First of all, I cannot believe it's been a dozen years that has pasted since I first started working with the Optron 4" f/6 Schmidt Newtonian. My old post has been archived so I can't responed to it. It was not my intent to wait this long but, when stuff happens it got put back on the shelf and what is quite obvious I forgot about it. Anyway, and luckily for me, I finally got back to the Optron.
The first thing that had to be done was replace the chipped secondary mirror. I had one that was slightly larger but, close enough. One interesting thing that Optron did was epoxy a Pyrex Tube to the back of the mirror. so, the expansion and contraction would be the same. Pretty forward thinking for 1960. I sent the primary off to Ostahowski Optics for recoating because it certainly needed it. While waiting for the primary to return I replaced to focuser with an old Meade model 67 that I machined into a smaller profile. That gave me more access to more eyepieces than the stock one. Still waiting for the primary to arrive I started digging in my parts, pieces goody box and came up with enough to mount it to my Tak mount. Before I just had it attached to a photo tripod. The pieces came form Galileo Optics, Takahashi, LOMO, Explore Scientific, GSO, Meade, Jinghua and a couple I don't remember. Finally, the primary showed up and I got the scope back up and running. After getting it collimated and checking out a few stars I wasn't shocked but more pleasently surprised on how well they looked. It was giving me views that I would get with my 3 1/2" Questar. It's focal length is 610mm and with a 3.6mm eyepiece I used with it gave me 169x. I was impressed. It exceded my expectations to say the least.
I didn't think it was right to drill any extra holes in the tube so I mounted the finder to the handle on the tube rings. I know it looks a bit strange but it works fine.
I was lucky enough to go to the Cherry Springs Star Party this year and spoke with a fellow who has some contacts in the Columbus, Ohio area and heard about the Optron company through them. Now, that company exsisted 60 some years ago but, he said that Optron never made anything in large quantities, only small runs. He also thinks that a few scopes like the one I have were at one time in the Columbus/Dayton area in Ohio. Being that Optron was based out of Dayton that would make sense.
Old archive: https//www.cloudynights.com/topic/264633-one-of-a-kind/
