1721 replies to this topic

[Bill Griffith]

Unfortunately, the stamping on your C-8 appears hurried at best!

From serialization on a diecast 1975 in the herd I'm the custodian of I believe your serialization is 8 inch Feb.no. 148th built.

Die cast or sand cast I'm pretty confident that was nomenclature after co-axial. C8s.

 

Bill

[GalaxyPiper]

I'm very much a beginner with astronomy and I just picked up a vintage C8 with what looks to me like serial no. 32148 with a motor date of, I believe, 10-77.  Looking forward to clear skies!

 

C8 serial.jpeg

That's the mount serial number. The scope and the mount did not share numbers. The OTA should have a number on the secondary correction plate center as seen in other photos.

 

The serial number you provided is important, so don't get me wrong, but the OTA number is the one everyone looks for. (Optical Tube Assembly).

[toolittletime]

That's the mount serial number. The scope and the mount did not share numbers. The OTA should have a number on the secondary correction plate center as seen in other photos.

 

The serial number you provided is important, so don't get me wrong, but the OTA number is the one everyone looks for. (Optical Tube Assembly).

This scope doesn't seem to have one there.  I asked the seller about a serial number on the OTA and he indicated that there was a serial number inside the tube but it was "hard to see" and I couldn't make out anything.  I'm a little hesitant to try and open it up to look for it!

[GalaxyPiper]

This scope doesn't seem to have one there.  I asked the seller about a serial number on the OTA and he indicated that there was a serial number inside the tube but it was "hard to see" and I couldn't make out anything.  I'm a little hesitant to try and open it up to look for it!

C8 front.jpg

Hmm...the only other way is to discombobulate it and look behind the main mirror for any notes there. But that would only show the date of the mirror.

 

Don't go taking it apart.

 

I don't know if there is any other spot to look. Glass looks nice though. You should get some good use from it. 

Edited by GalaxyPiper, 02 June 2025 - 08:02 AM.

[NinePlanets]

toolittletime:

 

Only the newer Celestrons with the plastic secondary holder have a serial number there.

 

On the older Celestrons with the metal secondary holder (like yours), the telescope's serial number is what is stamped on the nomenclature plate on the drive base. There is no serial number on the tube. There is an "optics set" number faintly scribed at the outer edge of the corrector plate that may or may not (usually not) match the serial number on the drive base. That scribed number is found at the 3 o'clock position when facing the corrector from the front.

[kansas skies]

The serial number 3214 8 likely indicates manufacture in the third quarter of 1978, which is supported by the motor date of 10-77. This serial number is very close to that of my C8 (which also has 10-77 motor dates), and that is pretty much what we surmised early in this investigation. As was mentioned, there is no serial number on the OTA, but only on the drive base.

 

Bill

[BrushPilot]

The serial number 3214 8 likely indicates manufacture in the third quarter of 1978, which is supported by the motor date of 10-77. This serial number is very close to that of my C8 (which also has 10-77 motor dates), and that is pretty much what we surmised early in this investigation. As was mentioned, there is no serial number on the OTA, but only on the drive base.

 

Bill

My C8 was ordered very early 1979 and delivered to me at the beginning of May. It has the plastic secondary and is #801119.

 

I wonder when the transition was made if third quarter 78 was still the older way of numbering?

[Kasmos]

toolittletime,

NinePlanets and Kansas skies are both correct.

 

To clarify a bit further, both the sand cast and early diecast models had the serial# on a Celestron Pacific badge on the base. When they changed to the plastic secondary which only says Celestron the serial# was moved to it.

 

The general consenses is that your serial number 32148 breaks down this way:

 

3 stands for the 3rd Quarter,  214 is the production#,  8 is the year it was made.

 

I have to admit it's puzzling how it could only be # 214 that late in the year.

[kansas skies]

I might mention that from what I can tell, this seems to follow the serial number format of the C5's from this period as well.

 

Bill

[NinePlanets]

Perhaps the 214 is the production# for the quarter instead of the year?

 

I have two C5's:

The 1978 one has a metal secondary holder, the Celestron Pacific plate on the drive base with the same numbering convention as toolittletime's C8. The decoder ring says it was manufactured 1st Q, 1978: SN 3816. ?  That's a lot of C5's!

 

The 1981 C5 has a plastic secondary holder, Celestron International on the dust cap, no nomenclature plate on the drive, and the newer serial numbering convention on the gold sticker on the secondary holder.

[Kasmos]

Perhaps the 214 is the production# for the quarter instead of the year?

 

I have two C5's:

The 1978 one has a metal secondary holder, the Celestron Pacific plate on the drive base with the same numbering convention as toolittletime's C8. The decoder ring says it was manufactured 1st Q, 1978: SN 3816. ?  That's a lot of C5's!

 

The 1981 C5 has a plastic secondary holder, Celestron International on the dust cap, no nomenclature plate on the drive, and the newer serial numbering convention on the gold sticker on the secondary holder.

I also have two C5's.

 

And yes it appears they used the same formula as the C8's

 

The 1974 Sand Cast model has SN 2 942 4 on the base.

The other (IIRC) is a 1982 diecast model with SN 502525 on the plastic secondary.

 

 

I have the letter from Celestron saying the '74 is ready for pick up plus the receipt from June of that year.

And somewhere in my files I have photos from a ebay listing which included a receipt for a '82 C5 with a SN very close to mine.

 

Both scopes are already in the C5 registry.

Edited by Kasmos, 02 June 2025 - 06:14 PM.

[Staredge]

I forgot to write the number down, but I think I had a three digit corrector plate number on an ‘82 C8. How did they number the plates? Could have been 4 digits.  Started with a 5 though. 

Edited by Staredge, 03 June 2025 - 05:13 PM.

[ourobouros2k2]

please add 808487, looks like around 1980 or after

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[DennisAndLisa]

I was lucky to come across a vintage celestron c8. I added it to my collection (c90 and c5). Maybe one day I'll get the c14. Anyway, it did not come with the front label plate that is supposed to be on the base. Does anyone know how I am may come across one of these or have one made? I tried googling, but nothing comes up.

 

Thank you.

Dennis

 

Here is an example of what I mean....

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Edited by DennisAndLisa, 08 June 2025 - 05:56 PM.

[Kasmos]

I was lucky to come across a vintage celestron c8. I added it to my collection (c90 and c5). Maybe one day I'll get the c11. Anyway, it did not come with the front label plate that is supposed to be on the base. Does anyone know how I am may come across one of these or have one made? I tried googling, but nothing comes up.

 

Thank you.

Dennis

 

Here is an example of what I mean....

Does it have a serial # on the secondary?

If it does, it never came with a base label/plate.

[DennisAndLisa]

Why yes it does......wow that is interesting....so if there is a serial number on the corrector plate then there is no label on the base?

[NinePlanets]

Why yes it does......wow that is interesting....so if there is a serial number on the corrector plate then there is no label on the base?

Correct.

 

Well, serial number on the secondary holder, to be more specific.

Edited by NinePlanets, 08 June 2025 - 04:12 PM.

[DennisAndLisa]

That is great...thank you so much!

[Kasmos]

Why yes it does......wow that is interesting....so if there is a serial number on the corrector plate then there is no label on the base?

As NinePlanets said, yes and your welcome.

 

FYI, the purpose of the registry is to aquire information about each scope that is registered

 

1. most important is the serial#. (a photo of it is always good to see and the number can help date the scope)

 

Then any additional accessories or features you can provide like:

 

The motor dates if you can see them

If you know when it was originally purchased or have any extra paperwork

If the paint on the main tube is smooth or has a pebble finish

Does it have special coatings? (usually a sticker for that)

Maybe say if it has a tripod and wedge

You can review older posts to get a feel for what others have posted about their scopes.

 

If you have more than a few questions the moderators can get a little bent and advise people to start a stand alone thread for questions about a particular scope

 

Lastly, Folks here prefer to see photos!

Edited by Kasmos, 08 June 2025 - 04:46 PM.

[phil9772]

I picked up my C8 with Starbright Coating at an astronomy club auction two years ago—serial number 910411. I acquired the wedge early last year.

Edited by phil9772, 09 June 2025 - 10:59 AM.

[Dr_M]

I've recently come into possession of C8 1 3215 5 (~March, 1975). Sand cast forks. I've found a great deal on a Nexstar/SE wedge and a CPC 1100 tripod. Picked up a bino viewer, prism, etc., for viewing. My starfinder was missing the eyepiece and lens, but I found another Celestron starfinder on eBay. I'm making a new motor power cable. I already have a puresine inverter so I can run the drive motors from a car battery. Need to collimate the telescope... hope these Tri-Bahtinov patterns work. I'm a novice and doing the firehose-learning thing.

Regards-

Steve Marschman 

[CharLakeAstro]

50 years and still bringing night sky views. That's impressive.

 

I've recently come into possession of C8 1 3215 5 (~March, 1975). Sand cast forks. I've found a great deal on a Nexstar/SE wedge and a CPC 1100 tripod. Picked up a bino viewer, prism, etc., for viewing. My starfinder was missing the eyepiece and lens, but I found another Celestron starfinder on eBay. I'm making a new motor power cable. I already have a puresine inverter so I can run the drive motors from a car battery. Need to collimate the telescope... hope these Tri-Bahtinov patterns work. I'm a novice and doing the firehose-learning thing.

Regards-

Steve Marschman