1421 replies to this topic

[Sixptelk]

Hello,

 

A friend who built this scope for me said that it was mfgd in 1983.

 

I'd like you to add this to the registry. He said it's never been registered before #816569. I bought it from him on 1/1/22.

 

The registry name should reflect Bob Curtiss

 

Thanks!

[burdens]

Here is my serial for a Celestar (Basic) - Black with Starbright coatings. 

Only acquired very recently.

Assume 1994 (ish) based on current list.

 

Serial - 904288

 

 

 

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[nexplcbl]

#899814, clean fork mount Ultima 2000, C8, grey tube w/ fastar adapter, weight bar, red dot finder, telrad base, hand controller (not Y2000 compliant?), tripod & wedge, carrying case.

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[rivonia]

#819158

 

I bought my used orange tube C8 from an estate in South Africa.

 

It came with 

 

 

 

https://www.cloudyni...-1534563511.jpg

 

 

Have no idea who the original owner was, but it was without tripod and wedge.   

 

It came in the green wooden case like this one: https://www.cloudyni...-1534563511.jpg

Edited by rivonia, 18 July 2022 - 07:31 AM.

[Astrophoche]

 

Add mine to the list!  From what I see in the spreadsheet, the serial 322744 says 3Q74?  

 

Motors... how do I find the number on these? How do I get the cover off to figure out why they aren't moving the scope anymore?

Edited by Astrophoche, 18 July 2022 - 04:19 PM.

[pierce]

 

 

 

Add mine to the list!  From what I see in the spreadsheet, the serial 322744 says 3Q74?  

 

Motors... how do I find the number on these? How do I get the cover off to figure out why they aren't moving the scope anymore?

 

 

the motor dates are stamped around the sides.   maybe use a dental mirror or similar....

[Brianineagan]

I have the fork from 233645.   From the thread I'm assuming it was Q2 '75

[Astrophoche]

the motor dates are stamped around the sides.   maybe use a dental mirror or similar....

Yep. That did the trick. Viewed upside down and backwards. Motor date is 6-74! Pretty much cinches the unit mfg in 3Q74. 

 

A bit of history. The scope was originally purchased and loved by Marie Huerta, the wife of a co-worker of mine. After her death from cancer, her husband offered it to me because of my keen interest in it. I can't remember the year I purchased it, but it was in the early 2000s. It was a great attractor at Boy Scout Campouts... for both the scouts and the rain storm curse it appeared to have. Any time I would offer to bring the scope, it was met with both anticipation and fear. It never once failed to bring rain.... Hmm, maybe I can rent it out?

[DreamWeaver]

Maybe you could bring it to Tucson for a month or two!  

[Channel_4]

911800 is currently in my possession. From my research looks like a Celestar (Grey Focus Knob+Smooth back), dated to 1999 with some other users posts.

[semlin]

s/n 4-67236 is now in my possession.  it may already be registered as i purchased it from a cn member.  it is a die cast orange body that appears to line up with a q4 1976 production date.

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[ChristopherLP]

1976 is a nice vintage.  Enjoy!

[zan]

Hey guys I just found one of these old orange Celestron's from a fellow on kijiji it came with a ton of stuff motor controllers OAG 3 old EP k-40/25/12 a old Barlow ,visual back and old reticule EP that plugs into an  orange Celestron box he said he bought it in 1979 the instruction booklet even came with it it said 1978. and looking on the list the serial number is #800622 which seems like a good year from reading this post .So far the optics from having it out only twice seem outstanding the mirror and corrector look mint this guy was a physics teacher at U of S some time ago .I can post pictures after I lay it out  /cheers

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Clear Skies /73

ZAN

VE5QAJ

Edited by zan, 10 August 2022 - 04:44 PM.

[Astrophoche]

Maybe you could bring it to Tucson for a month or two!  

Well, it hasn't done squat for Austin, so I wouldn't hold out hope. I did get the gearing cleaned up and it now tracks! Gotta get out of town to get some views, but if I do get to Tucson, I will look you up!

[NightStorm]

In June of 1983 I was given an orange tube C8 as an OTA that had been bought new that year.

FWIW the numbers on it are as you can see in the photos.  It came in a trunk with some basic accessories that were all stamped "Made in Japan".  The tube itself had no origin stamp.

 

Album: C8 OTA production numbers

2 images

0 comments

[Kasmos]

In June of 1983 I was given an orange tube C8 as an OTA that had been bought new that year.

FWIW the numbers on it are as you can see in the photos.  It came in a trunk with some basic accessories that were all stamped "Made in Japan".  The tube itself had no origin stamp.

 

The SCTs were all made in Torrance, CA USA in those days. Celestron still occupies the same location but it's more of a headquarters than the factory it once was. They may still assembled the C14s there.

[CCD-Freak]

Hey guys I just found one of these old orange Celestron's from a fellow on kijiji it came with a ton of stuff motor controllers OAG 3 old EP k-40/25/12 a old Barlow ,visual back and old reticule EP that plugs into an  orange Celestron box he said he bought it in 1979 the instruction booklet even came with it it said 1978. and looking on the list the serial number is #800622 which seems like a good year from reading this post .So far the optics from having it out only twice seem outstanding the mirror and corrector look mint this guy was a physics teacher at U of S some time ago .I can post pictures after I lay it out  /cheers

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Clear Skies /73

ZAN

VE5QAJ

Looks almost new.   Great find.

 

BTW....QRZ lists you as SK !?!?!?

[zan]

Hey john , Yes so far I am quite pleased with the purchase I did pay about 600 CND I think that's about 470 USD a fair price this being my first 8'' I wanted to play around imaging some planets and the moon .I was Planning on de-forking it and putting it on my AVX mount. The more I read it seems like I may be committing sacrilege. However I already ordered the ADM dovetail with radius blocks hoping this will work out.

 

BTW Yes I Am in SK Canada Ill be listening for ya WD5IKX.I have no station up ATM I just recently purchased 5 acres So I've been homesteading  this summer the station and observatory will go up hopefully sooner than later.

 

Clear Skies /73

ZAN

VE5QAJ

[semlin]

Hey john , Yes so far I am quite pleased with the purchase I did pay about 600 CND I think that's about 470 USD a fair price this being my first 8'' I wanted to play around imaging some planets and the moon .I was Planning on de-forking it and putting it on my AVX mount. The more I read it seems like I may be committing sacrilege. However I already ordered the ADM dovetail with radius blocks hoping this will work out.

 

BTW Yes I Am in SK Canada Ill be listening for ya WD5IKX.I have no station up ATM I just recently purchased 5 acres So I've been homesteading  this summer the station and observatory will go up hopefully sooner than later.

 

Clear Skies /73

ZAN

VE5QAJ

bc here.  you did well i think with all the accessories.  are those extra step motors?  it also looks like you got two ra drive controllers? an original celestron and an aftermarket.   

[zan]

bc here.  you did well i think with all the accessories.  are those extra step motors?  it also looks like you got two ra drive controllers? an original celestron and an aftermarket.   

Hello Semlin, I think the silver things are counter weights .They seem to screw onto the top and bottom at the front of the tube did you mean these.?

 

I think It only has one drive controller You know I may hook this up and test and see if it works. When I do maybe ill make a video and take some pictures of it running.

this is the controller.

 

 

the other one the little orange box seems to be an old reticle eyepiece I took it apart and put 9v battery in it works pretty decent .

[GUS.K]

Cleaned the inside of the corrector yesterday and was able to get the corrector number for my 1978 C8 serial number 3130 8.(here) Corrector code is 1925.

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[Kristian Bang Jensen]

RSX11M+, on 13 May 2022 - 03:23 AM, said:

Our best guess for your scope's manufacture would be 1985. Dating based upon motor numbers would be imprecise in this period anyway, because of so much pre-purchasing in the run-up to comet Halley.

You appear to have a "Worm Gear" type drive, many of which were in fact "Byers Drives". Some had a "window" to see the gears, others did not. The motor would be accessed by removing the top plate on the drive base. I see no point in you doing so just to obtain motor numbers. However, if you do for some maintenance or other reason, please take the opportunity to note them, and let us know.

This era of C8 has a very good reputation for the mechanical components and should last many years - especially if maintained. The power chord seems to have recently gone extinct, so beware of losing it.

Good luck with it, many here attest to it being a great scope. Congratulations, and thanks for registering.

I agree about the quality of the Byers drive. Even without a frequency generator deep sky photography at prime focus is possible.

Edited by Kristian Bang Jensen, 03 September 2022 - 06:59 PM.

[Mantooth2851]

Hello,

 

I am in possession of a black tube C8 with what looks to be the original SP GEM.  SN 828648.   I found the scope listed on FB last month by a fella in Lexington, Ky.  Scope came with a super Polaris GEM mount, steamer chest, finder scope, diagonal and a couple eyepieces.  All appear to from the same era as the scope.  The mount has very little wear and looks amazing.  

 

Guy I purchased it from believes he was the second owner.  He picked it up from a lady in Cincinnati a few years prior. 

 

Scope appears to be out of collimation and the focuser is a little drifty.  Other than that, it seems pristine in appearance.  The only other thing that concerns me is I believe it may be one of the infamous "Hally scopes."    

Edited by Mantooth2851, 04 September 2022 - 10:58 PM.

[Exnihilo]

Hello,

 

I am in possession of a black tube C8 with what looks to be the original SP GEM.  SN 828648.   I found the scope listed on FB last month by a fella in Lexington, Ky.  Scope came with a super Polaris GEM mount, steamer chest, finder scope, diagonal and a couple eyepieces.  All appear to from the same era as the scope.  The mount has very little wear and looks amazing.  

 

Guy I purchased it from believes he was the second owner.  He picked it up from a lady in Cincinnati a few years prior. 

 

Scope appears to be out of collimation and the focuser is a little drifty.  Other than that, it seems pristine in appearance.  The only other thing that concerns me is I believe it may be one of the infamous "Hally scopes."    

I have an SPC8 from about 1989; the optics are actually quite good; I initially was pretty unsure about it, but it ended up being really nice.  I'd definitely collimate it and see; you might end up being pretty happy with it.  Good luck with it!

[Namronny]

A couple of weeks ago I bought a Celestron C8 from early 1993 I think.  Came with a SP mount and the wooden tripod.  Serial number is 880544   I believe the focuser is not working.  Hopefully it is an easy fix

Edited by Namronny, 08 September 2022 - 06:58 AM.