16 replies to this topic

[Steve C.]

I see that Astronomics still has the Questar leather case for sale, saying "more on the way" for availability.  But I thought I saw something about no more were going to be made, and all 3.5" models were to be sent with a Pelican case.  

 

I'm not sure that I really want to pony up over 5 bills, but who knows, I might be browsing after a couple of glasses of wine and get the urge. 

 

https://www.astronom...5-questars.html

[spereira]

The latest price list sent to me from Questar a couple of weeks ago indicates one can purchase the 19179 Deluxe Leather Carrying Case for Questar Standard or Duplex for just $795.

 

I'm thinking that Astronomics price is a bit outdated.  

 

smp

[RobertPettengill]

Contact Questar directly by phone.  No dealer is going to stock these, they will be drop shipped from Questar anyway.

 

;rob

[Steve C.]

The latest price list sent to me from Questar a couple of weeks ago indicates one can purchase the 19179 Deluxe Leather Carrying Case for Questar Standard or Duplex for just $795.

 

I'm thinking that Astronomics price is a bit outdated.  

 

smp

Good Lord. I like the case, but not that much.

[medpeds]

When I purchased my Q last month from New Hope, Jim Reichert told me that they had found another supplier for leather cases. This is the leather case that I received with my new Q (sorry if it is rotated on your browser).

 

[JamesMStephens]

I like the brass corner pieces!

[Gregory Gross]

When I purchased my Q last month from New Hope, Jim Reichert told me that they had found another supplier for leather cases. This is the leather case that I received with my new Q (sorry if it is rotated on your browser).

Thanks very much for sharing that photo, medpeds! I was very curious to know what the cases from the new supplier looked like.

Can you also share a photo of what the inside looks like without your Questar in the case?

[medpeds]

No problem. Here are some closeup photos without the Q in the case.

[cbwerner]

Nice! I like the brass corners too! Slightly different color leather from mine I see.

[Wisconsin Steve]

Very nice! 

 

Maybe be a used one will pop up someday...

[Gregory Gross]

In addition to this thread, there was discussion in another recent thread (posting #24, 25, and 34) about Questar's current offering of leather and vinyl cases. The newest cases depicted in the photos in this and the other thread are different than the ones that appeared around the late 1980s or early 1990s (the ones with the blue velvet interiors and vinyl or optional leather outsides).

 

Is it really true that Questar is doing away with these cases and, as Steve wrote in the opening post in this thread, that they are going with a Pelican case?

[RMay]

I think it’s a shame that these beautiful leather cases might someday become extinct, and would hope that someone can keep them in production at a reasonable price, even when purchased in small quantities. Happy to provide you all with a few photographs of my 1983 case, which, as I understand it, is one of only two known with the hinges on the right hand side.

 

Ron

 

 

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[Gregory Gross]

Ron, your lefty case is doubly interesting in that it has the older-style way in which the door met the case. Those updated leather cases appeared around 1968. Around 1970 or so, Questar modified the case slightly by adding a little flare on the top portion of the lid and removed the ridge on the top of the case door so that accessories at the top could slip out easier. Check out this Astromart listing for a 1968 Duplex for photos of the earlier version and this Astromart listing for a 1970 Standard Q with the modified top.

 

That your case appeared as late as 1983 is interesting. The position of the eyepiece pouch a bit further down also further suggests yours was a custom case.

 

I've kicked around the idea of taking an original English saddle leather case from the 1950s/1960s and going to a local leather or saddle shop to see if they could reproduce something as a custom job that mimicked those original cases as closely as possible. If so, I'd tell them to hang on to the plans/patterns in case others are interested in having something made for them, too.

 

I've also daydreamed about going to a custom cabinet builder and having something made out of wood.

[RMay]

Gregory, thank you for your thoughtfulness and insight. My scope, eyepieces, and case continue to surprise me decades later. To be honest, even after 35+ years, my case still has that ‘new’ leather scent.

For those with leather cases in need of a bit of repair, I would like to offer a suggestion that I followed to have the arm cushion of one of my vintage Eames lounge chairs repaired: I contacted Cartier and Gucci in San Francisco and spoke to them about the local service providers they use for their fine leather goods repair, and was given the name of a local shop so small that I might have missed it if l I had been walking by the address. As it turned out, they repaired the arm cushion far better than I could’ve possibly imagined.

I would encourage others looking to repair their cases to follow this route.

Thanks again for your insight and comments; they are greatly appreciated.

Ron

[Optics Patent]

There’s a shop like that in Dallas. Dino’s of Highland Park Village. The manager is a telescope guy. They also work on $10,000 handbags for society ladies.

Another tip is to find a friend who just bought lots of woodworking equipment and needs a project.

In my notes I distinguish between “box lids” like the above and “slant lids” that are arguably preferable because they don’t trap the solar filter.

[Steve C.]

I had long wanted a leather case for my Q, and lo and behold, one of my FB friends had a new, unused one and he's sold it to me for $260 (the $60 was for shipping). (Happy dance!)

 

 

I should get it in a few days. 

[spereira]

Good for you, Steve!  Congratulations.

 

In this case (!), biding your time has paid off handsomely.

 

smp