26 replies to this topic

[bartine]

I have a classic 6" f10 refractor - and it came on an original Magnusson heavy duty mount.

I asked The gentleman I got it from who was in his 80s if he could tell me about the scope.  The OTA was one of 5 made by a professor down in Florida  - he though his name might have been "John Shagowski" but he really wasn't sure on the spelling. 

When I asked about the mount, he said it was a Magnusson heavy duty mount.  Then - he pulled out a stack of 1960s / 70s Sky and Telescope magazines and flipped right to the add he used to get the mount.  That was pretty darn cool.

 

He apparently got the drives and drive controller / corrector from Paul Rini. 

 

He also had a picture of when he won an award in the 1950s for his 6" telescope he made with Edmund mirrors and such, and he had all those parts in a box.  Also got a 10" and a 12.5" F8 mirror and a 12.5" f6 reflector on a beast of a mount.

 

He was a true gentleman -  pretty darn cool.

 

 

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[bartine]

Science fair pictures -he had them framed in his garage...

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[Couder]

very nice, having the history adds so much.

[Paul Sweeney]

Very nice scope! Let us know how it performs. A friend of mine has a 6"f/10 Wachter refractor. It delivers outstanding images. No comparison to the 6"f/8 scopes of today.

[bartine]

I had it out this week - I maxed out my eyepieces on the moon and the images were still very sharp.  Right about at 500x.

 

Here is a scan of the add out of Sky and Telescope - apparently Magnusson sold the mounts without drives.  The drive system is pretty intricate - don't know where he got that.

 

Ben

 

 

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[bartine]

The 12.5" f6 reflector itself appears to be newer than the refractor.  It has a nice Crayford focuser on it and it looks original.  I think he got it around 1990 / 2000. The mount it is on is a classic 2" Gem - massively heavy.  It supports the 12.5" scope very easily.

 

No slow motion controls on the big Gem.

 

Unfortunately the mirror coating is deteriorated pretty badly - will have to get it recoated to really use it...

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Edited by bartine, 28 June 2023 - 01:56 PM.

[upwinddan]

Wonderful story!

[clamchip]

What a fantastic collection of cool telescopes!

The big newt mounting rings and mount are Star-Liner, and its possible the OTA is too.

 

Robert

[deSitter]

The 12.5" f6 reflector itself appears to be newer than the refractor.  It has a nice Crayford focuser on it and it looks original.  I think he got it around 1990 / 2000. The mount it is on is a classic 2" Gem - massively heavy.  It supports the 12.5" scope very easily.

 

No slow motion controls on the big Gem.

 

Unfortunately the mirror coating is deteriorated pretty badly - will have to get it recoated to really use it...

So you went out to Conyers and collected these! Great work! I had no space for it, and it was painful!

 

-drl

[MDearingJaxFL]

The reflector appears to be on a Starliner EQ Mount

The person who produced the Optics for the refractor is likely Jan Sugalsky who is or was a professor at the University of Florida in Gainesville

Mark in Jax, FL

[bartine]

They had a house on Lake Sinclair - It was a really pretty location.  

 

After your note Robert, I went a looked - it sure looks like the mount is a Star-liner - 

 

I found a picture of the motor box (attached) - it is definitely the same.  Same red light and power button. Same knobs and such.

As for the OTA - I'm not sure - the Crayford focuser looks like it was designed as part of the scope - not added later.

I took the mirror out to try to clean it.  I was hoping it was dust and grime.  Unfortunately, the coatings are pretty gone - I don't think it is usable as is.

 

I didn't take the mirror out of the cell - I will try to see if there are any markings on it...

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[bartine]

The reflector appears to be on a Starliner EQ Mount

The person who produced the Optics for the refractor is likely Jan Sugalsky who is or was a professor at the University of Florida in Gainesville

Mark in Jax, FL

That has to be the right person Mark.  It is sweet to have the right name.
 

A lot of care went into the lens - the images are very sharp...

 

Ben

[deSitter]

They had a house on Lake Sinclair - It was a really pretty location.  

 

After your note Robert, I went a looked - it sure looks like the mount is a Star-liner - 

 

I found a picture of the motor box (attached) - it is definitely the same.  Same red light and power button. Same knobs and such.

As for the OTA - I'm not sure - the Crayford focuser looks like it was designed as part of the scope - not added later.

I took the mirror out to try to clean it.  I was hoping it was dust and grime.  Unfortunately, the coatings are pretty gone - I don't think it is usable as is.

 

I didn't take the mirror out of the cell - I will try to see if there are any markings on it...

That's beautiful!

 

-drl

[CHASLX200]

It's a Starliner mount missing parts or the circles anyway. I had the 2" version years ago.

Edited by CHASLX200, 28 June 2023 - 06:10 PM.

[bartine]

Put the mirror in and collimated the scope.  There is no center spot, so eyeballed it.

 

The mirror is a good one. Even with the rough coatings, the views were sharp on the moon at 432x.  It did look like the moon had a bright halo around it because of the light dispersion.  

 

The only mark on the mirror I found (I did not take it out of the cell) was the name "HORTON".

 

It is  a 2" thick 12.5 - a pretty classic size.

 

Maybe the OTA was originally a Starliner, but if so it has been updated with the new focuser and Ken Novak mirror cell and spider.  It appears that it has black paint covering the aluminum beauty rings.  The blue color is either very well applied or is original.

 

Now - have to decide where to send it to get recoated...

 

Clear skies to all...

Ben

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[bartine]

Here is a pic of the name on the back of the mirror.  I think it says "HORTON"...

 

I couldn't find any reference to a mirror maker named "Horton".  

Ben

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[tim53]

Put the mirror in and collimated the scope.  There is no center spot, so eyeballed it.

 

The mirror is a good one. Even with the rough coatings, the views were sharp on the moon at 432x.  It did look like the moon had a bright halo around it because of the light dispersion.  

 

The only mark on the mirror I found (I did not take it out of the cell) was the name "HORTON".

 

It is  a 2" thick 12.5 - a pretty classic size.

 

Maybe the OTA was originally a Starliner, but if so it has been updated with the new focuser and Ken Novak mirror cell and spider.  It appears that it has black paint covering the aluminum beauty rings.  The blue color is either very well applied or is original.

 

Now - have to decide where to send it to get recoated...

 

Clear skies to all...

Ben

The blue looks like theTrekerscope Galaxy series.  If it's fiberglass, it might have been a Trekerscope tube, although Parks made these tubes and might have solld them separately in blue.

 

-tim.

[YourNotSirius]

For coatings we use Spectrum Coatings. Paul has always provided us with top shelf service at reasonable prices. What's even better is that his facility is in your part of the woods.

 

Q

 

Spectrum Coatings

1165 Ring St.

Deltona, FL 32725

Tel: 386-848-3924

email:

paul@spectrum-coatings.com

[starman876]

I have a classic 6" f10 refractor - and it came on an original Magnusson heavy duty mount.

I asked The gentleman I got it from who was in his 80s if he could tell me about the scope.  The OTA was one of 5 made by a professor down in Florida  - he though his name might have been "John Shagowski" but he really wasn't sure on the spelling. 

When I asked about the mount, he said it was a Magnusson heavy duty mount.  Then - he pulled out a stack of 1960s / 70s Sky and Telescope magazines and flipped right to the add he used to get the mount.  That was pretty darn cool.

 

He apparently got the drives and drive controller / corrector from Paul Rini. 

 

He also had a picture of when he won an award in the 1950s for his 6" telescope he made with Edmund mirrors and such, and he had all those parts in a box.  Also got a 10" and a 12.5" F8 mirror and a 12.5" f6 reflector on a beast of a mount.

 

He was a true gentleman -  pretty darn cool.

John Shagowski sold a lot of optics that he made.   I bought a 6" F10 refractor from him years ago (maybe like 30)  He made very good optics which he ground and polished himself.    He used to advertise on Amart.

[CHASLX200]

The blue looks like theTrekerscope Galaxy series.  If it's fiberglass, it might have been a Trekerscope tube, although Parks made these tubes and might have solld them separately in blue.

 

-tim.

I think they made some green and pink tubes before.

[WalterG]

Wow!  I was just gifted what I thought was a University Optics mount because on the back of the telescope mirror is still has the UO label.  I want to do some cleaning and restoring.  Andrew Ochadlick posted an article about restoring his mount but I can't seem to find a way to contact him. https://www.cloudyni...ial-mount-r3306. I can't figure out how to disable the mount into its component pieces like Andew has done, and I also must admit I don't understand how to disengage the worm gear to slew the mount. The motor still works but the worm is always engaged.

 

I have already posted a question about this https://www.cloudyni...ptics-eq-mount/ and someone suggested I repost it in the "classics" forum. 

 

Thanks Wally

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[DAVIDG]

 The RA drive has a slip clutch so you just move the scope. If you can't either the RA locking knob is tighten and it shouldn't be or the clutch is stuck. There are two nuts on the  back of the drive that allows the friction of the clutch to be adjusted. The one closest to the gear is the one you adjust the get the friction right and the one on the end is a jam nut that you tighten while holding the first nut in place so it won't allow the first nut to back off.

  The drive is using the same setup as a Cave. It is 1 rpm motor with 10 tooth gear on the shaft. The 10 tooth gear drives a 144 tooth gear on the worm  shaft. The worm drives a 100 tooth gear so you have 1440 :1 gear reduction which is solar rate. 

 

                 - Dave 

Edited by DAVIDG, 04 June 2024 - 05:50 PM.

[apfever]

That is a Star-Liner mount.

[shootingsta98]

Here is a pic of the name on the back of the mirror.  I think it says "HORTON"...

 

I couldn't find any reference to a mirror maker named "Horton".  

Ben

That OTA once belonged to me. It's a Starliner that I modified. Tube is reinforced with wooden rings and fiberglass. Novak cell. I had the tube custom painted using automotive paint. I did not make that mirror - my name was inscribed by the coater when I sent it in to be aluminized. I recall it being an F5, not F6.

Edited by shootingsta98, 04 June 2024 - 01:21 PM.

[Kasmos]

Like DavidG said, it could be just a stuck clutch. My Cave mount sat unused for 10-15 years and the old grease locked up the clutch.