338 replies to this topic

[CHASLX200]

Go back to a 1977 SKY&TELE and about 100% of stores are gone now.    Most all scopes pre GO-TO can out last us but the junk made with GO-TO will never last long. It all went down hill around 1992.

Edited by CHASLX200, 27 November 2024 - 07:35 PM.

[mcoren]

Don't care if another scope is made or sold . After 650 scopes in 47 years i am done and just want someone to come get what i have left and take it all.

Just curious, how do you get to 650 scopes in 47 years?  Is there a scope-of-the-month club that I haven't heard of?

[mcoren]

When I wanted to step up from my old 60mm refractor and get a "serious" telescope, I went to Edmunds in late 1977. It was the only astro shop around and was about an hour away. When I went, the red tube reflectors and refractors were on display along with a Celestron C5 and maybe a C8. After seeing the scopes on display and their size, a month or so later I bought an 8" SCT, but not from Edmunds.

 

Edmunds was a great store and that was a great trip and remains a nice memory from my beginning astro journey.

 

The image is the Edmund's telescope display a few years before I went.

 

Bob

That's an awesome picture, Bob, thanks for posting it!  The one pointing down just to the right of center looks like my first 3" f/10 newt.  Mine was probably an earlier model because my focuser was a cardboard tube held by friction, and my finder mount was a couple of bent wires.  I also don't remember the tripod having a spreader.  Other than that, it looks the same.

[CarolinaBanker]

Scopes were flat out better back then and looked better. Everything went to fast optics and imaging.  No more F/8 Newts and no more U's.

I’m a refractor guy, I own 4 classics: an Apogee Widestar 102 (it’s about 20 years old so a classic in my opinion), a Meade 226, a Cometron Co-62 and a 70mm Vixen Halley Multi 70S. The apochromatic revolution has meant better optics and much more manageable size. That’s a boon to lunar and planetary astronomers. It’s a lot easier to mount an f/8 apo than an f/15 achro. I will say modern achromatic refractors are generally worse mechanically and often optically because QA isn’t emphasized in high volume, low cost Chinese manufacturing.

[CHASLX200]

Just curious, how do you get to 650 scopes in 47 years?  Is there a scope-of-the-month club that I haven't heard of?

It was all a blur like i was in some kind of sleep. All started at my first star party in 1977 when i saw and used real scopes for the first time like a C14 and 5. I went home and cried all nite in bed as i was destroyed having a sorry 60mm scope and said to myself i will own em all one day.  So i set out to do this that. Now i am broke and have no more home.

[CHASLX200]

I’m a refractor guy, I own 4 classics: an Apogee Widestar 102 (it’s about 20 years old so a classic in my opinion), a Meade 226, a Cometron Co-62 and a 70mm Vixen Halley Multi 70S. The apochromatic revolution has meant better optics and much more manageable size. That’s a boon to lunar and planetary astronomers. It’s a lot easier to mount an f/8 apo than an f/15 achro. I will say modern achromatic refractors are generally worse mechanically and often optically because QA isn’t emphasized in high volume, low cost Chinese manufacturing.

Just think if i can bring back Unitron from 1958 and have them make the same scopes today. Nothing made today can touch the build of them unless you get a AP or Tec by heck. I bet a 4" M160 would cost 15k today to make.  If we could just break the speed of lite and go back in time and buy any old scope i want at the prices back then and resell today.

Edited by CHASLX200, 28 November 2024 - 07:12 AM.

[starman876]

Just think if i can bring back Unitron from 1958 and have them make the same scopes today. Nothing made today can touch the build of them unless you get a AP or Tec by heck. I bet a 4" M160 would cost 15k today to make.  If we could just break the speed of lite and go back in time and buy any old scope i want at the prices back then and resell today.

The only good thing about Unitron really made was the mechanics.  The optics are easily surpassed by what is available today at far less money. 

[CHASLX200]

The only good thing about Unitron really made was the mechanics.  The optics are easily surpassed by what is available today at far less money. 

I mean the mount and OTA builds and the looks. Can always change out the optics if someone can make it work. Plastic today and no wood boxes.

Edited by CHASLX200, 28 November 2024 - 03:00 PM.

[starman876]

I mean the mount and OTA builds and the looks. Can always change out the optics if someone can make it work. Plastic today and wood boxes.

Just throw another scope on the mount and make it an APO with a Feather Touch focuser.    That would be a great set up.   

[jragsdale]

Just throw another scope on the mount and make it an APO with a Feather Touch focuser.    That would be a great set up.   

SVX130T with a Unitron 160 mount. Oh baby!

[CHASLX200]

Just throw another scope on the mount and make it an APO with a Feather Touch focuser.    That would be a great set up.   

FIXED CRADLE RINGS made that a no go on the older U mounts.

[starman876]

FIXED CRADLE RINGS made that a no go on the older U mounts.

That is true, however, the ones with removable cradle will work great. What a combo that would be. Also a better tripod will help also. 

[starman876]

SVX130T with a Unitron 160 mount. Oh baby!

That would be an awesome combination 

[Herchel]

I always miss going to telescope stores and looking at the gear and the chit chat and learning stuff , meeting peeps