160 replies to this topic

[Ian King]

I keep telling myself I am downsizing and for any new scope that comes in one has to leave. Unfortunately I have not been very good at listening to myself so the classic collection has expanded several times in the past year.

[CHASLX200]

I'm trying to decrease the quantity but the size of my scopes keeps increasing so my garage is still filling up.

Find a nice used Cave 16" f/8 Observatory Newt and i will be moving in with ya. Always one of my top dream Newts. Gonna need a ladder.

Edited by CHASLX200, 24 April 2024 - 05:58 AM.

[John Huntley]

I think I only have 3 scopes which might merit inclusion as "classics", a Tasco 12-TE5 achromat (1960's), a Vixen ED102SS (circa 2000) and an Elliott / BC&F 75mm F/16 brass achromat (built around 1992). That group has increased by one recently (the Elliott / BC&F).

 

My other scopes date from 2006 and 2015 so don't yet merit the term "classic" although I'm sure as least 2 of them will, in due course 

Edited by John Huntley, 26 April 2024 - 10:21 AM.

[Exnihilo]

I just have classic mounts, no scopes. Might let one or two go.  

[DouglasPaul]

I keep saying I have to downsize, but that doesn't seem to happen. I bought a Selsi 247 just a couple days ago. 

 

I did put one up for sale but it takes up about 1/4 of the room of the Selsi so I don't think that counts.

[Terra Nova]

I just have classic mounts, no scopes. Might let one or two go.  

I downsized those too! I think the only thing that I have that might count as a classic mount these days is my Bogen 3040.

Edited by Terra Nova, 26 April 2024 - 12:05 PM.

[Astrojensen]

 

So what’s in your classic collection, and are you upsizing or downsizing?

My collection seems to go only one way: Up. Whether I want it to or not. Often, I find myself the only one interested in an old scope otherwise destined for the landfill. A few days ago, I rescued the first Coronagraph built in Denmark. More on that one later, when I get it home. 

 

Terra mentioned not having any equatorial mounts anymore. Here, they seem to be gathering in crowds. I've kinda lost count, but I think I have around ten or so. 

 

I'm starting to quite desperately need a lathe for many of the projects.

 

 

Clear skies!

Thomas, Denmark

[Sasa]

My classic collection is fairly stable last ten years: Telementor (the only original complete classic), and then some lenses: E50/540, AS80, AS110. In those 10 years I was playing with several types of scopes (Newtons, Mak, Cassegrain, refractors). I ended up with Tak FOA60 and 100DZ.

Edited by Sasa, 28 April 2024 - 10:36 AM.

[bjkaras]

My collection has stabilized over the years. I’m a Newtonian guy and have two of those, but I do have one refractor, a 6” f12. I’m thinking of selling that one, because as it turns out I just don’t use it very often. My 6” f8 is much more convenient to use, and that’s what I’ve been using mostly as of late. I save the 10” f5 for trips to my dark sites. The light pollution in my neighborhood doesn’t justify setting it up, which leaves me with the 6” f8. I’m thinking of moving to an area with darker skies, so I can mount the 19” permanently. If that happens I might get a heavier mounting for the refractor, but right now that’s a 50/50 proposition. So in the long run I will either keep the status quo thin out the herd. But who knows, if I do build the observatory I might just upsize from the 10”. Stay tuned, news at 11.

[CHASLX200]

I keep adding to the trunk. Picked up a Starbound chair today and the other half of my LX50. What a hunk of junkt he forks are on a wedge. Jitter city kitty. I am gonna take it off the forks so fast heads will spin,

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Edited by CHASLX200, 28 April 2024 - 03:22 PM.

[deSitter]

I keep adding to the trunk. Picked up a Starbound chair today and the other half of my LX50. What a hunk of junkt he forks are on a wedge. Jitter city kitty. I am gonna take it off the forks so fast heads will spin,

Great, now park your headquarters on one of those and start using this stuff. Challenge - see the lane in M104.

 

-drl

[CHASLX200]

Great, now park your headquarters on one of those and start using this stuff. Challenge - see the lane in M104.

 

-drl

Can't even see 104 in my skies.  It is going back on the GP.

[clamchip]

If you ever sit and watch a squirrel, that's me.

Busy with my nuts, moving them from here to there. Nut maintenance is important too.

Sometimes I forget how many nuts I have, or where they all are, but that's OK, all the

more fun.

I can live off my accumulated nuts just fine. A fresh nut is a treat, so I keep an eye on

the ads.

 

Robert

[jragsdale]

If you ever sit and watch a squirrel, that's me.

Busy with my nuts, moving them from here to there. Nut maintenance is important too.

Sometimes I forget how many nuts I have, or where they all are, but that's OK, all the more fun.

I can live off my accumulated nuts just fine. A fresh nut is a treat, so I keep an eye on the ads.

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[starman876]

This is really getting intense in these conversations,   Not sure if  we all can keep up.  However, I am sure we can  figure it out  in our in vime

Edited by starman876, 29 April 2024 - 11:28 AM.

[CHASLX200]

Just more junk in the trunk as it is like booze to me and i can't stop.

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[starman876]

Slowly I am selling stuff off.   Got rid of some bigger scopes.   Still got a few big ones left.  It is hard to say goodbye to old friends.  Might keep the TMB 100/800 until last.   That is a scope you can push to insane powers for a 4" scope and  it just keeps going.  

[tim53]

If you ever sit and watch a squirrel, that's me.

Busy with my nuts, moving them from here to there. Nut maintenance is important too.

Sometimes I forget how many nuts I have, or where they all are, but that's OK, all the

more fun.

I can live off my accumulated nuts just fine. A fresh nut is a treat, so I keep an eye on

the ads.

 

Robert

And, as Johnny Carson once said:  "A man has a right to protect his nuts"

[CHASLX200]

Slowly I am selling stuff off.   Got rid of some bigger scopes.   Still got a few big ones left.  It is hard to say goodbye to old friends.  Might keep the TMB 100/800 until last.   That is a scope you can push to insane powers for a 4" scope and  it just keeps going.  

Used one before.  It was right there with my TMB105/650.

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[starman876]

Used one before.  It was right there with my TMB105/650.

I doubt it could have kept up with the TMB 100/800. Considered one of the finest 4" scope in the world.   I bought one because a person with a Zeiss 4" APO was neck and neck withe the TMB. That was good enough for me. And they were right. 

Edited by starman876, 30 April 2024 - 06:13 PM.

[CHASLX200]

I doubt it could have kept up with the TMB 100/800. Considered one of the finest 4" scope in the world.   I bought one because a person with a Zeiss 4" APO was neck and neck withe the TMB. That was good enough for me. And they were right. 

Better read up on the 105/650.  I could offer 3.5k for a mint 100/800 CNC in gray like my 105 was.

Edited by CHASLX200, 30 April 2024 - 06:19 PM.

[starman876]

Better read up on the 105/650.  I could offer 3.5k for a mint 100/800 CNC in gray like my 105 was.

what you would  offer and what you would actually pay is two different things

[CHASLX200]

what you would  offer and what you would actually pay is two different things

If i said 3.5k then that is what i would pay for a gray CNC version flat out.  I had the best view ever of the sun thru a 100/800 back around 1999 at a start party marty. Always wanted one.

[starman876]

If i said 3.5k then that is what i would pay for a gray CNC version flat out.  I had the best view ever of the sun thru a 100/800 back around 1999 at a start party marty. Always wanted one.

What a shame I have a black one from APM with the same lens as the grey one.  I would happily take 3.5K

[CHASLX200]

What a shame I have a black one from APM with the same lens as the grey one.  I would happily take 3.5K

That is another version with the smaller tube. Maybe 2.5k...