5227 replies to this topic

[Cavs56]

I picked this up yesterday, Meade 826. Original owner said he bought it around 1980. I am definitely not an expert so I have no idea how old it is. Very good original condition I will post pictures of the mirror in a moment. A few things don’t add up. He said he used it in the spring and he didn’t know how the mirror got so dirty. There was no culmination mark. He said the motor didn’t work, but the **** aren’t supposed to tighten down was tight. The motor works fine. The mirror cell was really stuck it did not appear it had ever been out.

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[Cavs56]

The mirror was filthy but when I inspected it prior to purchase I didn’t see much coating loss. Three dead spiders one stuck to the mirror. Very happy with how it cleaned up I would guess 95% or better. The ad said it came with the original eyepieces. I was bet happy when I saw they were University. Did Meade come with those?

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[Cavs56]

I forgot one last thing. It has the large focuser. It is 55mm. Does anyone know where I can get a 55mm 24 thread pitch female adapter to T-2 male adapter.

[Kasmos]

The mirror was filthy but when I inspected it prior to purchase I didn’t see much coating loss. Three dead spiders one stuck to the mirror. Very happy with how it cleaned up I would guess 95% or better. The ad said it came with the original eyepieces. I was bet happy when I saw they were University. Did Meade come with those?

I'm no Meade expert but from what I've seen, I highly doubt they came with UO EPs as I'm fairly sure they usually they came with EPs that bared their own name. I could be wrong but I also don't even think they ever offered them as accesories.

[Garyth64]

That 826 looks very nice.

[deSitter]

I picked this up yesterday, Meade 826. Original owner said he bought it around 1980. I am definitely not an expert so I have no idea how old it is. Very good original condition I will post pictures of the mirror in a moment. A few things don’t add up. He said he used it in the spring and he didn’t know how the mirror got so dirty. There was no culmination mark. He said the motor didn’t work, but the **** aren’t supposed to tighten down was tight. The motor works fine. The mirror cell was really stuck it did not appear it had ever been out.

I always thought it was odd to put the label on this way, upside down to the outer world, but right side up to the owner when in use. The old IBM and earlier Lenovo Thinkpads had a logo on the cover which appeared inverted to the outside world when the computer was open, but not to the owner before she opened it up. Apple started putting their garish logo on the other way, so the other people in the coffee shop would know how cool you were to be using a user interface that was 30 years out of date. Finally Lenovo bowed to peer pressure and started inverting their logos like everyone else does. Sigh.

 

Nice scope! Hope it performs!

 

-drl

[SELDON]

It's a beautiful instrument, a bit of work to get it back into shape, but it's fun to do. Congratulations . 

[CHASLX200]

I picked this up yesterday, Meade 826. Original owner said he bought it around 1980. I am definitely not an expert so I have no idea how old it is. Very good original condition I will post pictures of the mirror in a moment. A few things don’t add up. He said he used it in the spring and he didn’t know how the mirror got so dirty. There was no culmination mark. He said the motor didn’t work, but the **** aren’t supposed to tighten down was tight. The motor works fine. The mirror cell was really stuck it did not appear it had ever been out.

One of later scopes made with the black end rings and mount.  More like 1983. Mine was made in 1980 and not even close to looking the same.

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Edited by CHASLX200, 02 July 2024 - 06:03 PM.

[RichA]

A Cave 10" F/7 Deluxe was the last thing left in a garage that was being cleaned out. A desperate call from a former coworker then living in the Bay area says to go rescue it before it gets trashed, so I did. At some point it was property of a school district that had engraved an asset number on practically every piece part that was accessible to the engraving needle.

It happens.  Some people love itemizing things.

[RichA]

The mirror was filthy but when I inspected it prior to purchase I didn’t see much coating loss. Three dead spiders one stuck to the mirror. Very happy with how it cleaned up I would guess 95% or better. The ad said it came with the original eyepieces. I was bet happy when I saw they were University. Did Meade come with those?

$200 worth of Konigs as well.  The RIGHT kind with the knurled but not garish edges.

[upwinddan]

I picked this up yesterday, Meade 826. Original owner said he bought it around 1980. I am definitely not an expert so I have no idea how old it is. Very good original condition I will post pictures of the mirror in a moment. A few things don’t add up. He said he used it in the spring and he didn’t know how the mirror got so dirty. There was no culmination mark. He said the motor didn’t work, but the **** aren’t supposed to tighten down was tight. The motor works fine. The mirror cell was really stuck it did not appear it had ever been out.

That 826 is a dream come true for many of us. 

[Lemmon714]

My favorite sister dropped off a present to me a while ago.  Working 6-7 days a week since March put a damper on telescope restoration as well as visual time under the stars.  She picked up a Tasco 10TE-5 (or something real close).  The tripod is missing one (1) leg as well as the finder.  Objective looked like it was pulled from from a sandstorm.  Getting ready to clean the objective and see its final condition.  No pictures of the mount, hopefully I'll post a few in a few days.  I did noticed a lot of backlash in the mount.  I am thinking it just needs some adjustment.

 

 

I was wondering if the 7TE listed in the classifieds has the same finder as my scope.  I probably have something laying around but factory correct has an appeal to me.

Anybody know of the draw tube from the same scope would replace the existing draw tube assembly.  It looks like the 7TE draw tube would fit a Vixen visual back.  This would be a little easier than the "Drain tube modification" to go to a 1.25" diagonal.  I have a Parks hybrid for the short term.  

 

Maybe this will replace my Meade 80/ 1200 (Towa 339).  I should thin the heard after some comparison testing.

[Garyth64]

Yes,  the finders are the same.

 

I just checked.  I have a 7TE scope that I'm working on.  The 7TE focuser will screw into the tube flange on a 10TE-5.

 

 

The Vixen-style VB for 1-1/4" eyepieces will screw into the 7TE focuser.  The 7TE-5 focuser has the long skinny drawtube like the 10TE-5.  The 7TE-5 focuser will also screw into the 10TE-5 flange.

Edited by Garyth64, 07 July 2024 - 06:53 PM.

[singlecoated]

Some more discoveries. On one hand, I can't reach infinity focus using a diagonal since it adds to much path to the optical train, so I had to rely on using it straight through. On the other, I found out the black section holding the helical focuser unscrews itself completely, which means I can try to build a shorter piece allowing use of a diagonal. As an added bonus, with a bit of extra felt the rings from my ST80 work like a charm on it.

 

Still have to put some more time looking through it to make a conclusion on its optics, but so far it seems this could be a pretty nice RFT. Objective lens ended having some fungus and I currently have it on UV diet pointing at the sun at least to make sure there's nothing alive there. I took out the focuser and all inside is metal, so no issue with that. Once I get more confident on the whole thing I will probably give it a proper cleaning. The tiny eyepiece I'm quite liking too !

 

All in all, a lucky finding

 

Edited by singlecoated, 09 July 2024 - 06:54 AM.

[twocentsplain]

I wil post pix later - but found a Selsi 80mm 910fl on Craigslist today. I purchased with a my daughter's friend in mind (she wants to get into the hobby but is limited on funds). I picked this up for $150 and thought maybe I paid too much.  But getting it home and digging into it I'm not so sure.  It's the APL Japan labeled.  Wooden box, tripod, mount, Vixen tray, slo-mo cables, etc.  What I find quite amazing it not only are the two EPs (in their pillbox cases with desiccant in the bottom) presumably Vixen (lids have the V in the circle symbol) but the wooden case has the original styrofoam inserts which the mount lies under and the legs lie atop and they are labeled with the Vixen symbol (actually molded into the styrofoam).  I wonder if they did the objective glass too?

Objective was dirty on back side, but three screws allowed removal (all couched next to an identical but offset longer screw for collimation).  Hoping to get it out tonight for the moon.

[twocentsplain]

OK. So maybe I have no idea how to post pix on CN. I'll work on that

[ccwemyss]

You have to reduce the size/resolution of the pictures so they all fit in the 500KB limit. Then use the "More Reply Options" button, where it lets you select, upload, and insert the pictures. 

 

The APL Selsi 247 is a very good refractor. There was just a thread on here where people were discussing the evidence that APL and Vixen were connected. The styrofoam inserts indicate late 60's or early 70's, toward the end of Selsi using APL optics, before switching to Towa. It should give excellent views. The focuser should also be able to take one of the 36.4mm Vixen adapters that allows it to use a 1.25" diagonal and eyepieces. 

 

Several years ago I paid $100 for a 247 from 1960, and considered it a very good deal, so your price is quite reasonable. 

 

Great find!

 

Chip W.

[Bungee]

In my market things tend to sell cheap, but I would probably have jumped on that for $100. In your area I'd say you got a deal. That should be an excellent scope.

 

We'll all be watching for pics and a first light report.

[twocentsplain]

Thanks Chip W

OK, not too successful in getting photos small, so I'll post a few.
First - the case fully loaded with all equipment

[twocentsplain]

Scope's Badge - Scope does need a dusting

[twocentsplain]

Loved that this scope appears to be easily collimatable once you slip the dew shield off

[twocentsplain]

As stated - styrofoam is labeled Vixen

[twocentsplain]

EPs, etc came in a Tupperware-type case also marked Vixen

[twocentsplain]

Of course it clouded up this evening, but before the sun went down (about 7:30ish) I pointed to the moon and shot this just holding my phone over the 20mm EP. The photo does not do it justice, looked pretty good visually for the moon in bright light

[Kasmos]

EPs, etc came in a Tupperware-type case also marked Vixen

Vixen Storage Box.jpg

We've discussed these APL/Vixen 247s a few times and just recently as well.

Vixen style focuser/finder, Vixen style legs, Vixen Tupperware.

From what you've shown it's the later type that IMO, looks very much like the early C80s with a Polaris.

Which had collimatible objectives as well.

None of us really know what was going on between APL and Vixen, but in any case...

Nice find!