5082 replies to this topic

[deSitter]

Vixen tripod, Synta mount, Meade ETX-125 - this is a killer setup! So easy to use! Mount is just a joy to operate. It's getting OnStep-ped on soon.

 

-drl

Forgot to mention - mount was a free, streetside pickup. Tripod came with a $10 Goodwill Celestron/Vixen C80, so let's say $3 for 1/3rd of the works. ETX was $200 in nearly mint condition. So $203 for the rig.

 

My first scope from 1969 was $200. This rig would have been $24. About the price of a toaster.

 

-drl

[deSitter]

Thank you for the kind words Russ, that scope was my 3” Unitron. It had a wonderful objective F16 objective and was on a rock-solid mount. In downsizing my life, it and all my other long refractors are gone save for the 60mm I started out with in 1965. Not a Unitron, but a very nearly optically perfect little Mayflower F12 made by APL. A year later I too made a 6” Newtonian via Thompson’s Making Your Own Telescope, (I no longer have the telescope but I do still have the book! )

I've always loved this scope! Reminds me of driving my Mustang around with the top down on a nice day. A perfect way to cruise the sky. I'll bet you miss it.

 

-drl

[Piggyback]

 

My 60/900mm Unitron 114 of ca. 1976-1981 vintage. Complete with Unihex, Unitron 4x19mm finder, wooden box. Great for city slickers. Love using it on my balcony for sunspot observations. 

[deSitter]

Quiz! How many black knobs does this telescope have? Head start - 3 on the lower leg locks, and the counterweight and focuser and flip mirror have aluminum knobs.

 

-drl

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[CHASLX200]

  2 many  knobs bob.

[Rustler46]

Thank you for the kind words Russ, that scope was my 3” Unitron. It had a wonderful objective F16 objective and was on a rock-solid mount. In downsizing my life, it and all my other long refractors are gone save for the 60mm I started out with in 1965. Not a Unitron, but a very nearly optically perfect little Mayflower F12 made by APL. A year later I too made a 6” Newtonian via Thompson’s Making Your Own Telescope, (I no longer have the telescope but I do still have the book! )

That Unitron-3 would be a great one to have.

 

My 6-inch reflector was also made by following Thompson’s Making Your Own Telescope. It's a classic home made reflector.

 

6-inch f/7, in early astrophotography mode with sheet-film camera

 

Having caught aperture fever at that point, I made my next telescope - an 8-inch, f/4.8 RFT.

 

This has been described as "Steam-Punk Classic", now upgraded with digital setting circles.

 

All the Best,

Russ

 

Edited by Rustler46, 05 February 2025 - 08:12 PM.

[deSitter]

That Unitron-3 would be a great one to have.

 

My 6-inch reflector was also made by following Thompson’s Making Your Own Telescope. It's a classic home made reflector.

 

6-inch Reflector.jpeg

6-inch f/7, in early astrophotography mode with sheet-film camera

 

Having caught aperture fever at that point, I made my next telescope - an 8-inch RFT.

 

8%22 RFT.jpg

This has been described as "Steam-Punk Classic", now upgraded with digital setting circles.

 

All the Best,

Russ

 

The DSC project is very cool!

 

-drl

[Rustler46]

That has made my old telescope much easier to use. Not that I'm against the star-hopping, finder-'scope, paper star atlas method. But my aging body has made it hard to do what I did years ago. Along with that my energy level has diminished. Quick object finding for an hour's observing session is enjoyable. Also having my telescope in a slide-off roof observatory makes for about 5-minute to set up or to close down.

 

Clear Skies,

Russ

[deSitter]

That has made my old telescope much easier to use. Not that I'm against the star-hopping, finder-'scope, paper star atlas method. But my aging body has made it hard to do what I did years ago. Along with that my energy level has diminished. Quick object finding for an hour's observing session is enjoyable. Also having my telescope in a slide-off roof observatory makes for about 5-minute to set up or to close down.

 

Clear Skies,

Russ

I'm with you Plus I love the sight of red coordinates at night - it looks like - victory.

 

-drl

[pferendzo]

My Unitron 114/140 altazimuth mount with upgrades. I really like the mount, but the 140 needs something more robust so I mount the 140 on an old Orion SkyView Pro and use this for lighter and shorter scopes. The modifications include replacing the slow motion screws (delrin sleeve, brass 1/4 x 28 insert), slow motion controls (6mm threaded rod, universal joint), replaced altitude locking screw with a ratcheting handle, and an ADM saddle. 

[Rustler46]

Thank you for the kind words Russ, that scope was my 3” Unitron. It had a wonderful objective F16 objective and was on a rock-solid mount. In downsizing my life, it and all my other long refractors are gone save for the 60mm I started out with in 1965. Not a Unitron, but a very nearly optically perfect little Mayflower F12 made by APL. A year later I too made a 6” Newtonian via Thompson’s Making Your Own Telescope, (I no longer have the telescope but I do still have the book! )

Is that your 6-inch reflector in the photo? If so it must be a fast RFT.

[clamchip]

Here's something you don't see every day, a baby Edmund Astroscan.

Incredibly I found this at a antique mall. I needed the Astroscan base and had no need

for the bowling ball but I had no choice but to buy the whole article. 

 

Edited by clamchip, 08 February 2025 - 11:58 AM.

[clamchip]

Edmund Scientific "4 inch refractor" is what Edmund called it.

That's like calling a Cadillac a "car."

How sweet it is !

Robert

 

[PawPaw]

My Eureka moment occured today after 25 years.

 

Edmund heavy duty mount on tripod converts to an Altazimuth mount by simply removing the counterweight.   Duh! 

My Jaegers 5" F/5 with two finders.....just because I can!

 

 

 

 

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[clamchip]

[Bomber Bob]

All Original, 100% Classic...

 

 

[Terra Nova]

I loved my 4” Edmund! No way would it work for me now but it sure worked for me back then! I enjoyed it far more than the 4” Unitron. Better optics and so much easier to set up and take down!

BIG RED:

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Edited by Terra Nova, 08 February 2025 - 02:05 PM.

[PawPaw]

I have contemplated letting someone else enjoy my 1958 Edmund 4" refractor...........but then I remember how light it is despite being so long.

 

Edmund is the only refractor that I know of  that came with quality flocking paper from the factory.  At least from the same era.

 

 

 

 

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[clamchip]

Coupla bird brains and a Edmund "6 inch Reflecting Telescope" the predecessor to the Super Space Conqueror.

Robert

 

1956 Edmund catalog:

Edited by clamchip, 10 February 2025 - 12:20 AM.

[clamchip]

"A Cave 8 inch f/7 is the perfect instrument for checking out Mars and its not uncommon to become

totally immersed in the planet."

 

Edited by clamchip, 10 February 2025 - 12:58 AM.

[Josephus Miller]

 

The old Unitron 142 out to play. 

 

I never had the original mount, but it seems happy on my Vixen Super Polaris. 

[pferendzo]

Cleaning up a Stein/Towa 60/800. Used an 'Easy Eraser' to clean the tube, removed a lot of grease that had turned to glue, removed the objective and cleaned front and back - fortunately didn't have to clean between the elements, found a couple of camera lens rings, re-tapped the screw holes for the finder, and attached to a Vixen dovetail, and added a hose clamp to secure my diagonal. Presently mounted on a UNITRON 114 while the fork mount waits for attention. Initial test on moon was pretty sharp, but didn't spend much time because of the cold temps.

[Kasmos]

Cleaning up a Stein/Towa 60/800. Used an 'Easy Eraser' to clean the tube, removed a lot of grease that had turned to glue, removed the objective and cleaned front and back - fortunately didn't have to clean between the elements, found a couple of camera lens rings, re-tapped the screw holes for the finder, and attached to a Vixen dovetail, and added a hose clamp to secure my diagonal. Presently mounted on a UNITRON 114 while the fork mount waits for attention. Initial test on moon was pretty sharp, but didn't spend much time because of the cold temps.

Nice set up. I have the same scope but branded as a Crescent and it's a sharp one. Just in case you don't know these were made by Towa (model AT2) and many of them, their variations, plus the competitors, are covered in this thread:

 

https://www.cloudyni...rs-who-made-em/

 

BTW,   I've also used a hose clamp on another scope with a slip fit drawtube, so I like the yellow knob idea.

Edited by Kasmos, 12 February 2025 - 12:27 AM.

[6642]

My old Newton Astrola 150/1200
I regret to have left it, even today 
The optics was excellent, especially for planets and moon

 

Pascal

 

 

 

 

 

 

[deSitter]

Coupla bird brains and a Edmund "6 inch Reflecting Telescope" the predecessor to the Super Space Conqueror.

Robert

 

IMG_0345.JPG

1956 Edmund catalog:

post-50896-0-41569900-1609284765_thumb.jpg

How interesting - did not realize there was a 6" on a tripod - and that's the 5/8" shaft mount. Do you have the original mount?

 

-drl