20 replies to this topic

[Bonco]

Hey guys, I'm planning to meet with the guy selling the Lafayette 2.4 inch advertised on astromart. I have every intention of buying it unless I find some unacceptable problem. It looks sweet and think the price is right as the only problem is there are no eyepieces. Even the finder needs an eyepiece. I don't consider that a big deal. I'm looking forward to seeing it and buying it. Sure would like some input from anyone familiar with the Lafayette scopes of yore.
Thanks, Bonco

[dbledsoe]

Bonco,

Congrats on the Lafayette! I responded to his ad last night and and he gave me first dibs on it but I couldn't follow-up with him until this morning, by which time you had responded. He was very gracious and said I could have it but it would be much easier on him to make a local sale. I agreed since I already have one just like it and was mostly getting it for spare parts.

That said, let me know if I can help you with it in any way since I too have the same scope. I don't recall if yours comes with the original instruction manual but mine did, in case you need a copy I'll be happy to run one off for you.

I'll also be interested to hear how yours star tests. Mine isn't great but is useable. It shows some astigmatism, which I tried reducing by rotating the two lens elements to different orientation from each other (something that sometimes works quite well but in this case didn't), so that was what I was really after was another objective. But they are somewhat ubiquitous so I'll find a better one somewhere down the road.

Again, congratulations on a nice scope and I look forward to swapping some 60mm Lafayette info with you.

Don

[Bonco]

Don,
Thanks for the info. I'm very excited about this purchase and I'll meet with the seller on Sunday. He's been very up front explaining the imperfections. Seems the objective is unscrathed and clear. Glad to know there is someone out there that knows about the Lafayette scopes.
Bonco

[dbledsoe]

Bonco,

You have good reason to be excited about your new Lafayette. They are classics. A truly fine telescope (I've had several over the years). Did I mention that they are true classics... oops... I think I already said that... but hey, they are.

I look forward to reading your initial impression of your Lafayette as you unpack it. It is indeed true that they don't make them like they used to. You have a joyous find. I do hope you enjoy it as you should. I'm old enough to tell you that they indeed do not make them like they used to. A shame.

Don

[ngc6475]

Good for you, Bonco! I think you'll really like your "new" scope and I hope you continue to post reports!

[Richard B. Drumm]

Guys, that is soooo cool! I still have my 1960s vintage Lafayette 2.4" on an EQ mount with all the eyepieces! I saved my allowance as a kid to get the thing and it was my first telescope! The mount needed to be taken apart and lubed, or something, because it ended up a hateful thing. As a result of that experience I almost didn't get a GEM with my second scope, the Orion Atlas 10, except the price for the Orion (used) was unbeatable.

Post some pictures as soon as you can!
Rich

[moynihan]

I have a 3" f/12 Lafayette objective that was re-tubed. Excellent achromat!

[Bonco]

I'll get the scope this Sunday and will be wanting to buy some .965 eyepieces. Let me know if any of you guys have some for sale. Also will be looking for an eyepiece for the finder. I'll post my first impressions once I get it.
Thanks Guys, Bonco

[dbledsoe]

I'll get the scope this Sunday and will be wanting to buy some .965 eyepieces. Let me know if any of you guys have some for sale. Also will be looking for an eyepiece for the finder. I'll post my first impressions once I get it.
Thanks Guys, Bonco

Bonco,

I'll dig through my .965" stash this weekend and see what I can come up with for you.

Don

[Bonco]

Thanky Don, Let me know what you find.
Bonco

[Bonco]

Got the scope today. It looks in good shape, escpecially the mount and the objective lens. The tube should polish up nicely. I think I'll refinish the tripod legs. Need some .965 eyepieces to test it though. Me thinks this picture will send ok...Here goes.
Bonco

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[dbledsoe]

Thanky Don, Let me know what you find.
Bonco

Bonco,

Here's what I came up with in vintage .965" eyepieces: H6mm, H9mm, H12.5mm, & AH20mm. They may not be identical to what originally came with your scope but they are period correct and will get you started. Some are a bit rough looking but have good glass and work fine. The glass can be cleaned up with a bit of caution... the bit of caution being that you shouldn't disassemble them unless you absolutely need to since dirt rarely gets between the elements... unless they have been disassembled by a careless person before you.

PM me with an address and I'll send them on the way to you (at no cost as my only interest is to help keep these fine vintage scopes in service).

I think I might also have an eyepiece for your finder but that will take a bit more digging, and it likely won't have cross hairs, if it works at all... but I should be able to tell since I have the same scope and finder.

Don

[macpurity]

Years ago, I had Lafayette catalogs, but they're long gone. But here is a link to a 1967 advertisement that features the 2.4" and 3" refractors.

[kysunlover]

That was some dough back in the day!!

GM

[Bonco]

Don,
Can't believe your generosity and really appreciate the help. I've sent you a private email with my address. Thanks again. Bonco

[Richard B. Drumm]

Macpurity:
Thanks for posting that old advertisement! It sure brings back memories from my childhood. It was around 1964 or 65 when I saved my pennies and bought the Polaris. I'd forgotten that it was called Polaris! Man oh man...
Rich

[Bonco]

Finally got to view with the Lafayette. Don was so kind to send me 4 .965 vintage eyepieces. The skies were cloudy with high altitude stratus but I was able to star test on Altair and Deneb.
The equitorial mount is superb and rock steady. The slow motion controls and control locks work smoothly. The chromed focusing tubes also worked like new and so did the rack and pinion focuser.
Star tests using Don's eyepieces revealed pin point star images from 20mm to 6 mm. At 6 mm the diffraction disk of Deneb was excellent. What's so nice with quality refractors is the star is nestled in a perfectly black background despite light polluted skies. I'm very happy with this classic scope and will post pictures of it soon.
Bonco

[Bonco]

Last night my skies finally cleared and Orion was bright in the sky. Using Don's supplied eyepieces I easily viewed the Rigel secondary component. Sigma Orionis showed all 4 stars.
The Trapezium split up nicely too. Best views were with the 12mm and the 9mm. The 6mm seemed too high power for my unsteady skies. Couldn't split A&B of Alnitak but saw the C component. I'll try again in a steadier sky. As I've previously indicated I'm impressed with the excellent mount. The optics are impressive too.
Final restoration involves sanding and refinishing the tripod legs and repainting the finder.
Bonco

[Bonco]

Here's a picture of my improvements on the 2.4. Mostly cleaning and repainting. She's almost flawless as there are no more visible paint chips on the mount, the chrome focusing tubes are perfectly clean and both the finder and main tube are free of dings and scratches.
Bonco

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[dbledsoe]

Bill,

Your Lafayette scope is looking really good! Congratulations on a nice find!!!

I can't tell from your picture why your RA cable connection shaft point would be different than mine. If your are behind the scope the left hand RA shaft on mine has an aluminum knob/wheel held in place by a central screw (the same as the focusing knobs are held in place on the focuser pinion shaft), but the right hand side of mine has the typical shaft with a flat on it for the RA cable lock screw to mate with to keep the RA cable from rotating on the shaft.

Can you provide a closeup photo of the right hand side RA shaft?

Don

[Bonco]

Don,
After reading your post I looked carefully at the RA shafts. Both sides have a sleeve with a center screw that is nodoubt there to mount a turning knob. I was able to remove the sleeve on the left side and install the flex cable. Wasn't able to remove the sleeve on the right side, as I couldn't get a good leverage point to prise it off.
No worries the cable works fine on the left side despite not having a flat spot on the shaft. Hope this makes sense.
Bonco