1675 replies to this topic

[Don W]

One of our club members, Tom, brought his vintage C-8 to Astronomy day yesterday. It's mounted on a Meade tripod, but the rest is vintage Celestron.

Serial number is 803316 which I think takes it to 1978 manufacture.

 

[serrurier]

What an invaluable resource!

 

Here's mine (sold as a Super Polaris C8).  I'm at least the second owner (South Pasadena, Ca.) bought from a vendor on the East Coast.  I added the Bob's Knobs.

 

 

Okay, go easy on me if this has been answered elsewhere in this thread:

 

is there anyway to know where the C8s were made?

[ScoobyNarita]

I finally decided to examine my C8 corrector to see if I could pull any serial numbers on it. I removed the retaining ring and could not see any serial numbers whatsoever.   I did notice a blue mark on the edge which I suppose could have been an index mark.  I stopped short of removing the corrector but, with the ring off, I was able to perform a close visual examination from outside and from inside using the primary mirror.  No obvious S/N.  I expected to corrector to be smooth and circular.  In reality, the outer corrector circumference was quite irregular, as if the blank had cut imperfections.  When the ground edging bead was done, that grinding did not remove those imperfections.  The corrector was positioned and held in place with the usual cork shims and the edge imperfections (peaks) actually served as a keys to impede rotation.  I did confirm that my "oil slick" on the inner surface of the OTA was caused by the baffle tube lube settling on the rear housing.  There is no oil on the corrector indicating that the instrument was likely stored pointing up.  Since I have a substantial clean-up ahead of me, I decided to put things back together and plan accordingly.

 

[apollo100]

I am new to this hobby, a rekindled love out of my youth.  I recently purchased a classic C8 as the price was unbeatable, the condition was excellent and it gave me a door into this hobby without spending a ton of cash.   I wanted to see if my interest was a passing flame or a rekindled love before buying something new and certainly more expensive.  Serial number of my black tube C8 is 828884.  It is equipped with a Roger Tuthill Star Trap tracking drive which works beautifully.  Just adding this serial to your registry.  I am excited by this forum and the amazing amount of knowledge of everyone here.  Glad I am here.   

[ScoobyNarita]

What an invaluable resource!

 

...is there anyway to know where the C8s were made?

Your C8 was likely manufactured at Celestron's factory located at 2835 Columbia Street in Torrance, California.

[serrurier]

Thanks, Scoob!

 

 

I've been by that factory.  Would love to go in!

[John Higbee]

Took my 1976 C8 up to display at NEAF2018...tricked it out with:

 

• an original C8 Orange dewshield (also dating from the '70s)
• a Celestron drive corrector with handbox
• a '70s Orange C90 with a 45 degree diagonal and a .965" Celestron eyepiece, mounted on
• a Celestron piggyback mount

 

I also have a Celestron 4-position turret eyepiece, with Celestron and Edmund eyepieces, but I have to lap my OTA fitting slightly to get the turret collar securely screwed on (the well-known "tolerance problem")...haven't done that yet.

 

 

It was a center of attention (and discussion) throughout the weekend:

 

 

John

[deepwoods1]

Took my 1976 C8 up to display at NEAF2018...tricked it out with:

 

• an original C8 Orange dewshield (also dating from the '70s)
• a Celestron drive corrector with handbox
• a '70s Orange C90 with a 45 degree diagonal and a .965" Celestron eyepiece, mounted on
• a Celestron piggyback mount

 

I also have a Celestron 4-position turret eyepiece, with Celestron and Edmund eyepieces, but I have to lap my OTA fitting slightly to get the turret collar securely screwed on (the well-known "tolerance problem")...haven't done that yet.

 

celestron c8 at NEAF 2018.jpg

 

It was a center of attention (and discussion) throughout the weekend:

 

C8 center of NEAF attention.jpg

 

John

Having actually seen it, it is a beautiful scope. The dew shield is immaculate. But wait, isn’t that a rare Criterion Dynamax DX6 lurking in the background? Clear and steady skies........

Edited by deepwoods1, 06 May 2018 - 07:56 AM.

[CHASLX200]

Took my 1976 C8 up to display at NEAF2018...tricked it out with:

 

• an original C8 Orange dewshield (also dating from the '70s)
• a Celestron drive corrector with handbox
• a '70s Orange C90 with a 45 degree diagonal and a .965" Celestron eyepiece, mounted on
• a Celestron piggyback mount

 

I also have a Celestron 4-position turret eyepiece, with Celestron and Edmund eyepieces, but I have to lap my OTA fitting slightly to get the turret collar securely screwed on (the well-known "tolerance problem")...haven't done that yet.

 

celestron c8 at NEAF 2018.jpg

 

It was a center of attention (and discussion) throughout the weekend:

 

C8 center of NEAF attention.jpg

 

John

Seems a 76 would have holes in the forks.  I know they made the change in 1977 to no holes so maybe that is a late late late 1976 nate.

[Don W]

Can we please stick to the subject. This is the C8 Registry thread, not a general discussion thread. If you want to talk general C8 stuff, start a new thread, please.

[ndfrshair]

I have recently acquired a C8 here myself. The serial number is 815624. 

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[Masvingo]

Thanks to Don W, serrurier, apollo100 and ndfrshair for some new C8 serials and details.

 

I've updated the C8 Registry to Edition 14A - the new entries are, as usual, highlighted in blue.

 

That's a lovely display of orange at the NEAF stand, John, gorgeous.  With regard to the change from the sandcast mounts (holes in the forks) to the diecast mounts (no holes) based on the serial numbers on the Registry this occurred in 1976 sometime around the end of the 1st quarter (last sandcast serial on the registry is 1 5282 6) and the beginning of the 2nd quarter (first known diecast serial is John's # 256666 - I don't know for sure whether serial 254696 has a diecast mount).

 

Thanks again for all your details.

Edited by Masvingo, 20 May 2018 - 07:45 AM.

[Augustus]

I just got my scope today. Corrector has an S/N of 6247 inscribed on it, secondary has a S/N of 811625 on the holder. Any idea how old it is?

[Masvingo]

Thanks for your serial and optics numbers, Augustus. I've updated the C8 Registry.

 

As to age, I would guess the last half of 1980 or possibly very early 1981.

[Terra Nova]

*Mine listed as #814110 was traded to (prior) CN member Wil Thornton four or five years ago. (It was a Tuthill scope.)

 

** My current (and permanent) fork mounted OT C8 is #282507 and was acquired early this spring.

[smsmkiwi]

I have a glossy black C8 with a smooth back (not ribbed). SN: 897309. Starbright coating sticker. Bought several years ago on Ebay so actual model unknown. Anyway, another addition to the registry.

[Masvingo]

Thanks for the new additions, Terra and smsmkiwi.  I've added them to the C8 Registry and have bumped it to version 14C.

 

As mentioned in the C90 Registry thread, as people sometimes submit details of 'scopes belonging to friends or their club, and also because some will get sold as the years go by, I've amended the Registry to show the source of the details recorded rather than the owner, although in the majority of the cases the two are probably be the same.

[vvalmiki]

Here is the one I purchased last week.

 

The seller was the original owner.

 

Regards, Vinay

[Masvingo]

Congratulations on your new 'scope, Vinay, I've entered it into the C8 Registry.   One quick question, does it have an orange or black tube?

[vvalmiki]

Congratulations on your new 'scope, Vinay, I've entered it into the C8 Registry.   One quick question, does it have an orange or black tube?

It is orange tube/

 

Regards, Vinay

[kksmith]

Relatively new here. So far all my questions have been answered just by a search of threads. Glossy black C8 with Starbright marking. Mounted on a Wedge Pod. Serial# 927431. When I take the corrector plate off for cleaning, I will check the plate number.

 

Ken

[Masvingo]

Thanks for your details, Ken, and welcome to the Classics forum and Cloudy Nights.   Thanks also, Vinay, for the additional information.

 

I've updated the C8 Registry.

[olguy]

Well guess this is my first contribution.  I bought my C8 optical tube assembly from a gentleman in Candor NY in August of 77.  It carries the serial number of 365426. Used it all these years on a series of homemade GEMs.  Just lately picked up a C8 fork mt with serial # of 393917 to go with it.

[Sojourner1x1x1]

I posted this in another thread, but please add mine as well.  I picked up this super clean C8 on FB Marketplace, serial #131955.

 

[NMBob]

I guess I'd better throw mine in here. It's #802858. It was bought at Wilson Camera, Phoenix, AZ in Oct 1979 for $1050. The special coatings were $65. The mirror QC date is 1979-08-08 and has 6776 written on the back. 6776 is also engraved in the edge of the corrector glass. On the left is 1979, and the right is 2017 when I bought it back from the guy I sold it to in 1995. Still in perfect shape.

 

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