517 replies to this topic

[Alanvogt]

Towa 305 F=900mm D=60mm F=900mm

These just keep coming!  Price is a bit high.  I have too many scopes.

https://seattle.crai...7280590678.html

[starman876]

I looked.  It's complicated!  Has a mosaic of ccd chips and corrective optics.

when you got lots of money anything is possible.

[Alanvogt]

Swift Model 821 Spotting Scope

For all you Swift fans,  I already have a nice Spacemaster from 1980

https://seattle.crai...7279753689.html

[YourNotSirius]

Just for the fun of it, here is something from JC Penny. I guess everyone was in this business at some point in time. LOL

 

They label it as a Cat but, it looks more like a windowed Newt to me. The photos don't help very much.

 

It's actually kind of cute and in nice shape. I wonder what it will be once it grows up? BWHAHAHA!

 

https://tinyurl.com/w95zbbw3

 

 

Q

[RichA]

Wow - brings back memories of H2 push processing ISO 800 Kodak film... I guess we are old!

Or get out the hypertank...

[Garyth64]

Towa 305 F=900mm D=60mm F=900mm

These just keep coming!  Price is a bit high.  I have too many scopes.

https://seattle.crai...7280590678.html

Yes, the price is a bit high, like maybe 2x.  Even though is says "Towa" on the label, it looks identical to other scopes, like a Sears 6305a.

 

Looks like there are some colored eyepieces, just like the Sears.  So, who copied first?

 

Sears came out with a 6305, that was their first version, then they had a 6305a.  The 6305a had a slightly beefier tripod, and the focuser housing and lens cell were different from the 6305.  And the 6305 had a white label.

 

At least the Sears 6305 and 6305a came with the little tray light, that the Towa seems to be missing.

Edited by Garyth64, Yesterday, 03:38 PM.

[Kasmos]

Since Towa made them for Sears I wouldn't say it's really an issue of who copied who. About the tray light. It's interesting that it isn't shown in the packing instructions, so I guess this particular example never had one. And yes it's way too high!

[Bomber Bob]

Since Towa made them for Sears I wouldn't say it's really an issue of who copied who. About the tray light. It's interesting that it isn't shown in the packing instructions, so I guess this particular example never had one. And yes it's way too high!

If you zoom in on the Packing Guide, it lists Accessory Shelf with Illuminator, and there's a rectangular slot beneath the tray for it, that I see some scrap paper (?) in now.  AFAIK, all Towa 305 models came with the tray light -- as did my Model 339 (Tasco 10K)...

 

TOWA (T) took over for APL, AO, SYW, etc. at Sears & JCP by the mid-1970s.  After about 10 years, Tanzutsu <Z> replaced Towa as the supplier for the DEPT STORE scopes... until both stores got out of the scope business...

 

Similar thing at the BX / PX (military Dept Stores):  I started shopping there myself ~ 1983, and there were Pentax & Nikon refractors either on display, or in the catalog.  Next thing I know, N & P gear was on the Clearance Aisle, and Galileo branded Taiwan stuff replaced the high-quality stuff.  BUT, you could order Celestron, Meade, & Tele Vue from the catalog -- pretty much the same retail prices, but No Sales Tax...  Just checked the AAFES Online Store:  Only 2 astro scopes, both Low End -- Bushnell or Celestron fracs on flimsy AZ "mounts" + rickety tubular metal tripods...

Edited by Bomber Bob, Yesterday, 04:52 PM.

[ErnH2O]

A 60mm 1000mm Tasco on GW.
Looks to be an older one. I can't make out the stamp. Circle something, maybe a RAO.

https://www.shopgood.../Item/116273042

[apfever]

A 60mm 1000mm Tasco on GW.
Looks to be an older one. I can't make out the stamp. Circle something, maybe a RAO.

https://www.shopgood.../Item/116273042

If everything was taken out of the box then a lot of stuff is missing, starting with the entire mount assembly. Make inquiry.

Local pick up only.

Edited by apfever, Yesterday, 07:38 PM.

[SandyHouTex]

NICE AD!   Be kind about the no optics, fun ad, great scope. Likely an all original finish. Wow.

Looks like after the first two pics it’s being used to study ants.

[Terra Nova]

A 60mm 1000mm Tasco on GW.
Looks to be an older one. I can't make out the stamp. Circle something, maybe a RAO.

https://www.shopgood.../Item/116273042

It has the cool pressed metal finder lens cap!

[Kasmos]

A 60mm 1000mm Tasco on GW.
Looks to be an older one. I can't make out the stamp. Circle something, maybe a RAO.

https://www.shopgood.../Item/116273042

That is a RAO makers mark. 

 

As for it's completeness the ad description says "see photos for what is included"

 

BTW, I just mention a couple of days ago how the 7TE-5's pops up all the time.

Edited by Kasmos, Yesterday, 08:12 PM.

[Defenderslideguitar]

The smaller fluorite Vixen 55s

 

https://astromart.co...tiful-telescope

Edited by Defenderslideguitar, Yesterday, 08:12 PM.

[Kasmos]

If you zoom in on the Packing Guide, it lists Accessory Shelf with Illuminator, and there's a rectangular slot beneath the tray for it, that I see some scrap paper (?) in now.  AFAIK, all Towa 305 models came with the tray light -- as did my Model 339 (Tasco 10K)...

 

I didin't see that. I'm very sure that my Towa Penncrest's lid instructions show the light mounted on the tray and folded over it for storage. If I'm mistaken that's what I based my assumption on. It's buried under 4 other scopes right now, so I'll check it for my own piece of mind and interest. It's hard to know what changed and when, so I shouldn't have made an assumption. Whatever the case, instructions and cutouts in the foam weren't always filled the same for each model. For example, the Penncrest is a 1000mm but it uses the same foam as the shorter 900mms so the legs fit the cutouts differently due to its longer box.

[DouglasPaul]

Swift Model 821 Spotting Scope

For all you Swift fans,  I already have a nice Spacemaster from 1980

https://seattle.crai...7279753689.html

I bought that same spotting scope with all the lenses and the original box for $35.00. That add keeps popping up but no one is buying.

[Bomber Bob]

The smaller fluorite Vixen 55s

 

https://astromart.co...tiful-telescope

Looks like another Koji rare & mint Classic... nice!

[AstroKerr]

Just for the fun of it, here is something from JC Penny. I guess everyone was in this business at some point in time. LOL

 

They label it as a Cat but, it looks more like a windowed Newt to me. The photos don't help very much.

 

It's actually kind of cute and in nice shape. I wonder what it will be once it grows up? BWHAHAHA!

 

https://tinyurl.com/w95zbbw3

 

 

Q

It's a Cat, technically, because it's a Jones-Bird and does have a refractive barlow / corrector in the optic path - in this case should be end of the focuser. As far as I know, these 'Comet Chasers' had simple, flat(ish) plates (all of mine do) - as you said 'windowed' - saved on spiders.

 

If you get a 'good' one that's held it's general collimation over the years, they can be lovely; like Astroscans, when things are fine, they're cute and fun but when you need to work on them, a boring, plain old newt becomes quite attractive quite quickly. The mounts have been more trouble than the optics for me - they tend to loosen when you want to track - I address this with rings & rail on more functional mounts - they do okay on Virtuosos and the Orion equiv. The OTA is still a narrow little J-B, though. I won't call them toys or junk, but buy just one, study it, appreciate what it cost & will cost in time & effort later.

 

When they grow up, they tend to become 127/130mm f/8s or so in f/4~f/5 length tubes - quite popular in some circles even today - "wheels on the bus go 'round and 'round" circles...  

Edited by AstroKerr, Yesterday, 11:17 PM.