1675 replies to this topic

[North of Detroit]

I recently won a estate auction for my first ever telescope.  SN 151816   At  60 seconds to the end of bidding somebody else  decided my $71 bid ( Canadian= $55 US)  wasn't going to be enough . My MAX bid was $261 Canadian ( $190 US) which was good enough to get it

 

  This was a online auction where you do not get to view it before hand...... I think I did alright since the unit include a newer Meade 2 inch enhanced diagonal .... and a  red dot finder  the bill for these was included in the box showing the last owner had spent $254 Canadian on them in 2015 

 

Enjoying this site for all the great info about this classic  and learning more each day I read another thread

 

Here is the link to the auction results  for some pictures  that I used to make my bidding decisions on...... oh the missing parts?

bolts to mount scope to wedge  no power cord ( part needed has arrived to make one 2 prong)

 

https://maxsold.maxs...case-a-1376177/

 

Paul

[CCD-Freak]

That looks like an early "sand cast" model so you did well.  The broken finder mount should not be too hard to find.

 

 

John

CCD-Freak

WD5IKX 

[Kasmos]

I recently won a estate auction for my first ever telescope.  SN 151816   At  60 seconds to the end of bidding somebody else  decided my $71 bid ( Canadian= $55 US)  wasn't going to be enough . My MAX bid was $261 Canadian ( $190 US) which was good enough to get it

 

  This was a online auction where you do not get to view it before hand...... I think I did alright since the unit include a newer Meade 2 inch enhanced diagonal .... and a  red dot finder  the bill for these was included in the box showing the last owner had spent $254 Canadian on them in 2015 

 

Enjoying this site for all the great info about this classic  and learning more each day I read another thread

 

Here is the link to the auction results  for some pictures  that I used to make my bidding decisions on...... oh the missing parts?

bolts to mount scope to wedge  no power cord ( part needed has arrived to make one 2 prong)

 

https://maxsold.maxs...case-a-1376177/

 

Paul

You got a good deal.

It's a sand cast model The serial # indicates it was made the 1st quarter of 1976. I can tell by the construction that the wedge is the diecast type, but the tripod is the sand cast type.

[theApex]

I recently won a estate auction for my first ever telescope.  SN 151816   At  60 seconds to the end of bidding somebody else  decided my $71 bid ( Canadian= $55 US)  wasn't going to be enough . My MAX bid was $261 Canadian ( $190 US) which was good enough to get it

 

  This was a online auction where you do not get to view it before hand...... I think I did alright since the unit include a newer Meade 2 inch enhanced diagonal .... and a  red dot finder  the bill for these was included in the box showing the last owner had spent $254 Canadian on them in 2015 

 

Enjoying this site for all the great info about this classic  and learning more each day I read another thread

 

Here is the link to the auction results  for some pictures  that I used to make my bidding decisions on...... oh the missing parts?

bolts to mount scope to wedge  no power cord ( part needed has arrived to make one 2 prong)

 

https://maxsold.maxs...case-a-1376177/

 

Paul

Funny how they labeled the lot a 'Meade Celestron Telescope' based on the fact the diagonal's is the most easily identifiable brand in it for the, erm, 'non-connoisseur'.

Edited by theApex, 26 April 2019 - 08:00 PM.

[cbwerner]

I just acquired a new to me C8, an Orange tube with the Byers worm gear drive, Serial #818398. I understand it dates to 1981. Thanks.

[Defenderslideguitar]

I recently acquired a 1973 sandcast C-8 from a member here. It does not have the original tripod  but rather a later model tripod of the same design. The telescope itself appears to have all the original parts with it like the finder   it also came with a 90 degree orange finder. It does seem to go out of collimation easily. One wonders if there is a reason and a fix for this? Someone mentioned that old grease can harden and fall out.   I am not sure. I do know that I will collimate it and get used to using it before I do  anything..... 

[Kasmos]

I just acquired a new to me C8, an Orange tube with the Byers worm gear drive, Serial #818398. I understand it dates to 1981. Thanks.

A 81 at the beginning of a serial number does not indicate the year.

A new sequence of serial numbers beginning with an 8 started early in 1979 where the 8 stands for the size.

 

Based on the others in the registry with dates, scopes ranging from 817151 to 819000 are likely from 1983.

 

Here's the link to the list:

http://www.summers1....erialnumber.jpg

Edited by Kasmos, 29 April 2019 - 09:16 PM.

[cbwerner]

A 81 at the beginning of a serial number does not indicate the year.

A new sequence of serial numbers beginning with an 8 started early in 1979 where the 8 stands for the size.

 

Based on the others in the registry with dates, scopes ranging from 817151 to 819000 are likely from 1983.

 

Here's the link to the list:

http://www.summers1....erialnumber.jpg

Thanks for the info.

 

I wasn't actually working off of the serial number for the date. I purchased the scope from a fellow CN member who used to be a dealer and stashed some scopes that he felt were good specimens. The 1981 reference was based on his recollection, but you know how the memory goes . . .

 

Thanks again for the link!

[Steve_M_M]

817220-Orange tube purchased from original owner.  Included wedge and tube tripod with the insecure clips locks

805667-Orange tube purchased from 2nd owner.  Wedge and original Locked triangle tripod

[Kasmos]

Thanks for the info.

 

I wasn't actually working off of the serial number for the date. I purchased the scope from a fellow CN member who used to be a dealer and stashed some scopes that he felt were good specimens. The 1981 reference was based on his recollection, but you know how the memory goes . . .

 

Thanks again for the link!

Yup, between bad recollections, new ones sitting long in showrooms, or having several owners, some scopes in the registry are surely dated wrong.

But it does sort of give us a general consensus to date them.

 

In my case my C8's date is firm. I bought mine from my brother whos neighbor worked at Celestron and picked it off the assembly line. It took three days of production before he picked one with a high (in house), grade. No lag time since it was brought home the evening of the day it was made.

[cbwerner]

Yup, between bad recollections, new ones sitting long in showrooms, or having several owners, some scopes in the registry are surely dated wrong.

But it does sort of give us a general consensus to date them.

 

In my case my C8's date is firm. I bought mine from my brother whos neighbor worked at Celestron and picked it off the assembly line. It took three days of production before he picked one with a high (in house), grade. No lag time since it was brought home the evening of the day it was made.

Sweet!!!

[wrvond]

My C8 is not a classic, but this thread is the only real source of information I can find, and the serial number does fall into the ones already listed on the spreadsheet.

It is a black tube with starbright coatings on a CG-5 GoTo mount. I've opened the covers on the mount and inspected the motors for possible date labels, but they are plain with no numbers anywhere that I can see.

General information would indicate it was made in 2005 or later. I'd like to get a more specific date if I can. Is there a way to glean this information without major surgery (right now removing the corrector counts as major surgery to me).

The serial number is: 949841  I purchased it April 27th and suspect I am at least the third owner, though it is in pristine condition.

 

Thanks!

Edited by wrvond, 01 May 2019 - 09:43 AM.

[CeeKay]

I wanted to add my C8 to the registry.  Here's the background on it:

 

I bought it at Scope City in 1989 when I was stationed in San Diego on instructor duty - **** off the girlfriend that I was living with (she thought I was "wasting my money".).  Came with the diagonal, two Parks eyepieces (10mm GS-5 and 35mm GS-5) and a 26mm Celestron Plossel.  Was originally an SPC-8, but my ex-wife's daughters damaged the wooden legs on the mount and I replaced them back in 2008 with the AS-GT mount (Ex-wife was **** about sending the money on the new mount, but happy to spend the same amount of Coach purses, shoes, etc.).  Have had a string of bad luck with women understanding my hobbies... current girlfriend is OK with it and her kids think its "neat".

 

Has been with me at most of my assignments while in the Navy - got to see SL-9 impact on Jupiter while living in Japan, see comets while stationed in 29 Palms and see other sights while in other locations in the US.  Been retired since 2008 and calling the PNW home since then (except when I worked for 2 1/2 years in Saudi Arabia - got to see a total eclipse there!).

 

The number on the cap is 858784.

[Steve_M_M]

817220-Orange tube purchased from original owner.  Included wedge and tube tripod with the insecure clips locks

805667-Orange tube purchased from 2nd owner.  Wedge and original Locked triangle tripod

805056-Orange tube purchased from original owner who bought it at Dixie telescopes in 1981. 

 

I have never owned an orange C8 in my life until now.  I am really getting attached to these scopes.  Ill be posting a new thread discussing all the unique accessories found on these scopes.  Here's a teaser...you don't see too many of these

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Edited by Steve_M_M, 03 June 2019 - 08:32 PM.

[Augustus]

I have #903670, a Celestar with Starbright coatings.

[pleavy]

Here is my OTA, it is marked special coatings, has the Byers drive. Serial #835794

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[Stevegeo]

I would like to add mine to the list. #827625.

Pried the orange cover off the secondary...  It's a black tube, on it's original GEM mount, tripod.

[Masvingo]

Many thanks to Bill (billmalona), c8snks, Psyches, Joe Cepleur, Paul (North of Detroit), Chris (cbwerner), Steve M M, wrvond, CeeKay, Augustus, pleavy and Stevegeo for their additions to the C8 Registry which is now at edition 17. My apologies for taking so long to update the list.

 

wrvond - unfortunately, as far as I'm aware, other than an original sales invoice (although even in this case one still has to allow for how long the scope might have sat in the dealer's stock) there is no definite way to date C8s made from 1979 onwards when the serial number format changed to the 8xxxxx series (which eventually became the 9xxxxx series).  Whilst the corrector plates have a number etched into them I'm not aware of any way that this number can be used to provide a date of manufacture.

 

Steve M M - thanks for the picture of the declination motor drive - as you say, not a common sight.

 

Paul (North of Detroit) - you got a good buy and a great first scope!

 

Psyches - possibly Celestron did some other special runs of white C8s either for S&S Optika or other dealers?

 

As ever, all contributions, clarifications and corrections gratefully received and remember – plenty of pictures too as it's interesting to see the small detail differences over the years or the accessories fitted.

[Kasmos]

My C8 serial# 800783 is at least one good bench mark for dating the 8xxxxx series. There was no dealer lag time since it was literally picked off the assembly by an employee in March of 1979. I can't give the exact day with 100% confidence, but I bought my C90 from my brother when he took delivery of the C8 and I wrote down that date as March 18, 1979. I believe it was the very same evening, but since it's been 40 years it's hard to be completely be sure. 

[akvik]

Hi,

 

I recently bought a used Celestron C8 with the Vixen Super Polaris mount - the serial number is 880532:

 

The receipt is from March 1993, it was sold in Sweden. The manual is copyright 1992.

 

It hasn't been used much, there are no visible signs of wear and tear. I doubt the GEM has ever been properly aligned, since the previous owner would have had to adjust the side plate above the altitude tension knob, as we are at way higher altitudes here in Sweden than the default configuration.

 

I also got the MD-6 Quartz Driver and the Advances Astro Master – none of these has ever been in use it seems, everything is packed and "from the store":

 

I'm no expert but the telescope seems to be sharp–and even collimated I think–so I have a good feeling about it

Edited by akvik, 30 June 2019 - 01:59 PM.

[Tom Stock]

Well, I sold my C8 and of course I had immediate seller's remorse.

 

So I found another one #811853, around the same time but slightly earlier than my last #812XXX.

 

I haven't received it yet.  I purchased only the OTA not everything pictured.

 

Sadly, I forgot about the special coatings tag before the purchase.

 

The one I sold had "special coatings", and this one does not.

 

Would I even notice a difference?

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Edited by Tom Stock, 09 July 2019 - 11:29 AM.

[theApex]

Would I even notice a difference?

I hope this helps shedding some light on that question, somehow:

 

https://www.cloudyni...ings/?p=8241077

Edited by theApex, 11 July 2019 - 09:32 PM.

[Augustus]

I have #815511, orange tube with special coatings. Bought from Jerry Sifferman on Astromart. Looks unused.

Edited by Augustus, 12 July 2019 - 09:00 AM.

[Steve_M_M]

My C8 serial# 800783 is at least one good bench mark for dating the 8xxxxx series. There was no dealer lag time since it was literally picked off the assembly by an employee in March of 1979. I can't give the exact day with 100% confidence, but I bought my C90 from my brother when he took delivery of the C8 and I wrote down that date as March 18, 1979. I believe it was the very same evening, but since it's been 40 years it's hard to be completely be sure. 

Good point of reference.  Do we know how many Celestron made each year?  I have 805056 which I know was purchased from a small store in 1981, but I think was manufactured in 1980.

Edited by Steve_M_M, 12 July 2019 - 09:23 AM.

[Tom Stock]

I hope this helps shedding some light on that question, somehow:

 

https://www.cloudyni...ings/?p=8241077

I can't really tell the difference now that I've had a look thru it. Each surface reduces transmission (including the eyepiece with 4 or 5 elements) that the amount saved via special coatings is almost nothing compared to the overall losses.