7 replies to this topic

[Tom Duncan]

Can anyone tell me what specific Meade mounts this motor fits? I have a ton of Meade catalogs but it looks like they are either newer or older than this piece. An internet image search revealed nothing after combing through dozens of pages. 

 

It's for USA power, 110v/60hz, made in Japan. 

 

Any thoughts? 

 

And yes, it runs. 

 

Thanks 

 

Tom Duncan 

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Edited by Tom Duncan, 24 September 2024 - 08:15 PM.

[CHASLX200]

Looks like it went on a fract from around 1980.

[J A VOLK]

Very similar to Unitron RA drives.  I think I remember way back Meade made a few Unitron knock-offs (4").  Maybe they adapted rebranded Unitron drives.

[Tom Duncan]

Very similar to Unitron RA drives.  I think I remember way back Meade made a few Unitron knock-offs (4").  Maybe they adapted rebranded Unitron drives.

Your post prompted me to do some research on Unitron/Polarex drives, mine looks like the one made for the 131 mount. 

 

Do did Meade make this for Unitron/Polarex or did Meade market a mount that was made by Unitron or perhaps a clone?

 

Tom

Edited by Tom Duncan, 24 September 2024 - 08:13 PM.

[NinePlanets]

Meade imported Japanese refractors. That is how they got started. Meade never manufactured any drive like that.

[deSitter]

This is almost surely from a 400-series refractor. The flagship Meade refractor in the 70s was the Model 447 Photo-Equatorial. It was marked Towa but the mount and fittings were Nihon-Seiko all the way, like the Unitron Model 160.

 

-drl

[deSitter]

Here's the drive mounted on the 447.

 

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

 

-drl

[Tom Duncan]

Thanks all, that pins it down. 

 

Tom