183 replies to this topic

[CHASLX200]

Guy local to me has a 10 year old 18" Galaxy mirror Obsession for $4k.  So not sure if i should jump or not. It has the handles so i think it would roll out of a 32" door. Door is really 34.5" wide but does not swing out all the way so i gotta take out about 2" for the thickness of the door.

 

A 18" F/5 Tectron would roll out all setup no problem i see no reason why the Obsession won't.  This is more of a bare bones scope with no GO-TO or DSC's and comes with a JMI focuser.  This deal just came out of the blue so was not ready money wize and would need to add a older style Paracorr and laser collimater.   I would really need to test it out on a warm nite and see how the mirror is. My Nova mirror was not good in the Tectron.  I think Galaxy made some good mirrors.

 

Should i jump guys?  

 

[ngc7319_20]

Price seems a little high to me for bare-bones scope.

[junomike]

I agree, although they are quite pricey new, used is a different story. Also, a lot of those older mirrors need recoating.

[CHASLX200]

Scope looks like new in the pics. Mirror strehl is 8.919.  Something like this just don't pop up local to me.  So shipping prices can be taken out of the figure. Dose have the shroud and Telrad.  This is going to be for planet viewing most of the time.

Edited by CHASLX200, 16 January 2021 - 06:28 PM.

[grzesznypl]

I disagree. The new one cost $7,649 without bells and whistles and without shipping and crating so $4k is actually not a bad price. If condition of the telescope and mirror is good then its s good deal. 

[CHASLX200]

I disagree. The new one cost $7,649 without bells and whistles and without shipping and crating so $4k is actually not a bad price. If condition of the telescope and mirror is good then its s good deal. 

That is what i was thinking. Shipping would be a arm and leg if i bought used out of state. Seller will let me test it out first.

[brisdob]

Same thing happened to me a few years ago.  I jumped - not many chances like that come up here in Brisbane.  I would jump again.

 

[obsession18]

Guy local to me has a 10 year old 18" Galaxy mirror Obsession for $4k.  So not sure if i should jump or not. It has the handles so i think it would roll out of a 32" door. Door is really 34.5" wide but does not swing out all the way so i gotta take out about 2" for the thickness of the door.

 

A 18" F/5 Tectron would roll out all setup no problem i see no reason why the Obsession won't.  This is more of a bare bones scope with no GO-TO or DSC's and comes with a JMI focuser.  This deal just came out of the blue so was not ready money wize and would need to add a older style Paracorr and laser collimater.   I would really need to test it out on a warm nite and see how the mirror is. My Nova mirror was not good in the Tectron.  I think Galaxy made some good mirrors.

 

Should i jump guys?  

One thing to look out for concerning getting it thru a door is how far out do the eyebolts protrude that attach the wheel barrel handles to the side of the rocker/mirror box.  My old house had a 36" front door that was not a problem for my 18" Obsession, when I moved to my current place the scope would not clear the door leading into the house  from the garage (31").  I used a hack saw to remove the "eyes" and problem solved, this does require me to use a box wrench to get them on/off as a opposed to being able to use the "eye" for the same purpose.

[Don W]

I had 36" door from my garage to the back yard. My 18" Obsession just made it.

[MDearingJaxFL]

Test it then if optics are very good
offer $3500-3600

Mark

[Bill Jensen]

Price wise, it seems fair.

there is a similarly equipped Obsession with a slightly damaged UTA that has been listed for $3600 for a while, located in NC, so quite a hike from you in Florida. 

 

The one in NC is listed a few places, but this is the FB markelplace post

https://www.facebook...407634133697308

 

Perhaps you can use that price to negotiate, which is in the range that Mark mentioned above. 

[icomet]

My 20" fit through the door of the 1950's house I had up on the "Norwegian Riviera" (North shore of Lake Superior),

so it should fit.

 

It was a pain, so I built an insulated "Borg Cube" in the garage, and kept it there.

 

Clear Skies.

[CHASLX200]

I had 36" door from my garage to the back yard. My 18" Obsession just made it.

My 18" Tectron made it thru fine.  I would have the seller bring the scope over first and make sure it fits and make sure the mirror is not a dud like the mirror was in my Tectron.  He also has some Naglers and such for 2k extra. Looks like a 31mm, 22, 17mm, 12mm and another i can't tell what it is in the pic along with a newer Paracorr and filters and a laser collimater.

 

Not sure if they are worth $2k. Have not prices used Naglers in a while.  I can always replace the eye bolts and shave off about 1.75" i guess.  This is just not a good time for me to buy anything after taking a huge loss on that new C7 Vette i had to get rid of. So timing is bad and i may pass.
 

[Old Rookie]

Sounds about $500 too high for a bare bones dob.  Those Naglers appear to me to be pretty pricey also.

[bunyon]

I think you say this in your last comment but the biggest advantage to a local sale isn't no shipping. It's that you can test drive it. For that amount of money, you should get a clear night in the driveway with the seller to use the scope for real. In this case, that should include rolling it in and out of your house. 

 

If the seller isn't interested in giving you that, say no. 

[CHASLX200]

I think you say this in your last comment but the biggest advantage to a local sale isn't no shipping. It's that you can test drive it. For that amount of money, you should get a clear night in the driveway with the seller to use the scope for real. In this case, that should include rolling it in and out of your house. 

 

If the seller isn't interested in giving you that, say no. 

He is fine with that.  I will wait for a warmer nite and the moon is up good to view. Really no planets other than a small Mars.

[CHASLX200]

Sounds about $500 too high for a bare bones dob.  Those Naglers appear to me to be pretty pricey also.

The Naglers and such seems like a ok good deal. I would guess a used 31mm is around 500, a 22 is 350, a 17 for around 300 and a 12 for 250 and a Paracorr around 350.  Not sure what the other Tele vue eyepiece is. But 2k seems about the going rate. Not sure what filters he has, looks to be around 5 of them. I will have to talk to him some more.  Focuser is a JMI without a 1.25" adapter. Never heard of a 2" focuser without the 1.25" adapter.  I think the other eyepiece is a 6mm Nagler so $200 fir it. I see a date of late 2002 on the mirror spec sheet. 

Edited by CHASLX200, 17 January 2021 - 09:50 AM.

[Markovich]

The Naglers and such seems like a ok good deal. I would guess a used 31mm is around 500, a 22 is 350, a 17 for around 300 and a 12 for 250 and a Paracorr around 350.  Not sure what the other Tele vue eyepiece is. But 2k seems about the going rate. Not sure what filters he has, looks to be around 5 of them. I will have to talk to him some more.  Focuser is a JMI without a 1.25" adapter. Never heard of a 2" focuser without the 1.25" adapter.  I think the other eyepiece is a 6mm Nagler so $200 fir it. I see a date of late 2002 on the mirror spec sheet. 

Guessing the JMI focuser once had a 1.25" adapter but is missing. My 15" has a JMI with an adapter.  The 31 Nag would be sweet in that scope. I had a 17mm T4 Nag for a while but sold it as I just could never get comfortable with it.

 

Depending on the mirror, $4k isn't that bad. Maybe $3800 can offered? That would cover the cost of adding encoders. That and a Nexus II and youre all set.

Edited by Markovich, 17 January 2021 - 12:47 PM.

[CHASLX200]

Guessing the JMI focuser once had a 1.25" adapter but is missing. My 15" has a JMI with an adapter.  The 31 Nag would be sweet in that scope. I had a 17mm T4 Nag for a while but sold it as I just could never get comfortable with it.

 

Depending on the mirror, $4k isn't that bad. Maybe $3800 can offered? That would cover the cost of adding encoders. That and a Nexus II and youre all set.

I think i may offer $4k plus throw in the Paracorr.  At least it has a 1.25" adapter. Since i would view planets 90% of the time i don't need the 2" eyepieces.  Not sure if just any 1.25" adapter would work in the JMI.

[Jon Isaacs]

I think i may offer $4k plus throw in the Paracorr.  At least it has a 1.25" adapter. Since i would view planets 90% of the time i don't need the 2" eyepieces.  Not sure if just any 1.25" adapter would work in the JMI.

 

I use a variety of adapters in my JMIs. They can slightly restrict the inward focuser travel but you'll be using a Paracorr anyway.

 

Regardless of the new price, older Obsessions and other classic truss Dobs seem to be priced lower than this.. 

 

On the slim chance you might someday resell the scope ( ), at $4000, you would probably take a sizeable hit. 

 

Jon

[CHASLX200]

I use a variety of adapters in my JMIs. They can slightly restrict the inward focuser travel but you'll be using a Paracorr anyway.

 

Regardless of the new price, older Obsessions and other classic truss Dobs seem to be priced lower than this.. 

 

On the slim chance you might someday resell the scope ( ), at $4000, you would probably take a sizeable hit. 

 

Jon

Well if the optics are not up to my liking then i would for sure pass at any price. Gotta be Zambuto like at high powers.  I sold a 18" Tectron with a bum mirror for 2.5K. Guy was thrilled with it at that price since he only wanted it for deep sky and the mirror was ok at lower powers.  But i expect a super sharp view at powers over 600x.

[ngc7319_20]

Well if the optics are not up to my liking then i would for sure pass at any price. Gotta be Zambuto like at high powers.  I sold a 18" Tectron with a bum mirror for 2.5K. Guy was thrilled with it at that price since he only wanted it for deep sky and the mirror was ok at lower powers.  But i expect a super sharp view at powers over 600x.

Probably worth a little more if you can inspect and test optics first, and proves to be good. 

 

I think i may offer $4k plus throw in the Paracorr.  At least it has a 1.25" adapter. Since i would view planets 90% of the time i don't need the 2" eyepieces.  Not sure if just any 1.25" adapter would work in the JMI.

Any 1.25" adapter will work, but there is a specialize zero-height (1 mm high ?) adapter you can get for JMI.  The 2" drawtube has a slot for the 1.25" adapter thumbscrew to pass through.

 

Edited by ngc7319_20, 17 January 2021 - 05:47 PM.

[Ihtegla Sar]

I use a variety of adapters in my JMIs. They can slightly restrict the inward focuser travel but you'll be using a Paracorr anyway.

Regardless of the new price, older Obsessions and other classic truss Dobs seem to be priced lower than this..

On the slim chance you might someday resell the scope ( ), at $4000, you would probably take a sizeable hit.

Jon

Once people figure out that you can no longer get a classic obsession new, the price for a used classic obsession may be higher than it once was. Even though there were quite a few made, prices on things tends to rise when they are no longer available new. Although the classics are still listed on the website, Dave isn't making any more at least not in the larger sizes. I got one of the last batch of 20" classics made and the 18" and 25" classics were discontinued before he discontinued the 20" and were no longer available when I ordered my 20" classic in late 2019.

Edited by Ihtegla Sar, 17 January 2021 - 04:57 PM.

[shark-bait]

I just purchased the same scope (2010) with a OMI mirror (strehl.98) in perfect condition with paracorr, Glatter laser and BLUG, shroud, 31 Nagler, 13 Ethos, Telrad, Argo Navis, Glatter cable sling, Feathertouch focuser, filter slide with Lumicon UHC & OIII filters, and upper cage case for $4900. One owner and climate controlled its entire life.

The downside is I had to transport it 2,100 miles. Nonetheless, the price would have been the same if I had lived down the street from it.

I think it is too high. $3500 seems like the money.

As for the handles, my eye bolts have been replaced with standard bolts and it goes through every door in my house. Easy to remove too with a nut driver.


P.S.
Sorry to hear bout your C7. My wife has had a C8 for the last 5 months and it is a sweet machine.

Edited by shark-bait, 17 January 2021 - 08:20 PM.

[CHASLX200]

I just purchased the same scope (2010) with a OMI mirror (strehl.98) in perfect condition with paracorr, Glatter laser and BLUG, shroud, 31 Nagler, 13 Ethos, Telrad, Argo Navis, Glatter cable sling, Feathertouch focuser and upper cage case for $4900. One owner and climate controlled its entire life.

The downside is I had to transport it 2,100 miles. Nonetheless, the price would have been the same if I had lived down the street from it.

I think it is too high. $3500 seems like the money.

As for the handles, my eye bolts have been replaced with standard bolts and it goes through every door in my house. Easy to remove too with a nut driver.


P.S.
Sorry to hear bout your C7. My wife has had a C8 for the last 5 months and it is a sweet machine.

My 2013 C6 was trouble free all the time i had it other than a gas tank leak that was fixed for free under recall. I had a bad 8 speed trans and needed a new rear end at 400 miles on the new C7. Car was just slow and had so much lag. My new 2021 LT1 Camaro with the 10 speed auto runs 10 times better than that C7 did.

 

I may pass on the Obsession.