85 replies to this topic

[D_talley]

Thanks but I don't need the dimensions now.  I haven't decided what to do about a case for the scope.

[woodsman]

I just thought I'd put in my 2 cents.  The Sears 6345 has the best optics of any refractor I've owned.  I also wanted to give a head's up and let anyone reading know that I'll be putting up for sale,.my Sears 6345 90mm later this afternoon. Its almost 100% complete and comes in the original styrofoam case in cardboard.  The clock drive on it works as well. 

 

Very, very nice scopes are these.  I just am moving my cabinet shop into my garage from another town and need to make room.  Its a really nice specimen.  If anyone has a friend of a friend looking for one, you can point them my way. 

 

I'm going to be getting a Swift Vintage scope and I'm going to be substituting that in place of the Sears.  I'll be letting the Sears go for a very good price as well.   

 

These old Royal Astro Optical Scopes are just fantastic. 

 

To D Tally, Congrats on your find.

[ErnH2O]

Wow, seriously folks, run don't walk. The 6345 is an amazing instrument. I promise that you wont be sorry.

[woodsman]

Wow, seriously folks, run don't walk. The 6345 is an amazing instrument. I promise that you wont be sorry.

Thank you.  I'm grateful for your input.  Do you think $975 is a fair price to anyone who is looking.  Its in very good shape and is pretty much complete with the mount and tripod in Excellent condition. Also the last time I used it the clock drive worked well.  I have everything, including the turret and eyepieces, along with the counterweights.  Its a very presentable scope as well. 

 

Most importantly, the Optics are superb on this instrument.

 

Enjoy your day,

 

Rich

[Bomber Bob]

Thank you.  I'm grateful for your input.  Do you think $975 is a fair price to anyone who is looking.  Its in very good shape and is pretty much complete with the mount and tripod in Excellent condition. Also the last time I used it the clock drive worked well.  I have everything, including the turret and eyepieces, along with the counterweights.  Its a very presentable scope as well. 

 

Most importantly, the Optics are superb on this instrument.

 

Enjoy your day,

 

Rich

Prices have ranged from $1000 to $1800, depending on The Market and the scope's condition. (One oddball had a BIN of $450 on eBay about 7 years ago, but no telling what it actually sold for.)

 

Are you gonna ship?

[ErnH2O]

Thank you. I'm grateful for your input. Do you think $975 is a fair price to anyone who is looking. Its in very good shape and is pretty much complete with the mount and tripod in Excellent condition. Also the last time I used it the clock drive worked well. I have everything, including the turret and eyepieces, along with the counterweights. Its a very presentable scope as well.

Most importantly, the Optics are superb on this instrument.

Enjoy your day,

Rich

I am no expert, however I was offered quite a bit more for mine. Bomber Bob would probably know more. The 6345 is quite rare.

[woodsman]

I am no expert, however I was offered quite a bit more for mine. Bomber Bob would probably know more. The 6345 is quite rare.

Thanks very much. I think its a very good deal for someone.  I'm going to be receiving a Swift Telescope, an exact model that I used to own and the seller is one amazing guy.  He was able to secure the purchase before I was and he is simply going to do tests with it, and then he's selling  it to me for the price plus shipping that he paid. 

 

I am going to Force this gentleman to take More money from me because I'm going to bring him cash, however I was so shocked at his generosity that I wanted to kind of pay it forward and sell this Sears 90mm for what I think is a reasonable price. 

 

I'm pretty sure I could break it up and get much more as well, but I don't want to do that, simply because it is all there and someone who is a collector can enjoy it and use it as I did.

 

I have to say that this telescope has the best optics of any refractor I've ever used.  It is one of the first in this model that Royal Astro Optical produced and as such it has excellent optics.  The Japanese manufacturers really took pride in their craftsmanship back then. 

 

It is serial 990141,  1 More than the OP of this thread.  He has serial 990140. 

Edited by woodsman, 19 May 2022 - 12:14 PM.

[Garyth64]

If you were closer, I'd like to think I would be out the door.  And I might bribe you with 3 Swifts.

Edited by Garyth64, 19 May 2022 - 02:17 PM.

[deSitter]

I just thought I'd put in my 2 cents.  The Sears 6345 has the best optics of any refractor I've owned.  I also wanted to give a head's up and let anyone reading know that I'll be putting up for sale,.my Sears 6345 90mm later this afternoon. Its almost 100% complete and comes in the original styrofoam case in cardboard.  The clock drive on it works as well. 

 

Very, very nice scopes are these.  I just am moving my cabinet shop into my garage from another town and need to make room.  Its a really nice specimen.  If anyone has a friend of a friend looking for one, you can point them my way. 

 

I'm going to be getting a Swift Vintage scope and I'm going to be substituting that in place of the Sears.  I'll be letting the Sears go for a very good price as well.   

 

These old Royal Astro Optical Scopes are just fantastic. 

 

To D Tally, Congrats on your find.

I would not trade mine for a Questar or a 4" Unitron. There is something final about it. Like the apex of a certain style.

 

-drl

[deSitter]

Prices have ranged from $1000 to $1800, depending on The Market and the scope's condition. (One oddball had a BIN of $450 on eBay about 7 years ago, but no telling what it actually sold for.)

 

Are you gonna ship?

That sounds about right. I would ask $1500 for mine. A mint one, $2000 at least. Truly like new, $2500.

 

-drl

[woodsman]

Prices have ranged from $1000 to $1800, depending on The Market and the scope's condition. (One oddball had a BIN of $450 on eBay about 7 years ago, but no telling what it actually sold for.)

 

Are you gonna ship?

Yes, I am going to ship however the cost will probably run at least $125 via Fed Ex, because this is HUGE.  The original case is 53 inches long x 20 inches wide.  The height is just over 12 inches in thickness.

 

It will have to be wrapped as a box inside a box.

 

This one would probably closer to the ones that went for $2K.  Its in that good of condition and the optics are superb. 

 

And I finally got the tube with the finders all reassembled. YAY!!   

 

I painted the tube recently and I painted the finder mounts.  It all looks very good.  The paint on the tube has no runs but it isn't Perfect.  I had to sand through some layers so it may not be 'factory', but I think it presents really well.  I'm going to take some photos and should be posting them in about 15 -30 minutes. 

 

The mount is already together so I'll take photos of that as well. 

[woodsman]

I would not trade mine for a Questar or a 4" Unitron. There is something final about it. Like the apex of a certain style.

 

-drl

For the collector, I have to admit, this IS my favorite refractor scope of all time  Just as COOL as can be little features, and it is a solid performer.

 

The turret is the best, simply because of the colors and matching eyepieces, which I think are parfocal.  Just FUN!!   

Edited by woodsman, 19 May 2022 - 02:48 PM.

[woodsman]

Ok, I was going through some PMs and got a bit confused.  Photos of my  6345 coming shortly!  

Edited by woodsman, 19 May 2022 - 03:06 PM.

[mdowns]

Let's remember folks,we can't buy or sell through the open forums.Comments about a scopes details,vintage,value,condition,etc are fine but we cannot promote one of our sales here.That belongs in the classifieds or via PMs !       Michael

[woodsman]

I took some photos of the Legendary Sears 90mm 6345 after I got the tube all back together.  Man this is one huge monster. 

 

 

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[woodsman]

Here are a few photos of the finder and turret with it extended. 

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[woodsman]

2 more of the dust cap which is huge and the glass itself. 

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[deSitter]

I took some photos of the Legendary Sears 90mm 6345 after I got the tube all back together.  Man this is one huge monster. 

Is that a 6x30 finder? All the ones I have seen have a 5x24 finder with a black dew shield and a single ring finder bracket.

 

-drl

[woodsman]

That finder is a 6x 30mm.  The guidescope is a 25x 40mm. 

 

They were supplied with both finder and guidescope.  Initial price for this scope in 1970 was $500 at Sears.  

 

$500 in 1972 was the equivalent of $3700 in today's dollars.  Not many Sears patrons could afford that for Christmas!   LOL

 

In 1972 they had dropped them to $300.   Still around $2200.

[woodsman]

Here are some photos of the scope complete and parked outside of my home!  

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[woodsman]

The Turret is very cool!  I love that part.  LOL

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[woodsman]

How do you not just get warm and fuzzy all over when you see one in all its Glory!    LOL 

[deSitter]

How do you not just get warm and fuzzy all over when you see one in all its Glory!    LOL 

My Pony Boy is brighter than your Pony Boy That's what I named the HM 12.5mm eyepiece, which is silver. But your K 22mm Gumby is brighter than my Gumby. I have a 40mm Meade in the open 6th (white) slot. There was a Sears 6346 which was the 6345 plus a zoom eyepiece and an afocal camera adapter. The zoom eyepiece went into the 6th slot.

 

-drl

[deSitter]

The 6345 mount has a very serious design flaw - the slo-motion control for RA can only be attached on one side. On the other side a shaft sticks out, but it is on the other end of the clock drive, so not only can you not use it, but it's there and inviting you to attach the slo-motion cable, with potentially disastrous results for the clock drive bracket casting.

 

What this means in practice is that you cannot use the slo-motion in RA on one side of the sky, unless you remove the clock drive. I replaced the cables by knobs. With the telescope front-loaded, I can reach the knobs from any position while using the telescope - but sometimes it's literally a stretch. The alternative is to content yourself with one half of the sky Which is also doable.

 

-drl

[Terra Nova]

They really are marvelous telescopes. Sears truly outdid themselves when they contracted these to be made by the Astro Optical Company. It would be interesting to see one side by side with a 4” Unitron. A lot of folks don’t realize how close a 90mm scope is in performance to a 4” scope. There isn’t a huge difference. It’s certainly a step up from the 75 to 80mm Japanese refractors. Its a step up in size and weight too. Beautiful scope by the way Woodsman. Are you sure you won’t have second thoughts in selling it? It’s a lot harder to come by than a 4” Unitron.

Edited by Terra Nova, 19 May 2022 - 06:56 PM.