17 replies to this topic

[Senex Bibax]

This may be buried somewhere in another topic but I searched and didn't find it. I was browsing through the collections on the Internet Archive and came across a scanned copy of the 1965 Cave Astrola catalogue! Newtonians, Cassegrains and refractors. How about a 24" Cave Astrola Cassegrain?

https://archive.org/.../CaveTelescopes

 

[Frank Otsuka]

Awesome. Thanks.

I have the "transportable" 12 1/2 inch Model D in my garage.  Too heavy to move around LOL.

[petert913]

I used to drool over their Cass/Newts as a kid.

 

Here is another site full of vintage catalogs

 

https://wiki.telesco.../wiki/Main_Page

[tim53]

This may be buried somewhere in another topic but I searched and didn't find it. I was browsing through the collections on the Internet Archive and came across a scanned copy of the 1965 Cave Astrola catalogue! Newtonians, Cassegrains and refractors. How about a 24" Cave Astrola Cassegrain?

https://archive.org/.../CaveTelescopes

As far as I know, the 18" Newt and 18 1/2" Cass were the only ones built and sold.  

[RalphMeisterTigerMan]

Dear Frank Otsuka. Many things were considered "transportable". Technically, the Space Shuttle was also transportable. 

 

The last thing that telescope manufacturers want is to lose business by scaring off potential customers if they perceive from the ads that the telescope they want to buy is too heavy. So they fit the word transportable in their ads. Legally, they have NOT lied. That 500 lb (just slightly exagerating) telescope that dreaming of IS transportable. But you will need a crew of about 6 very strong people to help you move the darn thing.

 

It's all a matter of perspective. What's having for one may not be so bad for another.

 

Clear skies and keep looking up!

RalphMeisterTigerMan

"

[Frank Otsuka]

Hi,

I stand by my posting. I have not one, but two 14" Starliners from the same timeframe, same design. I can move and set up the Starliners by myself, but the Cave is too bulky.

[L. Regira]

I read where Cave was worried about the trend to more compact and lighter telescopes (Celestron products) so he had to offer more compact reflectors. Here is the telescope ad of the one I bought that was pictured in the catalog. The ad emphasized it weighed only 130 pounds and could be taken down easily in two minutes.  I also heard the model in the picture was 6 feet tall! It could be broken up into three sections, the OTA, mount, and the stand with wheels but it was never easy to do and not in two minutes. It was easy to roll it out of a garage with its wheels however. 

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[bjkaras]

As far as I know, the 18" Newt and 18 1/2" Cass were the only ones built and sold.  

I saw one of those mounts for sale a few years ago. I think it was on Astromart. 

[bjkaras]

I read where Cave was worried about the trend to more compact and lighter telescopes (Celestron products) so he had to offer more compact reflectors. Here is the telescope ad of the one I bought that was pictured in the catalog. The ad emphasized it weighed only 130 pounds and could be taken down easily in two minutes.  I also heard the model in the picture was 6 feet tall! It could be broken up into three sections, the OTA, mount, and the stand with wheels but it was never easy to do and not in two minutes. It was easy to roll it out of a garage with its wheels however. 

I have a 10” f/5 on that mount. I can break it down and set it up pretty quickly, but not two minutes. More like 10 minutes. It rolls around pretty easily, but it’s the larges thing that will fit in my car. I would have liked the 12.5”, but that would be harder for one person to handle easily. Besides, at its highest point the focuser for the 10” is at eye level for me and I’m 6’3”.

Edited by bjkaras, 13 July 2022 - 11:24 PM.

[deSitter]

I read where Cave was worried about the trend to more compact and lighter telescopes (Celestron products) so he had to offer more compact reflectors. Here is the telescope ad of the one I bought that was pictured in the catalog. The ad emphasized it weighed only 130 pounds and could be taken down easily in two minutes.  I also heard the model in the picture was 6 feet tall! It could be broken up into three sections, the OTA, mount, and the stand with wheels but it was never easy to do and not in two minutes. It was easy to roll it out of a garage with its wheels however. 

I've never seen that Cave chick before - what year is this?

 

-drl

[L. Regira]

It is from the 1977 catalog I believe although I doubt the catalog was updated each year. Is that not Tom Cave's daughter? I heard they used a very tall model for the photo so the telescope would not look too large but I could be wrong on both accounts. 

[Kasmos]

I'm real sure that page is in my '78 catalog. I think Cave's daughter was the model on the cover.

 

Here's the 73-74 catalog. Same cover as my '78 but the contents is slightly different.

 

https://wiki.telesco...974_Catalog.pdf

Edited by Kasmos, 16 July 2022 - 03:30 AM.

[clamchip]

And here's 1976:

https://www.summers1...s/Cave_1976.pdf

 

Robert

[CHASLX200]

Just way too much trouble with a 12.5" and bigger scopes. Trying to get them two ring studs lined up with the saddle holes is too much with a such big OD on them 12.5" scopes. 10" is getting hard and a 8" is easy.

[Dave Cook]

Trick for that lineup process - set the EQ mount to point to the zenith and set the OTA vertically on a suitable platform.  You may have to rotate the pier cap on the pier to get leg clearance with the larger tubes.  It's a snap once you get the height right since you can fix rotational alignment with the dec axis motion.  Variations of this tactic are used to mount 150lb+ heads on bench mills.

[CHASLX200]

Trick for that lineup process - set the EQ mount to point to the zenith and set the OTA vertically on a suitable platform.  You may have to rotate the pier cap on the pier to get leg clearance with the larger tubes.  It's a snap once you get the height right since you can fix rotational alignment with the dec axis motion.  Variations of this tactic are used to mount 150lb+ heads on bench mills.

I went thru all that mess with a 120 lb OTA . I used a dolly to take it out and stand it up and remove the weights from the mount and slide the ring studs into the saddle. It was just way too much work and i sold the scope not long after i had it made back in 1990. Plus the mount was way too small.

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Edited by CHASLX200, 02 August 2022 - 06:13 PM.

[RichA]

This may be buried somewhere in another topic but I searched and didn't find it. I was browsing through the collections on the Internet Archive and came across a scanned copy of the 1965 Cave Astrola catalogue! Newtonians, Cassegrains and refractors. How about a 24" Cave Astrola Cassegrain?

https://archive.org/.../CaveTelescopes

All fine except people don't wear doctor's smocks in observatories.    Also, I KNEW Cave made refractors after having seen one a LONG time ago at a local science-centre.

Edited by RichA, 03 August 2022 - 02:16 AM.

[Kasmos]

All fine except people don't wear doctor's smocks in observatories.    Also, I KNEW Cave made refractors after having seen one a LONG time ago at a local science-centre.

Cave had a 4" refractor in their showroom that was part of my inspiration to build one.

Later they let me measure the tripod when I ordered a mount for my Jaegers.

I made sketches with dimensions and have no idea why I didn't think to take photos! 

1978 is too long ago to remember very well, IIRC, some of the employees at Cave wore smocks.

Edited by Kasmos, 03 August 2022 - 12:28 PM.