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Vintage Telescope Finds

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#26 jcruse64

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Posted 15 August 2020 - 07:15 AM

Well, this is my vintage telescope find. I should also say that it found me (also vintage).  The Sears 6336 76mm f/16 refractor is here. I must thank Barry for allowing me to have the telescope and doing a really superb packing job for two big boxes. They arrived today via USPS Priority Mail. It only took two days and not a scratch on anything. The telescope is now assembled and awaiting first light and, of course, it's raining!frown.gif

 

My 1964-66 Sears Astronomical telescope collection is now complete with the 6336, 2535 (6339), 6305 and 2620. The first two are the 76mm models and the last two the 60mm.  No more drooling over the 6336 in the 1965 Sears catalog.

 

Clear Skies!

 

Guido

I need a LOVE THIS button for this post, lol! VERY nice!


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#27 Terra Nova

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Posted 15 August 2020 - 08:10 AM

Well, this is my vintage telescope find. I should also say that it found me (also vintage).  The Sears 6336 76mm f/16 refractor is here. I must thank Barry for allowing me to have the telescope and doing a really superb packing job for two big boxes. They arrived today via USPS Priority Mail. It only took two days and not a scratch on anything. The telescope is now assembled and awaiting first light and, of course, it's raining!frown.gif

 

My 1964-66 Sears Astronomical telescope collection is now complete with the 6336, 2535 (6339), 6305 and 2620. The first two are the 76mm models and the last two the 60mm.  No more drooling over the 6336 in the 1965 Sears catalog.

 

Clear Skies!

 

Guido

Wonderful find Guido. It looks mint! What a pretty scope!


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#28 jcruse64

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Posted 15 August 2020 - 02:36 PM

From our own Classifieds Section, a TAL-1 reflector. Was going to let it pass by, but I read nothing but good things about the TAL's on here, and in a serendipitous scheduling of things, had to be in Nashville yesterday with some of my workmates, so I arranged with the buyer to meet an hour east of Nashville for the buy. We met at a donut shop; it was just terrible...

 

Got the mount, pedestal, and OTA together today. This came with a solar projection screen that mounts on the counterweight rod, so I set it up, and just had first light. Did a side-by-side with my Sears 60x700mm (seems pretty quiet up there today).

 

Think I'm going to like this. A good bit heavier to get out than the Vixen 4.5" I bought recently.

 

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#29 oldmanastro

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Posted 15 August 2020 - 02:42 PM

Thanks for the nice comments about the Sears 6336 telescope folks. Here is my first attempt at a family photo of the Sears telescopes as offered in their catalogs from 1964-65. Below the 6336 is the teal color 76mm from Christmas of 1966 model 2535. The 60mm in the equatorial mount is the model 6305 and the altazimuth mounted one is the 60mm f/11 model 2620. They have all their accessories, wooden boxes (except the 2620) and manuals. The 6336 is missing the clock drive and instruction manual. I must add that the 60mm altazimuth refractor and teal color 76mm are my first two telescopes and date back to 65-66 . The idea to get the rest started some years ago when I got the 60mm equatorial (6305). Sincerely, I never thought that it could be completed with the 6336.

 

An update on the 6336: I spent the morning disassembling and cleaning and lubricating the insides of the equatorial head. As always with these equatorial mounts, engaging the RA slow motion control worm gear with the RA axis brass worm gear was a slow process that required moving the eccentric knobs that push the worm gear up. Even when you mark the original position it requires minor adjustments to get it right. Also the latitude adjustment pivot is now correctly assembled with the red washers inside (Thanks Charlie!). The mount is very smooth now in both axes. Now, first light, I hope.

 

Guido

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Edited by oldmanastro, 15 August 2020 - 03:54 PM.

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#30 jcruse64

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Posted 15 August 2020 - 02:52 PM

Will you adopt me, please???

 

Nice family photo!!


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#31 Russell Smith

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Posted 15 August 2020 - 07:55 PM

It was a bit off topic then and I suppose it still is. 

Just back from the framers. wink.gif

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#32 PawPaw

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Posted 15 August 2020 - 07:59 PM

It was a bit off topic then and I suppose it still is. 

Just back from the framers. wink.gif

Russ,

Not off topic at all......what city?  Do you have any historical background? 

 

Don


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#33 oldmanastro

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Posted 15 August 2020 - 08:45 PM

It was a bit off topic then and I suppose it still is. 

Just back from the framers. wink.gif

Nice vintage sign! The last time I saw an announcement like this was at New Orleans in 1993. I was at a meeting, we went out later that evening and right there in the plaza was this guy with a huge 12" Newt showing Jupiter. You had to climb on a ladder to be at the eyepiece. Beside that Newt he had a small 60mm altazimuth Sears refractor (white tube), probably for kids. He was not charging anything but accepted donations from one cent to billions and billions (that's what the had made sign said). 

 

Guido


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#34 Russell Smith

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Posted 15 August 2020 - 08:54 PM

I really have zero information. Just really like it.
https://www.cloudyni...view=getnewpost
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#35 CHASLX200

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Posted 16 August 2020 - 02:43 PM

Since I have the optical tube cleaned up now I can show it off.

Mr. Leight worked as a optician at the Frankfort Arsenal during WW2 so he was

able to have 'lunch box specials' some very nice glass in that finder!

Robert 

 

attachicon.gifIMG_0057.jpg

attachicon.gifIMG_0056.jpg

Never knew a Parks tube was made in the 40's and the finder is pointed down.
 


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#36 Kasmos

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Posted 16 August 2020 - 02:50 PM

Never knew a Parks tube was made in the 40's and the finder is pointed down.
 

He said it originally had a shellacked fiber tube, not fiberglass. The scope's been rebuilt several times by the original owner.


Edited by Kasmos, 16 August 2020 - 02:51 PM.

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#37 clamchip

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Posted 16 August 2020 - 03:19 PM

Yes

 

Never knew a Parks tube was made in the 40's and the finder is pointed down.
 

It's a Cassegrain, it looks like a newt only backwards, focuser at the bottom of

the tube, which really makes it look like a Newtonian with the finder pointed down!

Mr. Leight did not like perforating his cass mirrors, he figured you are going to use

a prism anyway, why not use a mirror in front the primary to turn the rays 90 deg.

In the case of this scope it's a 1/10 wave mirror on a stalk in the secondary shadow. 

Robert

 

IMG_0056.jpg


Edited by clamchip, 16 August 2020 - 03:28 PM.

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#38 Kasmos

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Posted 16 August 2020 - 03:29 PM

Yes

 

It's a Cassegrain, it looks like a newt only backwards, focuser at the bottom of

the tube, which really makes it look like a Newtonian with the finder pointed down!

Mr. Leight did not like perforating his cass mirrors, he figured you are going to use

a prism anyway, why not use a mirror in front the primary to turn the rays 90 deg.

In the case of this scope it's a 1/10 wave mirror on a stalk in the secondary shadow. 

Robert

 

attachicon.gifIMG_0056.jpg

Are you sure you didn't buy one of those downward facing Newts we see in ads? lol.gif


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#39 clamchip

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Posted 16 August 2020 - 03:32 PM

Are you sure you didn't buy one of those downward facing Newts we see in ads? lol.gif

You mean one of those carpet inspection scopes we see?lol.gif


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#40 Defenderslideguitar

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Posted 16 August 2020 - 05:11 PM

Thanks for the nice comments about the Sears 6336 telescope folks. Here is my first attempt at a family photo of the Sears telescopes as offered in their catalogs from 1964-65. Below the 6336 is the teal color 76mm from Christmas of 1966 model 2535. The 60mm in the equatorial mount is the model 6305 and the altazimuth mounted one is the 60mm f/11 model 2620. They have all their accessories, wooden boxes (except the 2620) and manuals. The 6336 is missing the clock drive and instruction manual. I must add that the 60mm altazimuth refractor and teal color 76mm are my first two telescopes and date back to 65-66 . The idea to get the rest started some years ago when I got the 60mm equatorial (6305). Sincerely, I never thought that it could be completed with the 6336.

 

An update on the 6336: I spent the morning disassembling and cleaning and lubricating the insides of the equatorial head. As always with these equatorial mounts, engaging the RA slow motion control worm gear with the RA axis brass worm gear was a slow process that required moving the eccentric knobs that push the worm gear up. Even when you mark the original position it requires minor adjustments to get it right. Also the latitude adjustment pivot is now correctly assembled with the red washers inside (Thanks Charlie!). The mount is very smooth now in both axes. Now, first light, I hope.

 

Guido

Guido   I am so pleased  that I was able to assist in the completion of your collection. The 6336 is a wonderful scope  and it presents well on the rare pedestal. It was a hit when I displayed it at Neaf 2019   everyone stopped to look at it and talk about it along with the other fine classics there... I could have held onto it for a long time but as I learned of your long held desire to find a pedestal mounted 6336  I knew it would be well placed and loved with you.  I felt  then and I am certain now  that it is home  where it belongs.   Thanks for the wonderful collection pic above.  Enjoy


Edited by Defenderslideguitar, 16 August 2020 - 07:07 PM.

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#41 Russell Smith

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Posted 16 August 2020 - 05:12 PM

Sometimes a scope finds you ;)
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#42 oldmanastro

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Posted 16 August 2020 - 05:20 PM

Are you sure you didn't buy one of those downward facing Newts we see in ads? lol.gif

Not only ads. Back in the early 2000s the local JC Penney's store had a display in the mens apparel department that included many vintage items. As I came up the stairs and to the left there in from of me an 8" Deluxe Dynascope.... pointing toward the floor. I was able to examine the telescope under a wide eye stare from my wife. It was complete with both primary and secondary mirrors. There was a clock drive with a cut AC cable. I called the manager to see if it could be salvaged from further humiliation but to no avail. He had no control over items that belonged in a pack that moved from one store to the next. My wife finally moved me out of there but I left the Dynascope looking up.

 

I always think that I should have been more insistent. Such is life.

 

Guido


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#43 oldmanastro

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Posted 16 August 2020 - 05:34 PM

Guido   I am so pleased  that I was able to assist in the completion of your collection. The 6336 is a wonderful scope  and it presents well on the rare pedestal. It was a hit when I displayed it at Neaf 2019   everyone stopped to look at it and talk about along with the other fine classic there... I could have held onto it for a long time but as I learned of your long held desire to find a pedestal mounted 6336  I knew it would be well placed and loved with you.  I felt  then and I am certain now  that it is home  where it belongs.   Thanks for the wonderful collection pic above.  Enjoy

Thank you so much Barry. You made a 55 year dream come true. The telescope will be well taken care of in the company of its siblings. After assembling the telescope I just sat there for a long while just admiring it and coming to the realization that it was finally here. 

 

Clear Skies!

 

Guido


Edited by oldmanastro, 16 August 2020 - 05:36 PM.

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#44 clamchip

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Posted 16 August 2020 - 08:01 PM

We had the largest Sears west of the Mississippi right here within bicycle riding 

distance for us kids.

At that time (1970) I ate drank slept dreamed astronomy and space.

Four floors with escalators and everything just like downtown, and a candy counter

this is stuff from the 1940's they don't do that anymore (even in 1970)

Well no telescopes on display, can you believe it? catalog only I guess.

But, there were live manikins, yes, one of them winked at me.

What a cool place.

 

Robert


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#45 Russell Smith

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Posted 16 August 2020 - 08:14 PM

Robert
If one of the mannequins at sears winked at me, I would have certainly wet my pants and still be under close supervision.
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#46 Kasmos

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Posted 16 August 2020 - 08:16 PM

We had the largest Sears west of the Mississippi right here within bicycle riding 

distance for us kids.

At that time (1970) I ate drank slept dreamed astronomy and space.

Four floors with escalators and everything just like downtown, and a candy counter

this is stuff from the 1940's they don't do that anymore (even in 1970)

Well no telescopes on display, can you believe it? catalog only I guess.

But, there were live manikins, yes, one of them winked at me.

What a cool place.

 

Robert

Reminds me of my other saying, "Nothin's Cool Anymore".


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#47 Defenderslideguitar

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Posted 16 August 2020 - 09:03 PM

Yeah   its like when she   said     " You don't say far out anymore"

 

 

 

By 1970 Robert    I was 13   and riding bikes to the music store  where   the real Fenders and Gibsons  were  and Jimi and Eric and Jimmy Page   Santana other real guitar heroes  played the guitars we dreamed of.......Sadly the Tasco sat idle somewhat in those days


Edited by Defenderslideguitar, 16 August 2020 - 09:04 PM.

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#48 oldmanastro

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Posted 16 August 2020 - 10:02 PM

 

Well no telescopes on display, can you believe it? catalog only I guess.

 

 

Robert

No telescopes either at our big and only Sears store in the city back in 65. Big store with two huge floors. Telescopes only by catalog sales. The store was abandoned in the late 70s when they moved to a big shopping center but that's the one I liked best. My second scope, a surprise Christmas present, didn't arrive on time. Catalog sales were slow. I received it the second week of January 67. The original store was demolished and is now a parking lot.

 

Guido


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#49 Defenderslideguitar

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Posted 16 August 2020 - 10:15 PM

Guido  So what the second scope  received in 1967?

Sears ?



#50 Terra Nova

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Posted 17 August 2020 - 12:17 PM

We had the largest Sears west of the Mississippi right here within bicycle riding 

distance for us kids.

At that time (1970) I ate drank slept dreamed astronomy and space.

Four floors with escalators and everything just like downtown, and a candy counter

this is stuff from the 1940's they don't do that anymore (even in 1970)

Well no telescopes on display, can you believe it? catalog only I guess.

But, there were live manikins, yes, one of them winked at me.

What a cool place.

 

Robert

Twilight Zone, The After Hours

 

https://youtu.be/QpwlN5s21wI


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