 17 Mar 2025
Pinned Free To A Good Home -The Giveaway Thread Started by Chuck Hards , 15 Sep 2015 1 2 3 74 →	Hot 1,837 replies 559,858 views	pbealo 07 Mar 2025
Pinned 60x800 Classic Refractors - Who Made 'Em? Started by Bomber Bob , 15 Jan 2022 Classic, Equipment, Refractor 1 2 3 8 →	Hot 184 replies 276,607 views	$60x800 Classic Refractors - Who Made 'Em? - last post by fghsocwk$ fghsocwk 22 Dec 2024
Pinned Historical classic or antique scope threads and links Started by droid , 26 Aug 2014	1 reply 57,285 views	Brian Risley 28 Aug 2014
Pinned Useful Classic Scopes Links Started by Glassthrower , 15 Apr 2007	0 replies 89,801 views	Glassthrower 15 Apr 2007
Adapter for Pentax 50/600 Started by Princess Leah , Today, 10:26 AM	3 replies 81 views	CharlieB Today, 03:34 PM
Craigslist, eBay, and other vintage classic telescope ads Started by mdowns , 28 Feb 2025 1 2 3 18 →	Hot 448 replies 14,878 views	cavedweller Today, 03:29 PM
Vintage Telescope Finds Started by CharlieB , 13 Aug 2020 1 2 3 212 →	Hot 5,281 replies 472,996 views	cavedweller Today, 03:09 PM
What did you do to your Scope/Mount Today? Started by orion61 , 06 Jan 2015 1 2 3 404 →	Hot 10,077 replies 692,056 views	norvegicus Today, 01:40 PM
Doublets that fit - but no cement. Started by Princess Leah , 21 Mar 2025	22 replies 461 views	davidc135 Today, 09:11 AM
What did you observe with your classic telescope today ? Started by photiost , 29 Jan 2016 1 2 3 477 →	Hot 11,902 replies 740,250 views	PawPaw Today, 08:53 AM
Rings for a common 60mm Refractor Started by marbz , 31 Oct 2023	20 replies 1,328 views	$Rings for a common 60mm Refractor - last post by deSitter$ deSitter Today, 08:09 AM
Meade 226: Years of Manufacture? Started by Pluto 134340 , Yesterday, 02:13 PM	6 replies 169 views	deSitter Today, 08:02 AM
Criterion RV-8 Started by Mark Jones , Yesterday, 04:48 PM Reflector	7 replies 175 views	deSitter Today, 06:44 AM
Help IDing Visual back (and what scopes it compatible with) Started by Littlegreenman , 25 Mar 2025	6 replies 179 views	apfever Yesterday, 10:10 PM
Which classic eyepieces do you like best Started by starman876 , 12 Jun 2018 1 2 3 11 →	Hot 264 replies 20,412 views	Kfedorov Yesterday, 05:59 PM
4” Merz refractor…should I buy it? Started by Pezdragon , 21 Mar 2025 1 2	36 replies 991 views	$4” Merz refractor…should I buy it? - last post by aneeg$ aneeg Yesterday, 04:36 PM
Big Ol' Classic Scopes - Who's Using Them? Started by Bomber Bob , 24 Oct 2024 Classic, Equipment, Observing 1 2	48 replies 2,177 views	Augustus Yesterday, 03:27 PM
Astromak 12" F/5 vintage classic Started by RandyD , 13 Apr 2019 1 2	30 replies 4,102 views	Mopman Yesterday, 02:53 PM
Miscellany Started by clamchip , 29 Sep 2013 1 2 3 78 →	Hot 1,925 replies 162,588 views	tim53 Yesterday, 12:58 PM
Classic Refractor Laser Collimation? Started by Senex Bibax , 21 Mar 2025	20 replies 344 views	$Classic Refractor Laser Collimation? - last post by Jon Isaacs$ Jon Isaacs Yesterday, 09:34 AM
Drive Correctors Started by rolo , 09 Mar 2018 1 2 3 8 →	Hot 176 replies 18,159 views	louisr65 25 Mar 2025
SCT secondary mirror removal? Started by ColdNights , 07 Mar 2025	8 replies 237 views	ColdNights 25 Mar 2025
More Edmund Scientific! Started by clamchip , 05 Dec 2015 1 2 3 27 →	Hot 657 replies 61,686 views	deSitter 25 Mar 2025
Leuven 1855 Grubb 8" refractor Started by Joost , 19 Mar 2025	2 replies 345 views	$Leuven 1855 Grubb 8" refractor - last post by machinerabbit1031$ machinerabbit1031 25 Mar 2025
Carton 60/910 and lens spacers problem Started by LukaszLu , 24 Mar 2021 1 2 3	Hot 69 replies 4,370 views	deSitter 24 Mar 2025
Classic Telescopes in TV, Hollywood and Movies Started by Terra Nova , 13 Dec 2012 1 2 3 50 →	Hot 1,237 replies 148,523 views	Chuck2 24 Mar 2025
Large brass refractor Started by lenny arsenault , 16 Mar 2025	4 replies 378 views	$Large brass refractor - last post by Kasmos$ Kasmos 23 Mar 2025
1990/91 Astro Physics Starfire 102mm f/8 Started by Yonsayvitch , 14 Mar 2025 1 2 3	Hot 70 replies 1,611 views	Kasmos 23 Mar 2025
NEAF 2025 Started by pbealo , 04 Feb 2025 1 2	33 replies 1,746 views	deSitter 23 Mar 2025
Classic TeleVue Refractors Started by Granite Glasser , 14 Feb 2025 1 2 3 4	Hot 80 replies 2,391 views	$Classic TeleVue Refractors - last post by deSitter$ deSitter 23 Mar 2025
Vintage Mak ID help wanted Started by Wdh , 16 Mar 2025	20 replies 476 views	deSitter 23 Mar 2025
Takahashi EM Who? Started by Bomber Bob , 07 Apr 2019 equipment, mount 1 2 3	Hot 69 replies 9,186 views	payner 22 Mar 2025
Restoring a classic 6" f15 Goto refractor Started by Mike W , 10 Jul 2017 1 2 3 5 →	Hot 112 replies 18,077 views	$Restoring a classic 6" f15 Goto refractor - last post by Terra Nova$ Terra Nova 22 Mar 2025
New Carton Needs a Counterweight Started by godelescher , 09 Apr 2021	24 replies 1,204 views	Universe XY 21 Mar 2025
Is Anyone Collecting / Working On 40 and 50 mm Japanese Inport Refractors? Started by Uncle Milt , 25 Feb 2025 1 2	36 replies 998 views	$Is Anyone Collecting / Working On 40 and 50 mm Japanese Inport Refractors? - last post by deSitter$ deSitter 20 Mar 2025
Meade Starfinder 10 Started by Hrothgar , 16 Mar 2025 Meade	8 replies 285 views	Tom Stock 20 Mar 2025
Ultrasonic cleaner for classic EPs? Started by deSitter , 17 Jul 2023	21 replies 863 views	ccwemyss 19 Mar 2025
Collimating a very large telescope Started by CADSAS , 15 Mar 2025 Reflector	17 replies 479 views	Vic Menard 19 Mar 2025
Tiny Tak Fan Thread Started by Bomber Bob , 09 Sep 2020 classic, equipment, refractor 1 2 3 9 →	Hot 219 replies 22,203 views	Jay_Reynolds_Freeman 19 Mar 2025
Classic MIZAR Fans - Post Your Pix! Started by Bomber Bob , 26 Jan 2020 classic, equipment 1 2 3 11 →	Hot 255 replies 31,233 views	strdst 18 Mar 2025
Monolux COC 60 X 910mm Started by Universe XY , 22 Feb 2025 1 2	41 replies 732 views	Universe XY 18 Mar 2025
Old Celestron SE5 Information Required Started by BunburyStarGazer , 03 Mar 2025	11 replies 274 views	Kasmos 18 Mar 2025
Old Mount ID Started by Zthomase , 24 Feb 2025 1 2	39 replies 936 views	Kasmos 18 Mar 2025
classic 60mm f9 refractor - maybe vixen or ? Started by jcricket , 12 Mar 2025	9 replies 314 views	$classic 60mm f9 refractor - maybe vixen or ? - last post by deSitter$ deSitter 17 Mar 2025
The Comprehensive List of Japanese Symbols Started by Steve_M_M , 26 Jun 2010 1 2 3 18 →	Hot 445 replies 142,946 views	semlin 17 Mar 2025
Vintage Cassegrain mirror- does anyone know the maker? Started by Wdh , 17 Mar 2025	0 replies 141 views	Wdh 17 Mar 2025
Finderscope needs crosshairs--what to use? Started by charlie orzech , 19 Feb 2025	20 replies 495 views	grif 678 17 Mar 2025
Celestron C8 Registry Started by Masvingo , 06 Jan 2013 1 2 3 68 →	Hot 1,693 replies 254,967 views	pierce 17 Mar 2025