219 replies to this topic

[Weisswurst Josef]

Edit:

The 55.7 mm thread diameter

that I measured

belong to a 56 x 0.75 thread.

[ldcbl]

Hello! I’m new here in CN. A few weeks ago I got my hands in a TS-50 that needs some cleaning and maintenance.

Does anyone here has a copy of it’ s manual?

[Weisswurst Josef]

Welcome.

Congratulations to the TS-50. Is it the f/14 or the seldom f/10?

Edited by Weisswurst Josef, 03 July 2024 - 09:33 AM.

[ldcbl]

Welcome.
Congratulations to the TS-50. Is it the f/14 or the seldom f/10?

Thank you Josef! It’s the f/14 model. Do you have a scan of this model’s manual/instructions booklet?

[Weisswurst Josef]

No nothing. And never seen such a manual.

There has been a Takahashi site with old product leaflets:

www.takahashijapan.com/ct-products/bnclog.html

Seems to be dead.

 

Would be great if you post some pictures of your TS-50.

We all love pictures ... :-)

[TxStars]

The page listing when some things were introduced still works, but not the booklet page.

https://www.takahash...n.com/corp.html

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Edited by TxStars, 04 July 2024 - 03:41 PM.

[ldcbl]

No nothing. And never seen such a manual.

There has been a Takahashi site with old product leaflets:

www.takahashijapan.com/ct-products/bnclog.html

Seems to be dead.

 

Would be great if you post some pictures of your TS-50.

We all love pictures ... :-)

 

 

The page listing when some things were introduced still works, but not the booklet page.

https://www.takahash...n.com/corp.html

 

Thanks Josef and TXStars, I could retrieve the content through The Internet Archive! Here is a working link - hope it helps someone else:

 

https://web.archive....cts/bnclog.html

 

As you both said, it has only the product catalogs and leaflets. Nevertheless, it's nice to have this material!

[ldcbl]

No nothing. And never seen such a manual.

There has been a Takahashi site with old product leaflets:

www.takahashijapan.com/ct-products/bnclog.html

Seems to be dead.

 

Would be great if you post some pictures of your TS-50.

We all love pictures ... :-)

As for the pictures, here is one from the first day night I tested it, the way I took it from it's wooden box.

 

I still need to clean the body, clean and reapply grease to the mount, and clean the objective lens. I'd appreciate some advice on how to do that.

 

I'm also thinking about making a new 1.25" ocular adaptor directly attached to the focuser, substituting the original, made for .96" oculars.

Edited by ldcbl, 04 July 2024 - 04:12 PM.

[Sirius Black]

As far as cleaning the lens, Land, Sea, and Sky, a Takahashi dealer in Texas sells a glass cleaner devoid of ammonia specifically for lenses.  Very helpful if you call for advice.
 

I haven’t taken my TS-50 apart for greasing it, but for cleaning, I just went over everything with cotton and isopropyl alcohol.  Seems like it did a decent job although it wasn’t very dirty.

 

There should be instructions on how to clean refractor lenses on the internet.  Particularly important not to use pressure to “wipe “ the lens, and of course be sure to use an approved cleaner.

 

Takahashi makes a 1.25” eyepiece adapter that screws in where the .965” eyepiece adapter goes.  

Edited by Sirius Black, 04 July 2024 - 05:29 PM.

[ldcbl]

As far as cleaning the lens, Land, Sea, and Sky, a Takahashi dealer in Texas sells a glass cleaner devoid of ammonia specifically for lenses.  Very helpful if you call for advice.
 

I haven’t taken my TS-50 apart for greasing it, but for cleaning, I just went over everything with cotton and isopropyl alcohol.  Seems like it did a decent job although it wasn’t very dirty.

 

There should be instructions on how to clean refractor lenses on the internet.  Particularly important not to use pressure to “wipe “ the lens, and of course be sure to use an approved cleaner.

 

Takahashi makes a 1.25” eyepiece adapter that screws in where the .965” eyepiece adapter goes.  

Thank you, for the advice, Sirius. I'm in Brazil and it's not ease to get products from the US...

 

I usually clean lenses spaying a solution made of distilled water, isopropyl alcohol and a small amount of neutral detergent. Then I rinse with distilled water and let it dry - the distilled water leaves no drying spots left by tap water).

 

I'm specially interested in knowing details on how to open it's objective lens cell.

 

It's grate to know that they provide such adaptor! I'm understanding that you implied that the threads of the adaptor they currently sell is compatible with the threads and diameter of the focuser tube of this old telescope. Am I right?

[Bomber Bob]

You can also use the much cheaper Vixen 1.25" Adapter -- it has the same 36.4mm male thread as the Tak adapter.

 

For small spots on the lens exterior faces, I wrap the end of a Q-Tip cotton swab in a sheet of lens tissue, dip that in alcohol, and gently rub it off.  Once that face is clean, I'll breath on it, then gently rub the whole face with a cotton ball wrapped with a lens tissue.  No pressure!  Just a circular glide.

 

Here's some pix from the cleaning / de-hazing of my Tak TS-65P / 500 Triplet...

 

Edited by Bomber Bob, 05 July 2024 - 12:24 PM.

[Weisswurst Josef]

It's grate to know that they provide such adaptor! I'm understanding that you implied that the threads of the adaptor they currently sell is compatible with the threads and diameter of the focuser tube of this old telescope. Am I right?

At these Taks you have adapter rings. More than one. And the last one ends in 36,4 mm female.

As Bob writes you can also use Vixen eyepiece holders.

[Sirius Black]

Had a “shootout” between the FC-50 and TS-50 last night!

 

For the past few nights in Northern Missouri, we’ve been having nice temperatures and clear nights so I was experimenting with my fairly new to me TS-50.  Two nights ago, using original 0.965” Tak orthoscopic eyepieces from 39X to 175X on the Moon.

 

On that particular night, I was trying to detect any chromatic aberration that I thought I had seen before.  At 100x and 175X, as the sky darkened, I MIGHT have detected a SLIGHT amount on the limb, but I really couldn’t be certain.  With that, I thought I should compare it to the FC-50 to see if it would show any CA.

 

 I tried to match eyepieces to respective focal length of the telescopes to have similar magnifications.  Through the TS-50, I viewed the Moon at 39X, 56X, and 100X.  The magnifications through the FC-50 was 32X, 57X, and 100X.

 

 The most useful data for me came from the matching 100X magnification through each telescope.  I went back and forth many times, checking details along the terminator and for CA along the lunar limb.  I paid particular attention to Gassendi crater and could see no difference in detail.  When viewing the bright limb, I was not detecting any CA between the two telescopes.

 

I’m so very pleased with the fine optics of the TS-50.  The mount and tripod are rock steady.  There are a few problems that I am experiencing with the mount and tripod.

 

For me, the tripod is too short which makes any elevated objects awkward to access.  I also have physical and mobility issues which make the total setup a less than optimal grab-and-go package for me to easily move around.  I don’t have the original case to pack it in with which I could potentially wheel it around.  Trying to move the assembled package around, the mount had sharp parts gouging into my hands, so even wearing gloves, it’s not easy for me to move.

 

My FC-50 therefore wins out for ease of use.  On the Teegul Space Patrol mount and the current Berlebach tripod, it’s lighter and much easier to grab and move one handed.  It’s easier to break down into easily transportable packages, and easily assembled.  I can easily extend the mount for the different elevations of objects in the sky.

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[Sirius Black]

My almost complete FC-50 viewing system!

 

Some choose to disguise their little jewel of a telescope when it’s being transported to an observing site.  I choose to show it off!

 

 I employed a father/son local furniture builder to make a box for my most used optics and accessories.  I received a furniture grade box to store the FC-50 with finder, 2 diagonals (1 regular, 1 Herschel wedge), 8 original orthoscopic eyepieces 25mm to 2.8mm (only missing the 6mm), a collection of filters including a celestron lp, #82A, #21, original Takahashi Sun and Moon filters, and a homemade foam Sun shield.

 

 The inside is spray painted white for finding equipment at night with green felt to protect the telescope.  The exterior I painted in Takahashi colors.  I just took the telescope to my local hardware store where they matched the paint.

 

For the lettering on the top, I purchased online from “Car Stickers”.  The little black “critters” are images of some of the petroglyphs from the local Thousand Hills State Park where I volunteer for their star parties.

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[Kitfox]

My almost complete FC-50 viewing system!

 

Some choose to disguise their little jewel of a telescope when it’s being transported to an observing site.  I choose to show it off!

 

 I employed a father/son local furniture builder to make a box for my most used optics and accessories.  I received a furniture grade box to store the FC-50 with finder, 2 diagonals (1 regular, 1 Herschel wedge), 8 original orthoscopic eyepieces 25mm to 2.8mm (only missing the 6mm), a collection of filters including a celestron lp, #82A, #21, original Takahashi Sun and Moon filters, and a homemade foam Sun shield.

 

 The inside is spray painted white for finding equipment at night with green felt to protect the telescope.  The exterior I painted in Takahashi colors.  I just took the telescope to my local hardware store where they matched the paint.

 

For the lettering on the top, I purchased online from “Car Stickers”.  The little black “critters” are images of some of the petroglyphs from the local Thousand Hills State Park where I volunteer for their star parties.

 

The eyepiece collection and prisms alone are amazingly gorgeous!  

[rayden68]

Had a “shootout” between the FC-50 and TS-50 last night!

 

For the past few nights in Northern Missouri, we’ve been having nice temperatures and clear nights so I was experimenting with my fairly new to me TS-50.  Two nights ago, using original 0.965” Tak orthoscopic eyepieces from 39X to 175X on the Moon.

 

On that particular night, I was trying to detect any chromatic aberration that I thought I had seen before.  At 100x and 175X, as the sky darkened, I MIGHT have detected a SLIGHT amount on the limb, but I really couldn’t be certain.  With that, I thought I should compare it to the FC-50 to see if it would show any CA.

 

 I tried to match eyepieces to respective focal length of the telescopes to have similar magnifications.  Through the TS-50, I viewed the Moon at 39X, 56X, and 100X.  The magnifications through the FC-50 was 32X, 57X, and 100X.

 

 The most useful data for me came from the matching 100X magnification through each telescope.  I went back and forth many times, checking details along the terminator and for CA along the lunar limb.  I paid particular attention to Gassendi crater and could see no difference in detail.  When viewing the bright limb, I was not detecting any CA between the two telescopes.

 

I’m so very pleased with the fine optics of the TS-50.  The mount and tripod are rock steady.  There are a few problems that I am experiencing with the mount and tripod.

 

For me, the tripod is too short which makes any elevated objects awkward to access.  I also have physical and mobility issues which make the total setup a less than optimal grab-and-go package for me to easily move around.  I don’t have the original case to pack it in with which I could potentially wheel it around.  Trying to move the assembled package around, the mount had sharp parts gouging into my hands, so even wearing gloves, it’s not easy for me to move.

 

My FC-50 therefore wins out for ease of use.  On the Teegul Space Patrol mount and the current Berlebach tripod, it’s lighter and much easier to grab and move one handed.  It’s easier to break down into easily transportable packages, and easily assembled.  I can easily extend the mount for the different elevations of objects in the sky.

I found a quick cure for the mount that was a little to short.
 

[rayden68]

Had a “shootout” between the FC-50 and TS-50 last night!

 

For the past few nights in Northern Missouri, we’ve been having nice temperatures and clear nights so I was experimenting with my fairly new to me TS-50.  Two nights ago, using original 0.965” Tak orthoscopic eyepieces from 39X to 175X on the Moon.

 

On that particular night, I was trying to detect any chromatic aberration that I thought I had seen before.  At 100x and 175X, as the sky darkened, I MIGHT have detected a SLIGHT amount on the limb, but I really couldn’t be certain.  With that, I thought I should compare it to the FC-50 to see if it would show any CA.

 

 I tried to match eyepieces to respective focal length of the telescopes to have similar magnifications.  Through the TS-50, I viewed the Moon at 39X, 56X, and 100X.  The magnifications through the FC-50 was 32X, 57X, and 100X.

 

 The most useful data for me came from the matching 100X magnification through each telescope.  I went back and forth many times, checking details along the terminator and for CA along the lunar limb.  I paid particular attention to Gassendi crater and could see no difference in detail.  When viewing the bright limb, I was not detecting any CA between the two telescopes.

 

I’m so very pleased with the fine optics of the TS-50.  The mount and tripod are rock steady.  There are a few problems that I am experiencing with the mount and tripod.

 

For me, the tripod is too short which makes any elevated objects awkward to access.  I also have physical and mobility issues which make the total setup a less than optimal grab-and-go package for me to easily move around.  I don’t have the original case to pack it in with which I could potentially wheel it around.  Trying to move the assembled package around, the mount had sharp parts gouging into my hands, so even wearing gloves, it’s not easy for me to move.

 

My FC-50 therefore wins out for ease of use.  On the Teegul Space Patrol mount and the current Berlebach tripod, it’s lighter and much easier to grab and move one handed.  It’s easier to break down into easily transportable packages, and easily assembled.  I can easily extend the mount for the different elevations of objects in the sky.

As far as having the original case for the TS-50 goes you are better off not having it. If you have mobility issues fully loaded the case is pretty heavy. The 60-75mm Unitron is easier to move around since the OTA and mount were in separate cases. Getting the scope in and out and set up can be a real pain. I have the original case and do not use it at all due to how you have to load the entire scope and EQ head in and secure it together. I use an old wooden case for an old 60x700 for the OTA and extras and a separate case for the tripod and EQ head. I would only use the original case for a long term pack up like moving. The nice thing about the long focal length of the TS-50 is it is forgiving on eyepieces with simple designs working very well. A 6mm ortho gets you to max power with no need for barlows or special long eye relief eyepieces.

[Weisswurst Josef]

 

I found a quick cure for the mount that was a little to short.
 

Very cool idea ...

Thank`s for showing!

 

[JamesMStephens]

While the TS-65P is outside the conditions for this thread, my 1975 TS-50/700 fits:

 

Takahashi - 2 x TS RESTORE P03 - New PowderCoat (TAK SC EQ).jpg

 

It's also a fitting replacement for my Swift 838 (50/700).  Double Stars beware!

That little Sky Patrol doing some heavy double duty!

 

Jim

[Bomber Bob]

Now it carries my FC-76 -- with ease.

[Sirius Black]

Spent three days in Lancaster County, PA, October 3-6 with the 60mm Telescope Club viewing the night sky with my 50mm, sharing views, and admiring their 60mm ‘scopes.  Of course, there were a few views through some 8” telescopes.

 

 I traveled the farthest (from Missouri) and had the smallest telescope!

 

 I also brought my Herschel wedge and showed several people a vintage view of the Sun!

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[Sirius Black]

Dos miembros del club de Tak pequeño!  Chris y Guillermo.

Two members of the small Tak club!  Chris and William.

 

[Sirius Black]

My friend, Guillermo, is already experimenting with an astrophotography arrangement with his new-to-him FC-50.  In the top picture, he has been able to 3D print a holder for a Thousand Oaks solar filter, a Sun shade, and a solar finder.

 

In the second picture, he is setting up for deep sky astrophotography with an FC-50 adapter with an FS-60 flattener.  Stay tuned to this channel for more photos!

 

 

[MemoAstronomy]

It's an amazing, this is my 5th Takahashi, and now it's my favourite! Thanks Chris!

[MemoAstronomy]

If you like the 3D print, I will share my profile in thingiverse with my free designs:

https://www.thingive...tronomy/designs

 

The most of the accesories of the FC60 can be used on the FC50, if i design more, I will share with you. Like my good friend Chris says:  I'll update here my astrophotography with this little boy, I need  more adapters, but I'll get it.

 

Clear skies