78 replies to this topic

[oldmanastro]

This is the scope  and only scope that I want, my home made Edmunds 4" f 12.IMG_20200415_165551807.jpg

Impressive and beautifully finished instrument. Congratulations!

 

Guido

[starman876]

I have done some research.  I have decided on the AP 206mm starfire EDT which is mounted on the AP1200mount  housed in my automatic rotating dome observatory next to my helipad on which my Sikorsky S-76C helicopter sits which is next to my dock where my Donzi 41 GTZ is tied up,  and all of which I can look out over from my Frank Loyd Wright house.  And for trips to the grocery store I have my Ferrari  488 Pista Spider in my four car carage.  

Edited by starman876, 20 June 2020 - 06:13 PM.

[clamchip]

What's fun is to look back in time and remember your DreamScopes.

1965-66 I would lay on the floor and look at the Sears Christmas catalog dreaming

about the refractors.

1967, age 10 years:

I was not interested in classics at all, if it wasn't within the pages of Sky & Telescope

I had no knowledge of it's exsistance. 

I have a 1967 S&T and the 'send for free catalog' was cut out for Unitron, Edmund and

Jaegers.

My DreamScope was definitely Unitron.

1969-70 I became increasingly more interested in a Edmund 4 inch f/15, probably because

those catalogs kept coming in and tempting me. I made some orders, mostly chipped lenses 

and tank prisms.

Mid 1970's I bought a Edmund 4 inch, it wasn't a classic, just a couple years old!

 

Robert

[BillP]

Below is a picture from Sky & Telescope magazine, the February 1978 issue. That issue was the first issue that I received. The 2 Q’s were on the inside cover – impractical and expensive for my needs then and now.  But I wanted that Q-7 back then – and still want it now.

 

Bob

+1 except would love the 3.5" in case with accessories

[Dwight J]

Nice telescope! All original as they should be. Mine is the teal coloured one. At this time Sears had two color schemes for the tube assembly. The gray or the teal. Regardless of colors, they are well made and provide excellent views. BTW that portable table is really cool. 

My BFF had this exact scope; great colour.  Super nice!

[Mike E.]

Nice telescope! All original as they should be. Mine is the teal coloured one. At this time Sears had two color schemes for the tube assembly. The gray or the teal. Regardless of colors, they are well made and provide excellent views. BTW that portable table is really cool. 

The portable table is actually a Voting Booth, which I got from my local salvage yard. It folds up with the legs stowing conveniently and is the size of a briefcase. I just shortened the legs from standing height to chair height.

 

Edit: Back on topic. My 3" Sears (Royal Astro) refractor is now in the care of a good friend, but I can still visit it.  

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Edited by Mike E., 21 June 2020 - 02:36 AM.

[tim53]

This would be my choice:  https://alaskaapplie...blue-telescope/

 

It's available, especially for outreach applications, but too rich for my blood.  I'll just have to build one myself.

 

-Tim.

Edited by tim53, 21 June 2020 - 11:11 AM.

[oldmanastro]

The portable table is actually a Voting Booth, which I got from my local salvage yard. It folds up with the legs stowing conveniently and is the size of a briefcase. I just shortened the legs from standing height to chair height.

 

Edit: Back on topic. My 3" Sears (Royal Astro) refractor is now in the care of a good friend, but I can still visit it.  

That Voting Booth doubles as a perfect table for astronomy. The important thing with these telescopes is that when they leave us, the new owner takes as good care of it as we did. Mine was out of my hands from 1976 to 1996. A good friend had it and took great care of the telescope. It returned to me never to leave again.

 

Guido

[ccwemyss]

This would be my choice:  https://alaskaapplie...blue-telescope/

 

It's available, especially for outreach applications, but too rich for my blood.  I'll just have to build one myself.

 

-Tim.

Really had me wondering. They're based in Alaska, but looking at the polar axis, I thought, "Thats about the right angle for Hawaii." Sure enough, the back story is that it was built for a hotel in Maui that had an outreach program. Very cool!

 

Seems like it might be a new project for our local fan of Coude telescopes. 

 

Chip W. 

[Mike E.]

That Voting Booth doubles as a perfect table for astronomy. The important thing with these telescopes is that when they leave us, the new owner takes as good care of it as we did. Mine was out of my hands from 1976 to 1996. A good friend had it and took great care of the telescope. It returned to me never to leave again.

 

Guido

I gifted the telescope to a very good friend who I have confidence in to care for it with the same degree of appreciation as I have had for it over the years.

Edited by Mike E., 21 June 2020 - 02:18 PM.

[25585]

My Fullerscope 8.5" F8 Newtonian on Mk 3 mount with RA clock drive.

 

It looked similar to the one below, but had grade A mirrors and metal primary access door.  

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[RichA]

I have done some research.  I have decided on the AP 206mm starfire EDT which is mounted on the AP1200mount  housed in my automatic rotating dome observatory next to my helipad on which my Sikorsky S-76C helicopter sits which is next to my dock where my Donzi 41 GTZ is tied up,  and all of which I can look out over from my Frank Loyd Wright house.  And for trips to the grocery store I have my Ferrari  488 Pista Spider in my four car carage.  

Could be in-luck.  Don't know if this one ever sold:

 

https://astromart.co...-refractor-7096

[Bomber Bob]

There is a REAL Scope that I'd like to own -- even if for a short round of testing -- that combines so many things I like into one beautiful Classic kit.  And, it's RARE (at least in my neck of the woods):

 

 

Carton CST 100 -- with both the pedestal & tripod options, of course.

 

My 4" refractors are my workhorse scopes.  To have an all-original, un-BB-modded, gorgeous blue Carton would be Heaven.

 

[Kasmos]

This would be my choice:  https://alaskaapplie...blue-telescope/

 

It's available, especially for outreach applications, but too rich for my blood.  I'll just have to build one myself.

 

-Tim.

I suspect you don't like climbing ladders and or craning your neck and back into all kinds of strange positions. 

[tim53]

Yes, the sheer, unbridled joy of doing that faded a few decades back!

[Terra Nova]

The portable table is actually a Voting Booth, which I got from my local salvage yard. It folds up with the legs stowing conveniently and is the size of a briefcase. I just shortened the legs from standing height to chair height.

 

Edit: Back on topic. My 3" Sears (Royal Astro) refractor is now in the care of a good friend, but I can still visit it.  

I thought when I looked at the picture that it was a voting booth, then second thought, Naw! Thanks for confirming. It looks just like the ones we have where I (usually) vote. (This month I voted by mail.)

[bierbelly]

Either a Porter garden telescope or a 6” Vega Mak/Newt.

How about a Vega 8"

[beanerds]

Zeiss 100 APQ 100/1000 .  Job done .

 

Beanerds .

[JonH]

I think I could live with this plus the observatory that goes with it.

[Paul Sweeney]

I think I could live with this plus the observatory that goes with it.

Not too shabby!!!

[Piggyback]

 

 

Carl Zeiss Jena refractor (A apochromat 80mm f=1407mm serial No. 6826)

Auctioned in Germany.

Started dreaming when I saw the image.

Some collector dude paid an insane amount of money. So sad...

[Terra Nova]

Zeiss Refraktor.red.jpg

 

Zeiss A refractor red.jpg

 

Carl Zeiss Jena refractor (A apochromat 80mm f=1407mm serial No. 6826)

Auctioned in Germany.

Started dreaming when I saw the image.

Some collector dude paid an insane amount of money. So sad...

We acquired one of those last year at the Cincinnati Observatory. It's a beautiful instrument. I love the hand crank pedistal.

[Piggyback]

I agree, Terra. It's a beautiful instrument. I am reminded to the famous Walter Gropius of the Bauhaus movement who created the guideline that every product should aim for "form follows function". No gadgetry, just pure functionality with this scope at the highest level. Wish I had a chance to see Jupiter with that A-objective...

[Piggyback]

Do you have a pic of that Zeiss in the Cincinatti observatory you could share?

[Terra Nova]

Do you have a pic of that Zeiss in the Cincinatti observatory you could share?

I thought that I did have a picture of the telescope on my iPhone but I just went to the pictures and alas, I do not. I will have to get a picture of the next time I go over, which is much less frequent now tho, given the plague.