19 replies to this topic

[VVObserve]

Just thought I would share a photo of my 10" Cave mirror. 

 

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Cave Optical Co #M716119
f/7  70 1/2" FL Feb 23 1971

 

I removed the mirror for cleaning but the light for a picture revealed a rather thin coating with far too many holes.

 

Getting ready to ship for re-coating now.

Going price for enhanced aluminum...$200 plus shipping.

Gotta take care of this 53 year old beauty.

 

Anyone have information on the Cave Optical Co serial # system and mirror engravings?

 

 

 

[jragsdale]

Check out this thread for Cave mirror info: 

https://www.cloudyni...irror-registry/

[TOMDEY]

My older Cave mirror was (and is!) absolutely spectacular... perfect correction and smooth center to edge. I've heard that some later Cave mirrors were ~meh~ --- but I don't recall how much younger.    Tom

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Edited by TOMDEY, 30 September 2024 - 05:22 PM.

[VVObserve]

And here is a photo of the 10" f/7 Cave Astrola Newtonian Reflector.

 

 

[VVObserve]

My older Cave mirror was (and is!) absolutely spectacular... perfect correction and smooth center to edge. I've heard that some later Cave mirrors were ~meh~ --- but I don't recall how much younger.    Tom

I have not tested this mirror but the scope performs very well.

I may run a Foucalt Test after the re-coating.

[TOMDEY]

My Astrola is this model and vintage, but with an even beefier mount! --- >>>

 

Word of the day --- "beefier" >>>

 

beef·y
/ˈbēfē/
adjective
comparative adjective: beefier
1.
informal
muscular or robust.
"he shrugged his beefy shoulders"
Similar:
muscular brawny hefty burly strapping well built thickset solid strong powerful heavy robust sturdy stocky
2.
tasting like beef. ~

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[tim53]

I always thought the best caption for those Cave ads with the guy in the shop coat holding the HC and staring up at the telescope would be "Now what?"

[deSitter]

I always thought the best caption for those Cave ads with the guy in the shop coat holding the HC and staring up at the telescope would be "Now what?"

"Wait a minute - that's not Polaris!"

 

-drl

[azure1961p]

I LOVED their catalog in the 70s.  I had no idea their short focus newts needed correction (Paracorr) I was just enamored.

 

Pete 

[PiSigma]

Just thought I would share a photo of my 10" Cave mirror. 

 

Cave Optical 10%22 f:7.jpeg​

Cave Optical Co #M716119
f/7  70 1/2" FL Feb 23 1971

 

I removed the mirror for cleaning but the light for a picture revealed a rather thin coating with far too many holes.

 

Getting ready to ship for re-coating now.

Going price for enhanced aluminum...$200 plus shipping.

Gotta take care of this 53 year old beauty.

 

Anyone have information on the Cave Optical Co serial # system and mirror engravings?

I have added your mirror to the Cave Mirror Registry. Just in time for one of my usual quarterly updates. Thank you for the addition.

[VVObserve]

I have added your mirror to the Cave Mirror Registry. Just in time for one of my usual quarterly updates. Thank you for the addition.

It appears to be a deluxe model as the OTA has the set of rotating rings which is a very nice feature...although I rarely rotate the tube.

 

Thanks for adding this 10" Cave Astrola to the Cave Mirror Registry!

 

I purchased the scope on eBay about 15 years ago.

[VVObserve]

My Astrola is this model and vintage, but with an even beefier mount! --- >>>

 

 

My 12 1/2 inch Cave is a humble Standard Model.  The tube attached to the mount with steel straps. A strap  broke when the scope tipped over in my slanty back yard.  This was my motivation to build a proper roll off roof to protect my Caves.

 

8" Cassegrain / Newtonian Model with Astrola Mount purchased from Company Seven in the 1980's

The Cassegrain mirror does not seem to have any engraving.

I will photo and post that mirror soon since it is also out for cleaning.

 

10" Deluxe Model Newtonian with a chromed Astrola Mount modified with a Byers gear.

Now in the Cave Mirror Registry, yah!

 

12 1/2" Standard Model with Astrola Mount

I have never had this mirror out.  Bought from a chap in Ohio.

However I am in the process of removing this mirror too for a good look see and maybe a cleaning.

I will post this mirror too.

 

TOMDEY, that is one LOADED scope!

I bow in awe.

Edited by VVObserve, 05 October 2024 - 07:54 PM.

[VVObserve]

Photos of 12 1/2" Cave Mirror 

 

No engraving on side of mirror.

 

LS    EO engraved on back.

 

 

 

 

[VVObserve]

Photos of Cave 8" Cassegrain Mirror from my Newtonian/Cassegrain Astrola telescope pictured below.

 

No engraving on side of mirror

#4 written on back in pencil.

 

 

 

Is there a story behind  Cave Mirrors with no engraving?

 

I do believe the 12 1/2" and 8" mirrors in my Cave Optical Company Astrola scopes are the original mirrors...but no Cave engravings evident on the mirrors.

Edited by VVObserve, 06 October 2024 - 03:43 PM.

[deSitter]

Photos of Cave 8" Cassegrain Mirror from my Newtonian/Cassegrain Astrola telescope pictured below.

 

No engraving on side of mirror

#4 written on back in pencil.

 

Cave 8%22 Cass.jpeg

 

Cave8%22Cassegrain.jpeg

Cave Astrola Newtonian Cassegrain.jpeg

 

Is there a story behind  Cave Mirrors with no engraving?

 

I do believe the 12 1/2" and 8" mirrors in my Cave Optical Company Astrola scopes are the original mirrors...but no Cave engravings evident on the mirrors.

I heard here that the Cassegrain optics for later Caves were made by Coulter Optical.

 

-drl

[bjkaras]

It appears to be a deluxe model as the OTA has the set of rotating rings which is a very nice feature...although I rarely rotate the tube.

 

Thanks for adding this 10" Cave Astrola to the Cave Mirror Registry!

 

I purchased the scope on eBay about 15 years ago.

I love those rotating rings! They make observing with my 10” so much easier. I wouldn’t mind having them for my 6” too, although that’s not critical. Just something nice to have.

[PiSigma]

No story behind them I'm aware of. There have been several mirrors in Cave Newtonians that had no engravings. In a couple of cases they were still owned by the original owner. Maybe a few mirrors slipped out with no engravings? If a Cave with no mirror engravings is not in the original owner's possession then who knows what might have happened to it along the way.

 

Cave Cassegrains are few and far between in the Registry. Cave didn't start making/selling Casses until the early 70s, so that has something to do with the smaller amount over the life of Cave Optical. So not much data to go with. We do have 7 Cass mirrors in the registry plus a couple of DKs with normal Cave engravings. I added a couple at the end that had at least some recordable engraving. One starts with TLI which is probably Tinsley Labs.  

Edited by PiSigma, 12 October 2024 - 06:57 PM.

[VVObserve]

Not a Cave mirror but just for fun....here is my 16" mirror.

The mirror has had a bit of a rough life ( see big chip on edge).

I had it recoated by Spectrum Optical.

At 36 pounds (16.3 kilograms) it is a lovely chunk of glass.

I may put it in a Dob mount.

Is it feasible to mount this in a more traditional Newtonian OTA for use on a GEM?

 

[photoracer18]

Photos of Cave 8" Cassegrain Mirror from my Newtonian/Cassegrain Astrola telescope pictured below.

 

No engraving on side of mirror

#4 written on back in pencil.

 

Cave 8%22 Cass.jpeg

 

Cave8%22Cassegrain.jpeg

Cave Astrola Newtonian Cassegrain.jpeg

 

Is there a story behind  Cave Mirrors with no engraving?

 

I do believe the 12 1/2" and 8" mirrors in my Cave Optical Company Astrola scopes are the original mirrors...but no Cave engravings evident on the mirrors.

My Cave 12.5" Convertible Cass-Newt had a replacement mirror from Optical Craftsman signed by Dick Brandt

[TOMDEY]

I always thought the best caption for those Cave ads with the guy in the shop coat holding the HC and staring up at the telescope would be "Now what?"

Actually, that's one of the most common threads here on CN "Beginning Deep Sky Imaging" where a new hobbyist "researched" what to buy (aka lustfully read the glossy advertisements) and then dropped thousands on what he imagined would be the ideal complete imaging kit. The crates and boxes arrive from multiple sources and a week later his first thread appears... "The dealers sent me stuff that doesn't work; what should I do?!" About the only fitting counsel is, "You should have ordered a Brownie Box Telescope."    Tom

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