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Celestron C8 Registry

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#1001 pierce

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Posted 13 June 2021 - 11:45 AM

my late 80s Celestar 8 came with hex head bolts.


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#1002 RSX11M+

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Posted 13 June 2021 - 05:46 PM

I believe you are mistaken about the hardware. Celestron changed from using stainless Allen head hardware everywhere on them to stainless Hexhead Bolts and Phillips head screws when thet went from sandcast to diecast models.

 

This is the first I've heard of this. Is this everyone's experience? [asking for other's comments]
 
I have 3 sand-cast models and a NexStar 6/8SE mount, so I can't personally testify to the Die-cast's hardware.
 
Thanks for the heads-up - I'll be on the lookout for evidence and specifics. It's a reasonable change given the other economizing we know Celestron did in the 80s with secondary holders and newer bases. I've been trying to narrow down a date for the secondary-holder changeover from the 4-screw type and later to FaStar.
 
Good catch!

Sorry about "Thanks for the heads-up"... I really didn't intend it as a pun about hex-head vs allen-head. Ugh


my late 80s Celestar 8 came with hex head bolts.


Thanks for that added feedback.

#1003 B 26354

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Posted 13 June 2021 - 06:03 PM

I believe you are mistaken about the hardware. Celestron changed from using stainless Allen head hardware everywhere on them to stainless Hexhead Bolts and Phillips head screws when thet went from sandcast to diecast models.

I'll have to dispute that.

 

 

This is the first I've heard of this. Is this everyone's experience? [asking for other's comments]

 

I have 3 sand-cast models and a NexStar 6/8SE mount, so I can't personally testify to the Die-cast's hardware.

 

Thanks for the heads-up - I'll be on the lookout for evidence and specifics. It's a reasonable change given the other economizing we know Celestron did in the 80s with secondary holders and newer bases. I've been trying to narrow down a date for the secondary-holder changeover from the 4-screw type and later to FaStar.

 

Good catch!

My (die-cast fork) C8 was manufactured 2nd-quarter of 1977 (SN 288277 - already registered here). I bought it new in the summer of '77, and it definitely had SS Allen-Head hardware, because I immediately bought a series of Allen-Head wrenches for it, which were similar to these (but without the cushioning on the handles), because they were so much easier to use than the standard L-shaped hex-keys:

 

https://www.amazon.c.../dp/B0000CBJDV/

 

grin.gif


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#1004 RSX11M+

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Posted 14 June 2021 - 12:30 AM

I'll have to dispute that.
 
 
My (die-cast fork) C8 was manufactured 2nd-quarter of 1977 (SN 288277 - already registered here). I bought it new in the summer of '77, and it definitely had SS Allen-Head hardware, because I immediately bought a series of Allen-Head wrenches for it, which were similar to these (but without the cushioning on the handles), because they were so much easier to use than the standard L-shaped hex-keys:
 
https://www.amazon.c.../dp/B0000CBJDV/
 
grin.gif


Thanks for that testimony. It seems there is a story here that will have to be pieced together.

I did a quick scan of all the C8 photos submitted with C8 registry posts as a first step to checking out the "allen vs hex" issue. Of the posts with views of the bolts, there were a minority with hex bolts evident, under 10. Some (1 for sure) were on sand cast scopes but others were on die-cast, which included some super C8s. There still seemed to be many more allen-heads across that time-spectrum, though few images were of sufficient detail to show the double-knurling feature.

 

I was a little surprised however, to see a detail I'd failed to notice before - that many owners (perhaps a majority) had swapped out their base's mounting bolts for plastic-knobbed bolts like Spatch pointed out.

 

Now a survey of how these are after 40+ years is not really evidence, but personal testimony has to be taken seriously and the subject investigated and understood.

It may be an inconsequential detail to some, but these facts taken along with Celestron's corporate struggles for existence over the same period paint a picture broader than just hardware, and tie into the instruments themselves. Stories of production lay-offs, the near disastrous loss of ability to make new corrector masters, changes in management, changes of ownership, and then rescues performed by the original founder gather to make significance of these little details.

Our purpose is to try to make sense of it by gathering this registry and use it's information to see into that history.

Thank you all for participating.


I know this is not a Meade registry, but I want to record that I own several Meade scopes in this size range. All use stainless allen-head cap screws of similar thread, but none are double knurled. Most bolts are slightly longer than their Celestron counterparts, a difference I sometimes exploit for added safety. My Meade's production dates are nearly two decades later than my Celestron's.


Edited by RSX11M+, 14 June 2021 - 12:32 AM.

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#1005 RSX11M+

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Posted 14 June 2021 - 01:09 AM

...

those synchronous clock motors were ubiquitous in the 1970s, I used them for various strange non-astronomy projects a few times.    they don't have any components inside that would age out, only the gearing and bearings might wear out from a LOT of use.   so I would assume the motor date can only set a LOWER limit for the age of a device that includes it.

Sorry, I should have responded to this earlier.

 

Yes, motor dates do establish a lower bound for estimating production date. However, we have noticed in the registry that many periods of production are typified with serial numbers (remember serial numbers are date coded in some epochs) and motor dates which are only a few months apart. (customarily under a year)

 

There are exceptions, of course. The Comet Halley epoch, and others when a model change was in progress or a corporate shakeup.

 

But in general, we use motor dates to inform us and it often turns out helpful, but not always.

 

And yes, these are handy little clock drives used for many purposes over the years, but 1 RPH units with that drive gear are a bit less common industrially. I only have one scope that's worn one out, fortunately the remaining motor could be coaxed along.

 

Incidentally: The point of wear is the motor shaft's linear restraint bearing. Because the motors are hung in an inverted orientation beneath the base, the shaft eventually wears the bearing until the flywheel contacts the housing and begins a clicking sound. While in this condition the units run silently when removed and placed in the opposite orientation, say on a work bench. I have extended the life of some by adding an additional bearing surface for the shaft tip to rub against inside the cover. I've not (yet) attempted to disassemble one to replace the original bearing or see other wear points.



#1006 pierce

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Posted 14 June 2021 - 01:17 AM

the 1980s Meades I've seen mostly had 3-wing knobs.   got two of them here right now, a LX3 and a LX90, both 8"....   wait, the LX90 is alt-az, and just uses the center bolt which is the giant knob under the tripod stabilizer plate.   hmm, so sample of 1 probably got new knobs from the HW store, I know I would have...



#1007 pierce

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Posted 14 June 2021 - 01:18 AM

oh, did I read that one of the justifications for using two synchronous drive motors was to average out 1/2 the slop and periodic error?


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#1008 Kasmos

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Posted 14 June 2021 - 03:49 AM

My brother bought both my 1978 C90 Astro and 1979 C8 new. I bought the C90 from him when it was 3 months old and then the C8 in 1980. They both have the original stainless hex head bolts to attach the scopes to the wedge and the wedge to the tripod head. I even still have the plastic bags the bolts they came in. My early 80s C5 also has them to attach to the tripod but a previous owner bought some plastic knobs for the base to wedge connection. My 1974 sand cast C5 uses Allen heads everywhere. I can understand how the transitional Celestron Pacific diecast models (between the sand cast and later diecast models), would still have the allen head bolts since they have other features similar to the sand cast models like the secondary and smooth tube paint, but sometime later (around 1978) when they became Celestron International I'd be surprised if any still came with Allen Head hardware. 

 

03-C5s-Upright.jpg

It might be hard to see in this photo but the early 80s diecast C5 uses Phillips Head screws on the rear cell

whereas the 1974 sand cast model uses button head allens. They both differ in hardware at the center of the setting circles.

Note that the 80s model also uses hex heads to attach the fork arms.

You can't see them here but it also uses countersunk Phillips Head screws on the front cell.

 

C8-Special-C.jpg

Phillips head screw on front cell of the 1979 C8 

 

C5-Weges-SBS.jpg

Sand cast small base C5 wedge on left uses Allen heads and the diecast C5-C8 wedge uses Hex head bolts.

From what I've seen some of the early diecast C8s (what I call transition models), still came with a sand cast wedge. 


Edited by Kasmos, 14 June 2021 - 04:05 AM.

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#1009 Gary Esterly

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Posted 14 June 2021 - 11:16 AM

Last weekend, I purchased an orange C8 off Craigslist. I am pretty excited as this is a scope I drooled over as a teenager. I'm pretty sure the librarians were mad at me because all the pages in their Sky and Telescope magazines were stuck together after that. Anyway it is in good condition and came with a lot extras, eyepieces, Telrad, solar filter and what not. I have read over some of the material here and am having a hard time pinning down the year and manufacture of my scope. The serial number is a total of 5 digits, 4 in line- "1480" or "1430" then a space, then "8". The stamping is a little light on the first 4, so it could be an 8 or a 3, although I'm leaning towards an 8. Anybody have a guess here? Any help is appreciated.


Edited by Gary Esterly, 14 June 2021 - 11:26 AM.


#1010 clamchip

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Posted 14 June 2021 - 11:32 AM

Last weekend, I purchased an orange C8 off Craigslist. I am pretty excited as this is a scope I drooled over as a teenager. I'm pretty sure the librarians were mad at me because all the pages in their Sky and Telescope magazines were stuck together after that. Anyway it is in good condition and came with a lot extras, eyepieces, Telrad, solar filter and what not. I have read over some of the material here and am having a hard time pinning down the year and manufacture of my scope. The serial number is a total of 5 digits, 4 in line- "1480" or "1430" then a space, then "8". The stamping is a little light on the first 4, so it could be an 8 or a 3, although I'm leaning towards an 8. Anybody have a guess here? Any help is appreciated.

If I'm not mistaken that would be:

1 is first quarter production

430 is the telescope number of that production run

8 is 1978

 

Robert


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#1011 CCD-Freak

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Posted 14 June 2021 - 11:40 AM

Based on what I know....I would think it is a 1978 "vintage".  Around then the first digit was the Qtr and the last digit was the Year and the numbers in the middle were the production number.   Mine is 14449 and it was made right as Celestron was changing how they did serial numbers.  Check the dates on the motors which is typically a good clue to the age.


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#1012 Gary Esterly

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Posted 14 June 2021 - 11:46 AM

Thanks guys, I REALLY appreciate the help!!



#1013 ChristopherLP

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Posted 14 June 2021 - 03:02 PM

Does anyone know the fov of the 6x30 finder scope on a 70's C8?  Having trouble finding this info.  If it was clear, I could look and figure it out with the Pocket Sky Atlas, but it's been raining here for a week.  Would like to know so I can start to plan out the next session. 

Thank you,  Chris



#1014 pierce

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Posted 14 June 2021 - 10:02 PM

Does anyone know the fov of the 6x30 finder scope on a 70's C8?  Having trouble finding this info.  If it was clear, I could look and figure it out with the Pocket Sky Atlas, but it's been raining here for a week.  Would like to know so I can start to plan out the next session. 

Thank you,  Chris

 

I can't imagine its even 50 degrees apparent, so at 6X, 50 degrees apparent would be 8.3 degrees actual.   if its closer to 40 degrees, then 6.6 degrees actual.

 

first thing I'd do with one of those is get part #RDPS from here, http://www.scopestuff.com/ss_rdpb.htm and put the antique 6x30 on a shelf somewhere as a collectors item.   then get a generic orion/synta/celestron 9x50 erect right angle finder and pop it on that shoe.


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#1015 ChristopherLP

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Posted 15 June 2021 - 10:01 AM

I can't imagine its even 50 degrees apparent, so at 6X, 50 degrees apparent would be 8.3 degrees actual.   if its closer to 40 degrees, then 6.6 degrees actual.

 

first thing I'd do with one of those is get part #RDPS from here, http://www.scopestuff.com/ss_rdpb.htm and put the antique 6x30 on a shelf somewhere as a collectors item.   then get a generic orion/synta/celestron 9x50 erect right angle finder and pop it on that shoe.

Hi Pierce,

Thank you for the reply.  I guess that is probably the best idea.  I'm sure it will allow me to be more productive in locating my target. 
I'll have a chance to figure it out tomorrow night.  I'll use the Sky Atlas and the AFOV legend there. 
I'm assuming any of those finders will fit in the shoe?  Thanks again.

Chris



#1016 Don W

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Posted 15 June 2021 - 12:57 PM

Can we please get back to C8 Registry? This was never meant to be a discussion thread.

 

Thank you.


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#1017 dlicheri

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Posted 22 June 2021 - 05:43 AM

I have a Glossy Black C8 with  StarBright optics which has been well looked after and shows serial number tag on OTA of :

 

919698

 

I also have the original handbook and it is equiped with a RA motor and what looks like a bespoke hand panel. I am converting the finder scope (9 x 50mm) to a guiding / tracker scope to work with php2 so has to give astrophotography a try.

 

It is working perfectly and for me it is an excellent telescope ...



#1018 RSX11M+

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Posted 22 June 2021 - 06:36 AM

I have a Glossy Black C8 with  StarBright optics which has been well looked after and shows serial number tag on OTA of :

 

919698

 

I also have the original handbook and it is equiped with a RA motor and what looks like a bespoke hand panel. I am converting the finder scope (9 x 50mm) to a guiding / tracker scope to work with php2 so has to give astrophotography a try.

 

It is working perfectly and for me it is an excellent telescope ...

A handbook publishing date can be helpful, but from other reports of ownership in this serial number range we would guess your scope to have been made in the year 2000.

 

This should be a good candidate for a first dip in the astrophotography pool. 

 

Good luck, and thanks for registering.



#1019 Augustus

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Posted 11 July 2021 - 04:01 PM

I have #818096, Orange Tube from 1984


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#1020 drstratton

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Posted 12 July 2021 - 02:23 PM

Hi, my name's Rene'! We were just gifted a Super C8 Plus, from my husbands Aunt.  His uncle bought it new in March of 1986, it's in almost pristine condition, there are a few minor scratches here and there. We have all of the original documentation and equipment that came with it.  I just ran across this Certification, it says the Optical Serial Number is 495.  Is this the number you need for this registry, if not where can I find it?  I'm completely new to all of this. Thank you!

 

Certification

Celestron Optical Serial Number.jpg

 

Scope!

C8 Plus Front View.jpg

 

C8 Plus Back View.jpg

 

Link to the thread that I started.

 

https://www.cloudyni.../#entry11217851


Edited by drstratton, 12 July 2021 - 02:23 PM.

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#1021 drstratton

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Posted 12 July 2021 - 05:25 PM

I found the SN...thank you @pierce    833745



#1022 barman01

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Posted 12 July 2021 - 06:16 PM

I have an orange tube Celestron 8  #813403


Edited by barman01, 12 July 2021 - 06:17 PM.


#1023 MikeMS

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Posted 25 July 2021 - 03:18 PM

Hello. I am about to get a orange tube c8 from between 79 and 82. I will send photos when it arrives in mid august.
I did have an orange tube only, went to palm desert to collect it back in 2012 I think and have just moved it on.
Photos to follow.
Mike, Lincolnshire, UK

#1024 Gary Esterly

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Posted 25 July 2021 - 03:50 PM

Greetings from across the pond! Please do share photos of your new purchase! Where abouts are you located in the UK?

#1025 Special Ed

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Posted 25 July 2021 - 05:32 PM

Hi,

 

I am helping the people at Watoga State Park in Pocahontas County, WV get certified as a Dark Sky Preserve by the IDA.  As part of their obligation they must have educational/outreach activities at the park.  Someone donated an old C8 to them and I am refurbishing it.

 

The scope has been in a shed for most of the last 10 years.  It has fungus on the inside of the corrector plate and also on the primary which I will be cleaning off.  The donor said he got good views with the scope but he got it secondhand and doesn't know anything about its former life.  It runs off of a 9V battery and has a port for a hand controller (which is MIA), a receptacle labeled Dec, and a receptacle labeled 12VDC.

 

I'd like to register the scope here and also see if you can give me any info or background on the scope.  Thanks.

 

Here are a couple of pics:

 

IMG_1523.JPG

 

IMG_1522.JPG


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