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Is this a Super Polaris?

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#1 ericb760

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Posted 21 October 2024 - 10:14 PM

Saw this on SGW. Pick Up only, but it's close to me. Can someone tell me what model this is?

SP

 



#2 RalphMeisterTigerMan

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Posted 21 October 2024 - 10:20 PM

Definitely a Vixen but not sure if it's a super polaris. What is the asking price?

 

Clear skies and keep looking up!

RalphMeisterTigerMan



#3 BlueMoon

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Posted 21 October 2024 - 10:38 PM

Looks like an old-style CG-4. Might be Vixen or not. A newer version, the OMNI CG-4 is sold by Celestron I believe. Cheers.


Edited by BlueMoon, 21 October 2024 - 10:49 PM.

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#4 Refractor6

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Posted 21 October 2024 - 10:44 PM

  Looks to me like it could possibly also be the clone made by Synta back in the day called the Skywatcher EQ4 {late 90's early 2000's}


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#5 Refractor6

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Posted 21 October 2024 - 10:51 PM

 Here's a pic of a close up of mine from 2001 with the motor clock drives to compare:

 

5241271-152 f8 1 004.JPG

 


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#6 deSitter

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Posted 21 October 2024 - 10:53 PM

Looks like an old-style CG-4. Might be Vixen or not. A newer version, the OMNI CG-4 is sold by Celestron I believe. Cheers.

Yes agreed. This was the version before dovetail saddles. It's a good mount in its own right. Obviously "inspired" by the SP. Generic mount is Synta EQ3-2.

 

-drl


Edited by deSitter, 21 October 2024 - 10:55 PM.

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#7 ericb760

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Posted 21 October 2024 - 10:55 PM

Definitely a Vixen but not sure if it's a super polaris. What is the asking price?

 

Clear skies and keep looking up!

RalphMeisterTigerMan

$74.95, but it also appears to include a Celestron 102HD refractor.
 


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#8 kasprowy

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Posted 21 October 2024 - 10:58 PM

I paid $600 brand new for that setup in the year 2000. I just put it away after looking at Saturn and Jupiter tonight. $75 for a C102HD and a CG4 is a steal. It's an achromat, but I've been using mine for 24 years now.

Edited by kasprowy, 21 October 2024 - 11:01 PM.

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#9 Refractor6

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Posted 21 October 2024 - 11:02 PM

Yes agreed. This was the version before dovetail saddles. It's a good mount in its own right. Obviously "inspired" by the SP. Generic mount is Synta EQ3-2.

 

-drl

 Yes indeed... I compared the pictures of the 2 and it looks like the Synta EQ3-2. Mines the one that followed with the dovetail saddle they called the EQ4


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#10 Refractor6

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Posted 21 October 2024 - 11:08 PM

$74.95, but it also appears to include a Celestron 102HD refractor.
 

 That's a hell of a deal if the scope's still in good shape ubetcha.gif


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#11 ericb760

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Posted 21 October 2024 - 11:13 PM

 That's a hell of a deal if the scope's still in good shape ubetcha.gif

Keep in mind that that is the opening bid price. So far no one has bid on it. Most likely because it is "pick up only". I fully expect it to go over $100 by the end of the auction. I will be keeping my eye on it, obviously.



#12 Littlegreenman

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Posted 22 October 2024 - 12:00 AM

In identifying things like this you can never have too many pictures.



#13 ericb760

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Posted 22 October 2024 - 01:02 AM

In identifying things like this you can never have too many pictures.

The only pics I have are HERE.



#14 MisterDan

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Posted 22 October 2024 - 01:12 AM

Here's a quick/easy check:  the declination lock knob/lever on both the Great and Super Polaris is located at the "front" of the dec. housing (same "front" as the polar scope aperture).  Synta's dec. lock is down on the "side" of the housing.

 

The Great Polaris had a similar fluted counterweight shaft lock nut/knob:

http://www.company7....nts/gpegem.html

 

-But the Super's lock nut/knob was a long octagonal nut:

https://astro-gadget...2020/11/2-2.jpg

 

Regardless, best of luck with the auction.

Cheers!


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#15 Kasmos

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Posted 22 October 2024 - 02:35 AM

Yup, Synta clone.

 

First thing I noticed was the lever style and location.

Second thing was what MisterDan pointed out about the counter weight nut styles. 

 

BTW, you consider San Diego close?

If it was a Vixen I'd understand but I'm not sure I'd make that drive for it. 


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#16 CHASLX200

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Posted 22 October 2024 - 05:43 AM

Nothing Vixen would ever stoop down to making. I had the very first version of CG4 and 5 in 1997 with the small metal legs and they were very crude.


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#17 deSitter

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Posted 22 October 2024 - 07:21 AM

Nothing Vixen would ever stoop down to making. I had the very first version of CG4 and 5 in 1997 with the small metal legs and they were very crude.

I have the modern incarnation with the dovetail saddle, and it is a very nice mount. Incredibly smooth worms and excellent machining. It is the Astroview incarnation from the 2000s.

 

-drl


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#18 upwinddan

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Posted 22 October 2024 - 09:08 AM

Doesn’t look like my SP. Also, doesn’t look Vixen.  There’s a number of very experienced folks that believe that the early clones were trash but greatly improved over the years. 



#19 Don W

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Posted 22 October 2024 - 10:40 AM

The early SP and GP mounts had wooden tripods. For that reason I have to agree with the others that this is a clone.

 

DonW



#20 Refractor6

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Posted 22 October 2024 - 11:00 AM

I have the modern incarnation with the dovetail saddle, and it is a very nice mount. Incredibly smooth worms and excellent machining. It is the Astroview incarnation from the 2000s.

 

-drl

  The two I have from the early to mid 2000's have served me well. No issues to date and the old motor clock drives bought and installed back then are still working perfectly.

 

 Agree with Don....I remember the Vixen mounts I saw come to the old telescope shop came with the wooden tripods. The first thing any owners of the EQ4 clones did was replace those unstable aluminum tripod legs that came with them with some solid steel ones....big difference for stability making the mount work well.



#21 Exnihilo

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Posted 22 October 2024 - 11:02 AM

Yep, EQ3, also Called CG-4, the Chinese Synta Super Polaris clone, that has the old saddle, which matches the “Polaris” (not Super Polaris) saddle. . Not a very good clone actually, but not a bad mount either. I had one for quite a few years but finally acquired SPs, a GP, and an SPDX. Aluminum tripod legs are pretty disappointing. NOT a proper classic mount. 


Edited by Exnihilo, 22 October 2024 - 11:04 AM.

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#22 Martin

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Posted 22 October 2024 - 03:29 PM

Yes, these were the mounts that came with the original C102HD, that were made in China. I know some people do not care for these mounts but I have one that I leave in the garage set up and ready to go. All I have to do then is bring a 4 inch OTA out and I am viewing in minutes. Its not a bad mount at all. I do have a Super Polaris and Great Polaris as well and they are a bit better, but this mount is just fine for a 4 inch refractor or smaller. Mine has really smooth motion in both RA and Dec. and is an all around good mount. 

 

Martin 


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#23 CHASLX200

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Posted 22 October 2024 - 05:59 PM

I have the modern incarnation with the dovetail saddle, and it is a very nice mount. Incredibly smooth worms and excellent machining. It is the Astroview incarnation from the 2000s.

 

-drl

The CG4 and 5 got better with time and the bigger tripods. But that first year was rough vs the Vixen stuff.Tar for grease i guess.


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#24 ericb760

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Posted 22 October 2024 - 10:59 PM

Yup, Synta clone.

 

First thing I noticed was the lever style and location.

Second thing was what MisterDan pointed out about the counter weight nut styles. 

 

BTW, you consider San Diego close?

If it was a Vixen I'd understand but I'm not sure I'd make that drive for it. 

For what appears to be a C102 I would drive two hours to S.D. Also, my kids live there.


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#25 deSitter

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Posted 22 October 2024 - 11:14 PM

For what appears to be a C102 I would drive two hours to S.D. Also, my kids live there.

Go by way of Palomar :)

 

-drl


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