8923 replies to this topic

[Senex Bibax]

I think I’ve heard that all the scopes are in California, and none are in Florida. You’re too close to Florida. Not sure if it’s worse in North Dakota. People around here sell them before moving to Florida.

North Dakota should be a dark sky paradise

[Pete W]

Don't need it, don't really want it, but couldn't let it get thrown away.  Picked up an  RV-6 as the previous owner was literally pulling out of their driveway with a packed U-haul on their way to relocate to Nebraska.  

 

 

 

The back of the mirror is stamped with 10 23 69...I assume that's a date.  The serial is 4391.

 

 

For the most part it looks in good shape, just dirty.  The tube only has a few minor chips at the ends.  The mirror is filthy (came with a big ol' dustbunny), but I hope it will clean up well.   the motor works, but haven't taken the drive assembly apart yet.

 

[Steve_M_M]

Oh, thank goodness.  I just sent her a message.   Glad you got it!

[Russell Smith]

Yes, glad you were able to get it.

[CHASLX200]

So Chas, my hypothesis is that Florida’s lack of scope is due to it being a retirement haven. You mention that there is at least overpriced SCT’s, a more portable scope over say a Newtonian. Perhaps the prevalence is twofold, no one wanted to move their large Newt down there for retirement and once there, no one wants to move a Newt around. Or a large refractor for that matter. You would think that with Kennedy down there, there would be more interest.

 

For the few scopes I’ve been attracted to and purchased up this way (East Coast), most have been from engineers, or at least involved in the sciences. Perhaps California just attracts more folks in these fields? it certainly does seem like California has a lot of scopes. They also have a large population, way more than North Dakota! 

I don't know what the reason is. But Cali has 95% of the deals and FL 5%.  I guess since so many scope comps were in Cali gives it the edge. There was never any real scope comps in FL other than a few Dob makers.

[tim53]

That one and only Cave 18" Newtonian was purchased by an amateur astronomer in Florida.  Sadly, the university converted it into a Newt-Cass, and ticked Tom Cave off in the process.  That mount must weigh a ton or so from the looks of it.

[Bomber Bob]

I have a bunch of old scopes with focal lengths around 1200mm, so an 8mm eyepiece gives nice views at 150x in all of them; and, there are 3 Classic eyepiece brands that I haven't tried:  Brandon, Nippon-Kogaku, & Takahashi...

 

My mint-condition Brandon 8mm 1.25" eyepiece arrived today, complete with both caps, and the glass looks untouched & unsoiled by growths & such.  Probably won't get to test it for weeks, though (there's ALWAYS a catch!).

[Esso2112]

I have a bunch of old scopes with focal lengths around 1200mm, so an 8mm eyepiece gives nice views at 150x in all of them; and, there are 3 Classic eyepiece brands that I haven't tried:  Brandon, Nippon-Kogaku, & Takahashi...

 

My mint-condition Brandon 8mm 1.25" eyepiece arrived today, complete with both caps, and the glass looks untouched & unsoiled by growths & such.  Probably won't get to test it for weeks, though (there's ALWAYS a catch!).

I really like the Brandon’s in slow scopes. Honestly, I prefer the longer focal lengths. Not a huge fan of the 8mm. I have 3 sets: Regular Brandon’s with the eyecups, a Brass set, and a set of the original Chester Brandon’s. One of these days I’m going to get around to comparing the Chesters with the newer ones. 

[Bomber Bob]

Oh Man!  Out of all the Brandons, I got the Dud?  I want to compare it with my RKE 8mm, which turned out to be one of my all-rounder eyepieces -- good views in all my scopes.  In fact, I liked it so much, I bought a second one so I can use the pair in my binoviewer.  They've been a great combo in my Dakin 4" F10 -- which is why I bought the binoviewer.

 

IOW:  Watch out, Y'all.  Even if you stop buying Classic Scopes, there's all those tempting accessories...

[Esso2112]

I don’t think it’s a dud, just not my favorite of the line up and I have others I prefer around the 8mm mark. I do need to try the 8mm RKE.  

[Bomber Bob]

I think the RKE 8mm does so well, because many of the Old Scopes were supplied with even simpler eyepieces, and the RKE is just simple enough -- but a much higher quality version.  My RKEs are very similar to my much more expensive spectros Kellners.  At less than $100 each brand new from ESC, I think they're a very good deal.

 

For the Old Refractor owners:  At the higher powers, I'd rather use high-quality .965" eyepieces, provided that the diagonal (prism or mirror) is also high-quality.  It's not easy to compare my spectros set with my Zeiss, as they're different types, and the spectros are newer, and my CZJs are mid-power in most of my fracs.  But, the CZJs are much easier to get.  IME, at $150 or less, they're worth the investment -- IF you Old Scope is also excellent.

[Mbinoc]

Today I found two Meade Ma eyepieces, and also two unknown objective lens housing and lens assembly's in a small bag for just 99 cents, along with a few other hardware bolts and knobs, The objective housings are plastic (probably department store Meade), so I'm sure they are nothing special, But if I ever find a vintage 60mm telescope with a damaged lens, I may try them out.

 

For the price I could not go wrong, I could always include the eye pieces in a sale if I ever decide to part ways with one of my earlier telescope finds.

Edited by Mbinoc, 27 June 2020 - 07:57 PM.

[apfever]

It came with this.  He was asking 500, taking 400, then the eyepiece came up and I gave him 600.

Scope and all that is.

To be clear,  I had previously traded a vintage Japan OTA in box for a Celestron 80mm Ultima complete with caps and box.  Then another 80mm U. with the Cave. So this eyepiece is the only one I never had and never had any use for. It is kind of specialized, doesn't grow on trees. I never looked for it. Then two separate "How about this eyepiece".  I thought some one might be confused about somehow moving around an eyepiece. Nope. So the questions already, the ocular spread is a stretch, no nose room. The Cave ep came with not much, no caps, no box, rough Meade box doesn't count, just eyepiece eyecup. The Edmund 4" is an original 2" focuser, F10plus don't remember. A few of the 10"ers are F7 and up. I have an XT10i that's been waiting for a few days now in the front room.  First night was a good night, wouldn't reach focus, couldn't figure it out, left it out, found a 1.5" extension in it in the morning. Hasn't been good since. Has rained though. Rain is better.

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[AdAstraPerAspera]

Got some Japanese .965 eyepieces on ebay! Looked vintage and they shipped from Japan. Does anyone recognize the logo on them? 

 

 

Also grabbed one of scopehead's 40mm eyepieces too. Fantastic little thing for the price. 

[Bomber Bob]

 

Got some Japanese .965 eyepieces on ebay! Looked vintage and they shipped from Japan. Does anyone recognize the logo on them? 

 

 

 

Also grabbed one of scopehead's 40mm eyepieces too. Fantastic little thing for the price. 

 

Astro Optical -- in their own brand, rather than the glyph they put on stuff for other brands, but made by AO...

Edited by Bomber Bob, 29 June 2020 - 07:27 PM.

[Kasmos]

I saw them and was very tempted but they are kind of redundant to some I already have.

 

Terra bought a set from him several months ago for solar projection.

[Terra Nova]

I saw them and was very tempted but they are kind of redundant to some I already have.

 

Terra bought a set from him several months ago for solar projection.

I did! They are nice eyepieces for that task. No worries about de-cementing as they are simple, single lens elements; and if I'm not mistaken being Huygenian, the focal point lies outside the eyepiece which keeps it from over-heating. I have solar projection screens for my Unitron 114 and my Mayflower 814, both 60mm objectives and they do a nice job.

 

PS: Solar projection is a very nice tool during these times of COVID-19/social distancing. Now, if we only had some sunspots!

Edited by Terra Nova, 30 June 2020 - 09:28 AM.

[Tom Duncan]

Look what I found...JMI RB-16 reverse bincoulars in need of some cleanup.

 

For being 16" f4.5 and 175lbs this thing is remarkably easy to deal with. It breaks down in minutes to the two very light upper cages, the equally light center control assembly and the heavy rocker assembly on wheels. When assembled it's very nimble and handles nicely. Fortunately I also got a set of long ramps with it, the rocker assembly rolls right into my Chevy Astro van.

 

Looking forward to viewing M13 with this.

 

Lucky me!!!

 

Tom 

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[BigC]

Look what I found...JMI RB-16 reverse bincoulars in need of some cleanup.

 

For being 16" f4.5 and 175lbs this thing is remarkably easy to deal with. It breaks down in minutes to the two very light upper cages, the equally light center control assembly and the heavy rocker assembly on wheels. When assembled it's very nimble and handles nicely. Fortunately I also got a set of long ramps with it, the rocker assembly rolls right into my Chevy Astro van.

 

Looking forward to viewing M13 with this.

 

Lucky me!!!

 

Tom 

Wow!

 I bid on the GW RB-66 but lost.

And I thought that was a big setup.

Views in a double 16 should be breathtaking. 

[Vesper818]

Saturday I found a late70s early 80s
"Seikanon" 60mmx 700 scope, yoke mount, wood legs, half a diagonal and no eyepieces; the duplicatec of this highly regarded specimen:
https://astromart.co...-60mm-and-mount.
Im not an astromart member, but would love to know what he was asking for his.

I was happy to find mine, dusty and dewshield dented, for less than $20 at Good will. I like that its all metal, except the finder ends, and well balanced. Towa made in Japan, but the inspection sticker didnt survive the cleaning.
Will post a pic when its back together, after cleaning, relubing, flocking .

[Van Do9:3]

Saturday I found a late70s early 80s
"Seikanon" 60mmx 700 scope, yoke mount, wood legs, half a diagonal and no eyepieces; the duplicatec of this highly regarded specimen:
https://astromart.co...-60mm-and-mount.
Im not an astromart member, but would love to know what he was asking for his.

I was happy to find mine, dusty and dewshield dented, for less than $20 at Good will. I like that its all metal, except the finder ends, and well balanced. Towa made in Japan, but the inspection sticker didnt survive the cleaning.
Will post a pic when its back together, after cleaning, relubing, flocking .

Vesper,

 

The Astromart Seikanon was asking $190. 
 

My

[Vesper818]

I got a deal then? APO like views, too. 😁 I cant wait for first light!

[RichA]

It came with this.  He was asking 500, taking 400, then the eyepiece came up and I gave him 600.

Scope and all that is.

Exceedingly rare eyepiece. Good for something like a 10 inch long focus refractor like the $100K Zeiss on Ebay.

[Kasmos]

I got a deal then? APO like views, too. I cant wait for first light!

You got a good deal, but who would pay $190 for the one on AM?

 

APO like views? I hope your kidding as you probably know it's basically the same as a Tasco 9TE-2.

[Terra Nova]

You got a good deal, but who would pay $190 for the one on AM?

 

APO like views? I hope your kidding as you probably know it's basically the same as a Tasco 9TE-2.

I think any Towa of that period and build will be hit or miss with a hit being average and a miss being..... well, hmmmm, below average. $20 bucks sounds about right.