123 replies to this topic

[John Higbee]

As some of you already know, I took a side trip to the east side of the Hudson River on Saturday night of NEAF 2014, to star test a C14 Orange Tube. The sky was doubtful until just before we arrived, then cleared for long enough to test the C14 on the Moon, Jupiter, and M42...the images were great! Long story short...we did the deal that night, and I picked up the C14 in early May (I couldn't take it down after NEAF, since I had my share of the Classic Telescopes exhibit (the Cave 12.5", the C8 Orange Tube, and the RV-6) in the back of our van). So, here's the story (so far)...

This was a full C14 OT setup - OTA, drive, wedge, tripod and several nice "extras"...but it had no boxes. After looking through the CN Cats and Casses forum, I bought a Husky 48" tool box, and two slabs of 4" upholstery foam. After cutting the foam to fit with our electric carving knife, and installing in the box, it makes a great OTA case. I'll eventually put heavy duty wheels and a handle on it, but it's easily managed by two people "as is".

First picture - box closed...

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[John Higbee]

...and box (with OTA and foam installed)...

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[John Higbee]

Next step was to clean the collector. At some point in the past, there had been slight fungus growth on the outside of the collector (about 5% of the surface area)...it had been removed by the owner, but there was slight etching of the surface where part of the fungus had been. Additionally, there was residual dirt and grime on both sides of the collector...so I did a collector remove / clean / replace with the help of Bob Midiri and the available info on CN.

collector before cleaning...

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[John Higbee]

...and after cleaning...

(I also had to replace the cork gasket under the collector bolting ring (a lot of quality time with Carol's cutting board and an X-acto knife); and two of the three collector shims were missing and had to be replaced (more quality time with board and knife)...however, all turned out well!

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[bob midiri]

great job John, the corrector plate looks pristine now...Have you had a chance to test at night yet?

[John Higbee]

So, we took the scope out last Sunday afternoon to do initial "optical checks". My son, his girlfriend, and my daughter were the support crew for the operation.

First, we moved the boxes to the driveway...the smaller box is a 37" Husky tool box for the wedge, drive, and the fork arms...all of that fits comfortably in the box, which also has a nice removable "bucket" where I can store my diagonal, finder, allen wrench set, and smaller "piece parts".

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[John Higbee]

...and assembled the C14...here's the tube mounting team, with part of the support crew in the background...that scope is BIG...all the legends are true!

(I'm smiling, not squinting...well, maybe a little bit...)

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[John Higbee]

...and finally, pictures of the fully assembled C14...#1

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[John Higbee]

...#2...

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[John Higbee]

...and #3...

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[turk123]

That thing is AWSOME John! Talk about a classic light bucket! Nice find!

That will make a nice piece at NEAF next year!

[John Higbee]

We did the daylight optical tests to ensure that we'd reassembled everything right...treetops at 1000 yards were showing delicate vein patterns in the leaves...scope is definitely "a keeper"!

My son at the controls...

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[John Higbee]

Thanks, Turk - so far, so good - my luck appears to be holding with respect to finding "keepers" (in large part due to the excellent advice and info we have here in the Classics forum!)

Bob - wasn't ignoring you...the answer to your question closes out the Sunday festivities. Suffice to say that an emergent request for help that I couldn't refuse "put paid" to my after dark testing...the "new (old) scope first light jinx" hit me hard. I'm not defeated though...just delayed!

Still have to lubricate the RA and declination drives, but they both work fine (have the original "two toggle switch" box and it works great, as well).

Scope is a '79 manufacture...believe the serial number is 10 numbers higher than yours, Bob (almost twins)!

More on the extras tomorrow...Still can't believe I lucked into this one!

[TCW]

Wonderful scope! I am glad you got a good one.

[Adam S]

Great scope, a true classic. My experience with 70s and early 80s Celestrons is all great. You'll get a a out of that telescope in views and pride of ownership.

[photiost]

These Orange C14 were Celestrons flagship models ..

They also came with killer optics.

Great looking scope, congrats.

[CHASLX200]

These Orange C14 were Celestrons flagship models ..

They also came with killer optics.

Great looking scope, congrats.

Not all of them did. Mine had so so optics at best.

Chas

[bob midiri]

Thanks, Turk - so far, so good - my luck appears to be holding with respect to finding "keepers" (in large part due to the excellent advice and info we have here in the Classics forum!)

Bob - wasn't ignoring you...the answer to your question closes out the Sunday festivities. Suffice to say that an emergent request for help that I couldn't refuse "put paid" to my after dark testing...the "new (old) scope first light jinx" hit me hard. I'm not defeated though...just delayed!

Still have to lubricate the RA and declination drives, but they both work fine (have the original "two toggle switch" box and it works great, as well).

Scope is a '79 manufacture...believe the serial number is 10 numbers higher than yours, Bob (almost twins)!

More on the extras tomorrow...Still can't believe I lucked into this one!

You know John Ive had a lot of telescopes over the years, still do, but if I only could keep one of my scopes (Including my homemade 22" dob), I'd keep the C14. Why, because its the greatest combination of light gathering, planetary, lunar observing wrapped up in a telescope that is also very comfortable to use!! You can sit down and view the heavens with power controls at your fingertips( no climbing up and down ladders no nudging the dob to view at 360 power) and with the added digital setting circles, can observe many deep sky objects easily every night. Im sure some out there have been dogs, I know mine is not, and apparently yours isn't one either. Im very happy for you. All I can say is get some digital setting circles like the NGC Max. it will truly make it an observatory telescope. Good luck. Bob

[clintwhitman]

Awesome John,
One scope I have not ever spent much time with, Being a refractor and newt guy mostly.. Sure have thought about it a few times. Very cool old classic telescope.
Clint

[bremms]

Clint, The one on AM looks nice and is ending soon!

[bremms]

It's a C11.. I forgot.

[PiSigma]

Man, that's awesome John. The photo of you and your son holding the OTA gives a great perspective on the size. Wow. Congratulations!

[TCW]

These Orange C14 were Celestrons flagship models ..

They also came with killer optics.

Great looking scope, congrats.

Not all of them did. Mine had so so optics at best.

Chas

I have seen ones that were poor at best but I still would like a good one!

[starman876]

Wow, John a great scope. Congrats. I never bought the fork mount for mine. Maybe we will have to put them side by side some night.

[John Higbee]

Jon - thanks! As Rod Mollise observed in his Used SCT Guide, don't ever buy one of these without seeing it in person...the size is astounding. Hopefully you can stop by whenever you get to DC, and try it out.

Johann - now we have TWO reasons to get together...if Gerald's available, hopefully he can come too.