26 replies to this topic

[Beastmaster]

I have one as well! Hmmm, what don't I have at LEAST one of? I would read the serial number of RAO telescopes as...

 

first digit year in 1960's.   6 would be 1966

second two digits aperture. 70 or 71 would be 76mm

last three digits sequence in the year.

 

I don't understand how changes in decades were indicated. I have never heard what the significance of the 70 or 71 is. I don't believe it is a decade change i.e. yours 1956 (70) mine 1968 (71). Stephen hopefully will have thoughts on that.

 

EDIT: I incorrectly was thinking my serial number for the Mayflower was 871734 but it is 770734. I had an RAO Sears that was 272XXX which was circa 1962. I have a Lafayette RAO that is 070XXX with a 1960 sales receipt. Another example is the Sears 6345 90mm. They are all 990XXX indication 1969 manufacture and I believe all (maybe 400) were offered in 1970. I had a few Tasco 10te scopes that I gave away or sold. I didn't record those serial numbers and have deleted the label photos from my library since losing them. Hopefully now some of you are as confused as I am. 

 

 

Those are beautiful photos of the Mayflowers and boxes - makes me envious seeing them in such pristine shape.  I have two Mayflowers (an 815 H.O.C. and 816 RAO) that are not in such good shape.  Whenever I bring a telescope out, I make sure I have at least one of them out in part to compare to and because they are a true joy to use.

 

Thanks for sharing the serial number interpretation.  My 816 serial number is 872021 I guess putting it as a 1966 manufacturer?.  Perhaps the difference between 70-71-72 is whether RAO sold enough to warrant increasing the third digit.  Too bad my 815 H.O.C. doesn't have a serial number to date 

 

Any suggestions to touch up / repaint the tubes?  I read white appliance spray paint can work.

 

Fred 

Edited by Beastmaster, 21 July 2019 - 12:59 PM.

[ccwemyss]

 

Any suggestions to touch up / repaint the tubes?  I read white appliance spray paint can work.

 

Fred 

I've had fairly good luck with it, repainting the two Jaegers. It takes a lot longer (up to a month, I've been told) to really cure than the label indicates --  easily scratches prior to that. I made a rotisserie for the tube by using the tube itself to cut through some 2" thick styrofoam, making plugs that fit snuggly in each end. Then I drilled a 1/2" hole through the center of each plug and put a long dowel through both. Put the ends of the dowel on a couple of sawhorses and turned the tube continuously as I sprayed it. Kept turning afterward until the paint was setting up and wouldn't run. Nasty chemicals though -- needs to be done outside on a day with a light breeze, away from everything else. Made a nice, solid, shiny, smooth, white finish. 

 

Chip W.