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Craigslist, ebay and other Vintage Telescope Finds

Started by Datapanic , Jul 13 2014 09:58 PM

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3571 replies to this topic

#1 Datapanic

Soyuz

topic starter

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Joined: 17 Oct 2009
Loc: Tucson, AZ

Posted 13 July 2014 - 09:58 PM

Found this Cave 1.5" Mount on the Tucson Craiglist earlier, and for only $40! It had a strap on cradle with a 6" (less mirror) ATM OTA. Clock drive works but not Dec Drive...

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#2 terraclarke

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Posted 13 July 2014 - 10:12 PM

Nice find Dan! That should fix up well and without a whole lotta work. Quite a bargain too! You could put a good sized scope on that. Congrats.

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#3 starman876

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Posted 14 July 2014 - 07:21 AM

I like the thread you started. Let's hope this will take some drama out of the other thread that always starts trouble.

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#4 Chuck Hards

Pour le Mérite

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Posted 14 July 2014 - 07:29 AM

Found this Cave 1.5" Mount on the Tucson Craiglist earlier, and for only $40! It had a strap on cradle with a 6" (less mirror) ATM OTA. Clock drive works but not Dec Drive...

That'a a bargain! I sold one just like it last year for $400. Necessary to help fund the 10" f/6 Super Deluxe Chrome Cave I bought. I think I made the right choice. But I'd love to get another non-chrome mount one day.

Nice find! Bullet-proof mount for a 6".

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#5 Bomber Bob

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Posted 14 July 2014 - 07:45 AM

Bullet-proof mount for a 6".

Ain't that the truth! Congrats, Dan - and thanks for starting this thread! Should be a lot of fun.

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#6 bob midiri

Soyuz

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Posted 14 July 2014 - 07:52 AM

I like the thread you started. Let's hope this will take some drama out of the other thread that always starts trouble.

+1

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#7 tim53

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Posted 14 July 2014 - 08:33 AM

Found this Cave 1.5" Mount on the Tucson Craiglist earlier, and for only $40! It had a strap on cradle with a 6" (less mirror) ATM OTA. Clock drive works but not Dec Drive...

Dec drive doesn't work? Looks like an Armstrong brand dec drive to me! :grin:

Great price! I wish I could find an original mount for my 10" DK.

-Tim.

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#8 roscoe

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Posted 14 July 2014 - 06:20 PM

Good idea for a thread!!

Here's a late 50's Selsi-branded Asahi-Pentax 60 x 800 I found on CL, this is a post-restoration photo....

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#9 roscoe

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Posted 14 July 2014 - 06:22 PM

and....here it is, after I hit 'preview reply' instead of 'continue'

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#10 Bomber Bob

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Posted 14 July 2014 - 10:15 PM

Monolux 4380 - my first Classic purchase.

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#11 Bomber Bob

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Posted 14 July 2014 - 10:16 PM

Sears 6336 - first setup before cleaning.

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#12 Bomber Bob

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Posted 14 July 2014 - 10:19 PM

Russell, does your 50's Selsi have a model and/or serial number? Thanks!

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#13 youngamateur42

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Posted 14 July 2014 - 11:22 PM

Sure is a killer telescope Bob :cool:

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#14 Datapanic

Soyuz

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Posted 14 July 2014 - 11:40 PM

When it comes to the price paid, sometimes, well I don't argue. There are some folks out there that are culling their stock and couldn't wish for something better than to pass on their classic scope to someone new who will take care of it; that's all they wish for. Sometimes, or even most of the time, those opportunities are rare. But when that does happen, I give my deepest respect to the previous owner, try to find out all the history so that I can pass it on as well. There is a divide between the obsessive collector and the person who really wants some sort of scope just because it has some flare of appeal to them. It's a fine line that I haven't and probably never will figure out.

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#15 Datapanic

Soyuz

topic starter

Posts: 3820
Joined: 17 Oct 2009
Loc: Tucson, AZ

Posted 14 July 2014 - 11:44 PM

Found this Cave 1.5" Mount on the Tucson Craiglist earlier, and for only $40! It had a strap on cradle with a 6" (less mirror) ATM OTA. Clock drive works but not Dec Drive...

Dec drive doesn't work? Looks like an Armstrong brand dec drive to me!

Great price! I wish I could find an original mount for my 10" DK.

-Tim.

The Not Dec Drive, aka Armstrong Drive Did not work out very well, so I replaced it with a "vintage" Meade Tangent Arm Drive from a person local to Tucson. It was a bolt-on fit and works, except it's a DC drive, but still, better that than none at all!

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#16 Datapanic

Soyuz

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Loc: Tucson, AZ

Posted 14 July 2014 - 11:46 PM

I like the thread you started. Let's hope this will take some drama out of the other thread that always starts trouble.

You gave me the idea! I agree, but hope the mods are OK with it!

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#17 TCW

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Posted 14 July 2014 - 11:46 PM

https://dallas.craig...4534762372.html

Pricey but went down $500.

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#18 Datapanic

Soyuz

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Loc: Tucson, AZ

Posted 14 July 2014 - 11:56 PM

A little bit pricey but in the range. It does have the non-Armstrong worm gear driven Dec Drive, which is a big plus, but does it work? Does the RA Clock Drive work? Also has what looks like the original Dec Shaft Counter Weights, with Rust and all. But $2500? I would offer about $750 max and wait. The Paint and Chemicals to rebuild that, along with unknown optics say, "Show me more!"

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#19 CHASLX200

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Loc: Tampa area Florida

Posted 15 July 2014 - 05:17 AM

If it was on the 2.5" Shaft mount i would pay $2.5k. That 1.5" mount is way toooo small for that hulking OTA.

Chas

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#20 starman876

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Posted 15 July 2014 - 07:16 AM

as long as we do not talk about how the other thread drives prices up they will be very happy. :lol:

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#21 roscoe

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Loc: NW Mass, inches from VT

Posted 15 July 2014 - 07:42 AM

Russell, does your 50's Selsi have a model and/or serial number? Thanks!

No, it has no markings or info at all except for Selsi on the label......in fact, I (or anyone else) am not positively positive that it is indeed an Asahi-built scope, I did a bunch of research, found stuff posted by several other owners, and found someone who had an instruction sheet that had an Asahi logo on it. Also, the EP's that came with it have a particular size - a 5.3mm - that is supposed to be unique to Asahi.
The 'late 50's' is because one owner I found had an identical one that his dad got new.....in the late 50's....

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#22 turk123

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Posted 15 July 2014 - 09:16 AM

A little bit pricey but in the range. It does have the non-Armstrong worm gear driven Dec Drive, which is a big plus, but does it work? Does the RA Clock Drive work? Also has what looks like the original Dec Shaft Counter Weights, with Rust and all. But $2500? I would offer about $750 max and wait. The Paint and Chemicals to rebuild that, along with unknown optics say, "Show me more!"

He contacted me though my Cave website. I had him send pictures to me. I valued it at $800 most. He has not verified a cave mirror or that the motors even work. He is also an electrician! In all fairness the scope is 2 hour away from his home and he cannot get to it to do the needed investigation. I have not seen the dome.

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#23 TCW

Fly Me to the Moon

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Joined: 05 Nov 2013

Posted 15 July 2014 - 12:25 PM

The equatorial head appears to be identical to my 1975 Cave.

The scope laying over the sink is something other than the 12.5" standing on end.

The ad says it come with a 10' dome but no picture.

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#24 Larry Geary

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Posted 16 July 2014 - 09:13 AM

I like the thread you started. Let's hope this will take some drama out of the other thread that always starts trouble.

You gave me the idea! I agree, but hope the mods are OK with it!

I think the thread is a good idea, but the name is sooo close to the sale thread that I thought it was a new copy of it as happens periodically. Maybe call it "My Vintage Find".

(And now I see we're posting Sale items in this thread, too. Sigh.)

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#25 LarsJ

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Joined: 06 Jul 2013
Loc: Sycamore, IL

Posted 16 July 2014 - 10:56 AM

OK, in keeping with the "Look what I found and bought" theme: I picked up a 1969 Tasco 7TE-5 last Saturday at a little shop in Milwaukee for $75.00, off a Craigslist ad. It is complete except for the manual, and it's in GREAT condition. The only issue is the typical veneer problem on the box lid.