34 replies to this topic

[Borodog]

As in what year, who made the optics and how are they, what's the value, etc. It seem very much like the 1962 Jason 313 I acquired a couple months back; 60-900mm f/15. Everything looks virtually identical except the tripod is metal instead of wood.

 

Thanks very much for your time and thoughts.

 

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[tahmi3]

This was my first telescope which I bought in about 1972 from Sears in the bay area. Mine had the wooden tripod. I used it for planetary and lunar visual and some AP, also for whale watching from point Reyes. I gave it to my father in law which he used in the Virgin Islands until it was stolen. It was a quality scope and mount from Japan, not a toy. I'd buy another one if it became available near me.

Edited by tahmi3, 12 February 2022 - 12:29 PM.

[markb]

The metal label on the focuser may have a printed manufacturers symbol, or a very small stamped manufacturers code.

 

Some were made by extremely good makers, some were more in the middle 

 

But enjoy it regardless of the maker.

 

If you see one, take a sharp, clear photo and post it.

 

There is also a manufacturers trademark thread)s) here on CN you can search for.

[Borodog]

Circle T mark, which I think is Towa?

The badge on the focuser actually says Sears Discoverer Model No. 4 6333 Equatorial Refractor Telescope, Coated, F=900mm D=60mm, Japan, circle T. I have a phot but can’t post it at the moment.

Edited by Borodog, 12 February 2022 - 01:28 PM.

[markb]

There are threads on the Circle T, there may be two makers(?) but I always assumed Towa. My circle T eyepieces we're all very good.

 

My slightly later 60mm Tasco had a circle T lens but was not great, years later I realized they glued the elements off center. So Towa is usually good but not always. A NOS surplus Carton 60 miraculously threaded right on the tube for a fix

 

You can search the threads about the possibility of two with similar marks (I have zero knowledge, I just recall reading something)

 

It is often easier through Google using your search phase followed by a domain restrictor, in this case 

 

site:cloudynights.com

[markb]

I forgot to mention, there may be thread info on tube colors for general dating. My RAO 6339 was silver, later I think than the grey and unusual looking  green/blue.

[Kasmos]

It's definetly a Towa and it's not only the color that determines it's age. I believe the ones with the cone shaped focuser and cell (like yours) were first made in about 1969-70.  The metal legs probably means it's even later. BTW, the Jason 313 probably has a focuser and cell like most other Towas. Are you completely certain it's a '62? A photo of it would be interesting and possibly telling.

 

As for the value, ebay has ocassionally had some sell for outlandish prices but depending on the condition and source they are usually found in the $50 to $150 range.

 

This one just sold here on CN including Shipping for $150

 

https://www.cloudyni...fractorreduced/

 

2 times prior to that the very same scope sold for $68 plus $22 S/H on SGW

 

Lastly, the Circle T on eyepieces means they are made byTani.

 

 

[Borodog]

Thanks.

 

Regarding the 313, I posted a thread about it and the "wisdom of the crowds" seemed to indicate ~1962.

 

https://www.cloudyni...-syw-jason-313/

[oldmanastro]

This is a Sears (Towa) from the late 60s to early 70s with the optical tube assembly color scheme that Sears started to use after 1965. Earlier models were metallic gray and black and they also have the conical focuser. They kept the accessory tray light too. Optics can be very good with some bad apples coming in from time to time. Overall it is a nice classic and this one looks just great in the original wooden box.

Edited by oldmanastro, 13 February 2022 - 10:32 PM.

[deSitter]

As in what year, who made the optics and how are they, what's the value, etc. It seem very much like the 1962 Jason 313 I acquired a couple months back; 60-900mm f/15. Everything looks virtually identical except the tripod is metal instead of wood.

 

Thanks very much for your time and thoughts.

 

 

As in what year, who made the optics and how are they, what's the value, etc. It seem very much like the 1962 Jason 313 I acquired a couple months back; 60-900mm f/15. Everything looks virtually identical except the tripod is metal instead of wood.

 

Thanks very much for your time and thoughts.

This is almost surely from 1969-1970 when the metal legs showed up. On the 3" 6344 those legs are actually an improvement. Here, they are a little rickety. Both this scope and the 6344 are cemented in my memory, appearing side by side in the Sears catalog. The 6344 had my name on it, Christmas 1969

 

-drl

[Borodog]

Wonderful; thank you all. The scope belongs to my father-in-law and I promised I would look into it for him. It's up in NC (I'm in FL) so I can't comment on the quality of the optics.

[Kasmos]

Thanks.

 

Regarding the 313, I posted a thread about it and the "wisdom of the crowds" seemed to indicate ~1962.

 

https://www.cloudyni...-syw-jason-313/

I remember you posting it. Your Jason (SYW) is from before they switched to Towa and IMO is a much better and more collectible kit. When you said it was like the Sears I thought it was going to be one of the very more common Towa made Jasons, that's why I questioned the statement of it's age.

Edited by Kasmos, 12 February 2022 - 11:14 PM.

[GaryM]

There's a really cheap one on Ebay right now for only $334.57 but you do get free shipping :-) It's a model 6333-A. I'm not sure what the difference is.

[GaryM]

Actually, there are several on Ebay of this model. Must be a really popular scope!

[Kasmos]

Yeah, it would appear they sold a ton of them. There are three on ebay right now with over the top prices.

 

This one tops them all and is like the OP's

 

https://www.ebay.com...vIAAOSwE9ZhOtWi

[Senex Bibax]

I used to own one, it gave very sharp, clear views but it was redundant among my other scopes. Bought and resold it locally for the same price, $70 CAD. Nice small refractor but no way would I pay $300+ for one

[LukaszLu]

There is a very useful forum thread dedicated to "passed JTII" stickers. Based on their appearance, you can quite accurately determine the age of the instrument. For example, I have a Towa refractor in a similar color to this one which I thought was much older than it really is. The JTII sticker, however, indicates that it comes from the late 70's.

[Borodog]

More pictures, including the "JTII" sticker, I presume.

 

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[Borodog]

There is a very useful forum thread dedicated to "passed JTII" stickers. Based on their appearance, you can quite accurately determine the age of the instrument. For example, I have a Towa refractor in a similar color to this one which I thought was much older than it really is. The JTII sticker, however, indicates that it comes from the late 70's.

 

Wonderful; I found that thread and it looks like 1967-1968: https://www.cloudyni...arch/?p=7256283

[LukaszLu]

That's right - the narrowed letters in the blue JTII lettering leave no doubt.

[Borodog]

So if the scope was manufactured in 67 or 68, and the metal tripod legs were not introduced until 69, does that argue for a late 68/early 69 production date?

[deSitter]

So if the scope was manufactured in 67 or 68, and the metal tripod legs were not introduced until 69, does that argue for a late 68/early 69 production date?

I don't think the evidence of the sticker is very strong. I do remember the metal legs were a late arrival, They appeared on the Tasco equivalent in 1967 or so. The metal legged 6344 was clearly the partner of the the 6333 - I'm pretty sure that number fried itself into my brain from the catalog as well. There is a rare metal-legged RAO 76mm which also had the number 6344, which has the same OTA and finder as the 6339a, which appears in the Fall-Winter Sears catalog. The 6343 was an alt-az 60/700mm. I have never seen the metal-legged RAO Sears 6344. Every example I've seen has an SYW OTA and a different finder. I also remember seeing these Towa 60mms in department stores - Pennys as well as Sears - and the paint changed to a much stronger and rather more attractive aqua shade, like yours. I would maintain that your scope is from 1969-70. A curious aspect of your scope is that the sticker is near the objective. I've never seen any Japanese optics where that was the case. The sticker is always on the focuser or directly adjacent.

 

Sears 1969 Fall-Winter (also examine "next page")

 

https://christmas.mu...er-Catalog/0898

 

-drl

Edited by deSitter, 13 February 2022 - 02:45 PM.

[deSitter]

So if the scope was manufactured in 67 or 68, and the metal tripod legs were not introduced until 69, does that argue for a late 68/early 69 production date?

The metal legs on the Sears were later arrivals - they were on the equivalent Tasco scope as early as 1967.

 

I've always thought the appearance of those metal legs was the first sign of the coming age of plastic and regrettable cost-cutting. The long refractor was losing its appeal. But as I said, on the 6344 the hard metal double flange at the top of the telescoping aluminum tubular leg (like a camera tripod) when combined with the lighter SYW OTA were actually an improvement, at least in function if not aesthetics.

 

-drl

[Borodog]

Guess what I just noticed in these photos? The long lost 3 prong power cord for the 1977 C90 my father-in-law gave me!

[Kasmos]

My Swift Aerolte 859 (Carton) has a sticker that indicates it's a 1969-70 model.

I checked all of the the Carton catalogs I could find and found some models close in features but not as old.

Later I found a Swift ad with the exact model being advertised in a 1980 S&T.

It's hard to understand what to make of this.

 

I always thought it looked more like a product from the mid to late '70s or early 80's than one from '69-70.

BTW, it also has metal tripod legs.