39 replies to this topic

[Bomber Bob]

I used a couple of tiny screws to hold my Dakin 4's first dewshield on.  Found a better fit part later.

[Terra Nova]

That’s a very attractive telescope indeed. The finder may not be original but it does match it nicely and is aesthetically pleasing. The real test will be when you get it out under nighttime skies and put it up against your 4” Vixen F9.8 achromat. Both the visual comparison as well as the mechanical (how rigid the mount is, how well it tracks, etc.) will be interesting. As much as I like old Vixen, in this case, I think I’m going to root for the Meade. BTW, my bet is that it’s Mizar, not Towa. It looks like a really quality scope from your pictures thus far.

 

Go Meade, woot woot!

 

 

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[Bomber Bob]

Well, that Mizar RV-85 EQ should carry your scope well.  I've seen a few white Mizar by Meade 8" SCTs riding it on ZEN.  In fact, there's a white RV-85 up for auction now, but it's missing the counterweight & shaft.  And no tripod, either.

 

[For the first time in years, I don't have a scope on display in my man cave.  I'd like a black 60s / 70s EQ on a pedestal or nice Yoke on a wood tripod for my Dakin 4.  Right now, it's one among many on my refractor wall rack.]

[marcyc]

Thanks, Terra! I really, really am liking this scope - it just feels solid and substantial and very well made. Although it was obviously well used, it was also very well cared for - someone really loved this thing. A few areas of worn paint on the mount, couple of small digs in the tripod, and minor scratches on the tube, but nothing at all to stress about. The worst thing is that it came without any obvious way to power the drive - I think there was a battery box that got lost somewhere along the way and I'm not sure how to replace it (e.g., what I need to get to attach to the odd plug on the drive). All stuff to give me something to tinker with until I can get it out somewhere that isn't covered in trees like my yard is!

[photoracer18]

I have a blue 320 which I am almost positive is a Mizar because I once had a 329 which was a Towa which were easy to recognize by the extended Unitron type .965" drawtube on the focusers. That was an 80mm F15 while the 320 were only F11.3 Also have an Orion 80 (Synta ) F11.3.

[icomet]

Meade 420 model, because no guide scope. Then the model number increases with various guide scopes and other accessories. 

 

Clear Skies. 

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[Bomber Bob]

Meade 420 model, because no guide scope. Then the model number increases with various guide scopes and other accessories. 

 

Clear Skies. 

Cool... How are The Views?  Did we ever track down which Maker TOWA used for the Glass??  Mount??

[deSitter]

Meade 420 model, because no guide scope. Then the model number increases with various guide scopes and other accessories. 

 

Clear Skies. 

Nice! These 70s refractors with NS fittings like Unitron are completely unrelated to the later Mizar-era 4" scopes. The flagship was the 447 Photo-EQ, the analog of the Unitron 160. but 1.25" from the start and supplied with an Olympus OM-1 camera body instead of an archaic bulb-operated plate camera, and a synchronous motor clock drive instead of an equally archaic mechanical clock drive. (The latter is a fine piece of work, I do admit.)

 

-drl

Edited by deSitter, 22 February 2025 - 06:49 AM.

[icomet]

Cool... How are The Views?  Did we ever track down which Maker TOWA used for the Glass??  Mount??

Nihan Seiko (sp.) (Unitron glass).

Mizar mount. There's one example of a complete, decked out model on CN.

Jae has it.

Clear Skies.  

[deSitter]

Nihan Seiko (sp.) (Unitron glass).

Mizar mount. There's one example of a complete, decked out model on CN.

Jae has it.

Clear Skies.  

The mount on the 447 seemed very much like the Unitron 160 mount - some small differences like setting circle color. I assumed they came from the same maker. Yes I remember someone here with a complete 447, it is an absolute grail scope, like the SYW and AO 108mm scopes. The choice of Olympus for the camera body was very interesting. It was already being marketed by its compact form factor and low weight, and it was in fact a very forward-looking camera. They are still making top-tier microscopes.

 

-drl

[CHASLX200]

The mount on the 447 seemed very much like the Unitron 160 mount - some small differences like setting circle color. I assumed they came from the same maker. Yes I remember someone here with a complete 447, it is an absolute grail scope, like the SYW and AO 108mm scopes. The choice of Olympus for the camera body was very interesting. It was already being marketed by its compact form factor and low weight, and it was in fact a very forward-looking camera. They are still making top-tier microscopes.

 

-drl

Mounts don't even look near the same.

[deSitter]

Mounts don't even look near the same.

Oh?

 

https://www.cloudyni...-447/?p=1172693

 

Jae's 447

 

-drl

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[CHASLX200]

Weights and shaft are diff and a more stream lined look.

[starman876]

Weights and shaft are diff and a more stream lined look.

thats about it.  The rest sure looks familiar  

[CHASLX200]

thats about it.  The rest sure looks familiar  

Not in my Meade 1977 Cat. Looks much more stream lined.