79 replies to this topic

[MassiveRedTelescope]

I've been asked to help "dispose of" a 16" Boller & Chivens cassegrain for Berea College in Kentucky.  The college will pay for placement of the instrument and it's 14' Ash Dome onto a suitable truck or trailer.  I used this telescope when I was a student there 40 years ago and it is professional grade all the way.  A few years ago the scope was upgraded by DFM for remote use.  Recent users report that it works fine.  Current condition is dirty with bird droppings outside, clean inside the optical tube.  Probably needs coatings.  Telescope will be destroyed when the building is demolished this spring if no new owner is identified by May, 2021.

 

Is anyone interested?  I can email you pictures I took of it yesterday.

 

Does anyone know where I can get manufacturer's documentation?  B&C is long out of business and it's former parent company, Perkin-Elmer, has nothing to offer.

 

Jeff Hutton

[Alrakis]

https://archive.org/...ung16inbcmanual

 

Looks like a manual for a similar setup in Georgia.

 

Chris 

[CHASLX200]

Not something i could lift and use at my house. Otherwise i would jump.

[William Whitaker]

wow

[ccwemyss]

When I was a kid, after visiting a local observatory, I thought this would be my dream scope. But it's such a massive mount and scope that it really needs a crane and technical help to get it installed and aligned, and it would be a lot of work to keep operating. I'd rather put a Planewave 17.5" on an AP 1600 at this point. The cost of transportation and installation, and of the building to support the dome, would be getting into the same range. 

 

Chip W. 

[petert913]

16" like this one?  What a gorgeous beast.

 

[jcruse64]

Wonder if the Western KY Astronomers and/or the Golden Pond Observatory would want this? Not really all that far away.

 

Edit; if I had the extra acreage, I'd take this.

Edited by jcruse64, 26 March 2021 - 02:27 PM.

[CltFlyboy]

I wish someone from the local Charlotte Amateur Astronomer's Club that had pad space at the observatory would take you up on that - it would make an awesome addition to the club's portfolio!

[tim53]

I tried for the one in flagstaff,  but lost out. That’s far, or I would seriously go for it. I’ll watch this space...

[starman876]

What an awesome chance to own a professional instrument.  Sure wish I had to the room.

[CHASLX200]

I hope the optics are better than what Meade and Celestron offer up. Could be a good planet scope in my seeing at 700x.

[clamchip]

I wish it was closer to me, I think I would do it, this is the 'greener pasture' I've been 

looking for.

As much as I'd love the dome I think I would skip it in favor of a roll-off roof structure.

I better go get dinner started and stop dreaming out loud!

 

Robert

[gnabgib]

Jeff;

   Sent you a PM and email.   PLEASE do not let this telescope end up on the scrap pile. 

 

Kevin

[davidmcgo]

Here is the DFM page on the refurbishment,  must have been a while ago since the control system looks like a Pentium

 

https://www.dfmengin...news_berea.html

 

Dave

Edited by davidmcgo, 26 March 2021 - 09:44 PM.

[ccwemyss]

Looks similar to the control system on the 0.9M B&C at KPNO. I didn't ask who did it for them. But was amazed that it only took a day to repair it after a lightning strike (then again, they're pretty used to those).

 

Chip W. 

[CltFlyboy]

I agree with Kevin - this should be kept off the scrap pile at all costs. There has to be a club near you that will take this, it's too good to pass up. I can alert the Charlotte folks if you'd like to put them in contact with you (assuming they haven't already seen this thread).

[starman876]

I hope that this scope is saved.  Where is Turk when you need him?

[mark77]

Jeff

 

I sent you email, I have the equipment, i.e. heavy duty trailer, I have the vacation time to come get it, and I have experience with Ash Domes and large telescopes.  I also have several possibilities of places to put it. 

 

Mark

[RiMiller]

I am at LeTourneau University in Longview, Texas.

We are in the process of getting a site and would like to be considered.

Please contact me at richardmiller@letu.edu

[jcruse64]

I am at LeTourneau University in Longview, Texas.

We are in the process of getting a site and would like to be considered.

Please contact me at richardmiller@letu.edu

He posted an email address in the 2nd post; I'd use it to make sure you get considered, instead of just posting here.

[RichA]

I've been asked to help "dispose of" a 16" Boller & Chivens cassegrain for Berea College in Kentucky.  The college will pay for placement of the instrument and it's 14' Ash Dome onto a suitable truck or trailer.  I used this telescope when I was a student there 40 years ago and it is professional grade all the way.  A few years ago the scope was upgraded by DFM for remote use.  Recent users report that it works fine.  Current condition is dirty with bird droppings outside, clean inside the optical tube.  Probably needs coatings.  Telescope will be destroyed when the building is demolished this spring if no new owner is identified by May, 2021.

 

Is anyone interested?  I can email you pictures I took of it yesterday.

 

Does anyone know where I can get manufacturer's documentation?  B&C is long out of business and it's former parent company, Perkin-Elmer, has nothing to offer.

 

Jeff Hutton

Perkin-Elmer.  The ones who paid $25M for the flawed Hubble mirror (under threat of gov't lawsuit) when the mission to fix it cost north of $100M.  Tell them they owe you as a tax-payer.

[clamchip]

It's great to hear there is interest in this great old scope.

Every day I'm reminded why I love the classic's and old stuff in general.

My modern goto Celestron, amazing it certainly is, had a $1.29 diode fail.

Without that diode there was no way to run the telescope, not possible 

to manually operate the mount, or move the optical tube.

Basically dead and useless.

 

Robert

[CHASLX200]

It's great to hear there is interest in this great old scope.

Every day I'm reminded why I love the classic's and old stuff in general.

My modern goto Celestron, amazing it certainly is, had a $1.29 diode fail.

Without that diode there was no way to run the telescope, not possible 

to manually operate the mount, or move the optical tube.

Basically dead and useless.

 

Robert

 

 

It's great to hear there is interest in this great old scope.

Every day I'm reminded why I love the classic's and old stuff in general.

My modern goto Celestron, amazing it certainly is, had a $1.29 diode fail.

Without that diode there was no way to run the telescope, not possible 

to manually operate the mount, or move the optical tube.

Basically dead and useless.

 

Robert

This is why i won't touch any older GO-TO scopes.

[bierbelly]

I replaced a diode (really a capacitor) in the drive of my 1960s Vega. Looked completely diff, but nearly the same elec characteristics. Works fine.

Edited by bierbelly, 30 March 2021 - 10:00 PM.

[clamchip]

I did replace the diode and it restored everything to normal operation.

It's interesting how some of us learned electronics, soldering, etc. I use it so rarely.

I think back and it didn't really have any practical application back then, just hobby stuff

shortwave radio, the transistor was pretty cool, no more 67-1/2 volt batteries.

 

Robert

Edited by clamchip, 30 March 2021 - 11:11 PM.