633 replies to this topic

[clamchip]

Here's a really good looking Tasco 3 inch 'Astronomical Reflection Telescope' for $175:

https://www.facebook...c7-16434157caef

 

Robert

Edited by clamchip, 02 December 2024 - 06:38 PM.

[CHASLX200]

No Chas, it's not "small" - that is the Classics holy grail 108mm SYW scope and I'm amazed that guy is selling it. It was his pride and joy. I cannot remember his handle but I wish him well. If you love classics and have mad money, that's your ticket.

 

https://www.cloudyni...1600-mm-review/

 

-drl

Don't look like it has the mass of a 4" U mount.  If the OTA is108mm that also would make a mount look small since the OD is bigger than a 102.

[Ducky62]

Someone buy this satellite scope so I don't. it is the 816 not 815 just a typo

 https://www.cloudyni...cope-model-815/

 

And it's gone! One of theses days I'm going to buy a satellite scope that isn't a Tasco. I have two and a 3rd one is on the way

[Russell Smith]

And it's gone! One of theses days I'm going to buy a satellite scope that isn't a Tasco. I have two and a 3rd one is on the way

I have the 815 with the box and instructions.

I came really close to pulling the trigger on that one.

Bullet dodged.

[jgraham]

The Questar is at $2,445 with about 20 minutes to go. That's about where I thought it would land.

 

:

:

:

 

A flurry of last millisecond bidding pushed it to $2,801.

 

Value is in the eyes of the beholder...

Edited by jgraham, 02 December 2024 - 10:07 PM.

[Cavs56]

https://lansing.crai...7807055036.html

 

If this was close I would buy it. $300 with five eyepieces two of which are Televue.

[starfinder123123]

Over the past three years, we have met a number of the 'classics' regulars with the monthly restart of the thread. Of those, we have also met several of the past and present mods, bringing us to the December restart. I asked current forum moderator, Jared about his start and interest in our hobby and he had this to share.

 

"I am just old enough to remember the launch of the last manned mission to the moon. I think that’s what started it all for me, seeing humans learning about and even trying to explore beyond our own planet at the age of four. Even then, I knew it was something special. Like many Apollo era babies, I have always been fascinated with space. My first view through a telescope was at the age of eight when a neighbor of mine—a science fiction writer who wrote under the name of James Tiptree Jr—bought a Celestron C8 for herself and showed me the planets. I have been looking through and taking photographs with telescopes every chance I get ever since.

 

For me, classics are mostly just the telescopes I grew up with, from that first C8 I got to look through in 1975 onwards. I eventually bought a 1970’s era C8 of my own complete with storage footlocker, guide scope, camera accessories, etc. I spent a ridiculous number of frustrating nights with that C8 trying to learn how to guide it well enough to get a sharp exposure with hypered Techpan film. Never had success, but I learned a lot--about both telescopes, photography, and dedication to craft. I still think that the autoguider is the single greatest invention ever for amateur astronomers. Today, I own or use four telescopes that could be considered classics. The oldest (to me--not to the maker) is my Celestron C5 pictured below. It was a wedding gift from my wife, and I have yet to find an SCT with better optics. It still gets routine use in the back yard when I just need a quick break from the terrestrial routine.

msg-12462-0-45681900-1732819976_thumb.jpg

 

In addition to the C5, I also have a late 90's Astro-Physics 130mm EDF that is used almost exclusively as a visual instrument these days, though I originally bought it for deep sky astrophotography. It rode on a Losmandy GM8 for years, but eventually got matched up with an AP Mach1 mount. You can see it here setup in front of Chabot Space and Science Center's largest dome.

 

msg-12462-0-25908100-1732820720_thumb.jpg

 

My other two classics aren't really mine, but I have the privilege of using them sometimes. They are the Alvan Clark and Sons 8" and the Brashear 20" at Chabot, named Leah and Rachel respectively. Leah is probably the most beautiful telescope I have ever gotten to use, all brass and lacquer. And the 20", Rachel... Wow. That's what comes to mind when someone says, "telescope", right? I have been a volunteer at Chabot since 2007 and you can still find me out on the observing deck on most clear Friday and Saturday evenings sharing my joy in exploring the night sky with whoever is willing to listen, even if these days I usually have more wires, batteries, cameras, and computers than could possibly be considered acceptable on this forum.

 

msg-12462-0-81655500-1732821620_thumb.jpg

 

The basic guideline for this thread is to list ads and auctions for classic/vintage scopes and associated accessories that others may be interested in. Do not post your own ads or the ads of your friends, this includes items you may be trying to sell for someone else. We request that you do not post photos from ads. If you must have some reference to a photo in the post, post a link to the photo, not the photo itself. Concentrate on the item for sale, and not the seller.

Please post a live link to the item.  Do not post "PM me for the link".Short discussions can take place about the items listed. When quoting a post, edit the quoted post to include only the part you are replying to. Do not post the entire ad text, or large blocks of it, without permission from the author.    Keep on topic,   please!

    Buyer Beware- CN is not responsible for any of the ads or auctions posted here or their content. There are some scams floating around, so do your homework before pursuing any ad.

                                                              and this note from the moderators

Let's remember everybody, there's no one place that has all the best-used scope finds just as there's no one place that never has anything. All have something. No need to beat subjective matter, whatever the topic, into the ground. For the sake of all of us who love the classic forum, please keep moving the thread forward. Remember that many of your fellow forum members are already vintage themselves. Instead of restating your opinions over and over, consider sharing something new, insightful, or otherwise constructive to the topic at hand.

OOOOHHH man! I have to agree that that 8"refractor is the best telescope I have ever seen! WOW!!!!

[dblstar]

OH, the humanity!

 

https://www.facebook...b0-22807b71f924

[cavedweller]

OH, the humanity!

 

https://www.facebook...b0-22807b71f924

I see the perfect reversal of functionality involved.

[andylsun]

Tasco 8V (vixen) on what looks like a Polaris mount and tripod. $100 southern NH

https://m.facebook.c...367780453529023

Edited by andylsun, 03 December 2024 - 09:18 AM.

[jragsdale]

I see the perfect reversal of functionality involved.

Probably works better as a lamp anyways, haha.

[YourNotSirius]

The Questar is at $2,445 with about 20 minutes to go. That's about where I thought it would land.

 

:

:

:

 

A flurry of last millisecond bidding pushed it to $2,801.

 

Value is in the eyes of the beholder...

That being the case I believe that the decimal point should have been two positions further to the left, at best.

 

Q

[cavedweller]

…

Value is in the eyes of the beholder...

 

That being the case I believe that the decimal point should have been two positions further to the left, at best.

 

Q

No need to be insulting.

[SandyHouTex]

The Questar is at $2,445 with about 20 minutes to go. That's about where I thought it would land.

 

:

:

:

 

A flurry of last millisecond bidding pushed it to $2,801.

 

Value is in the eyes of the beholder...

I have never like auctions for anything.  When I was young, my dad being a captain on the police department, took me to an auction of bicycles thinking we might get a good deal.  Every bike auctioned went for more than the new price, because people get caught up in the "I want it" syndrome.  This appears to be what happened here.  This questar, without any accessories, and the inability to send it back to the manufacturer to fix it or get parts, was probably worth about half what it went for.

[jragsdale]

That being the case I believe that the decimal point should have been two positions further to the left, at best.

 

This questar, without any accessories, and the inability to send it back to the manufacturer to fix it or get parts, was probably worth about half what it went for.

It takes about 10 seconds to look at past sales to know you're both wrong. A 1996 Zerodur model in excellent condition? EASILY $3k. It went for a fair market price.

[jgraham]

Yeah, that's about what I was expecting, though it was fun to watch to see if someone got lucky. Anywho, someone ended up with a fine scope.

[Esso2112]

Watched an AP Starfire EDT 130 f8 and an AP Starfire EDFS 155 f7 sell for approximately $2500 and $6000 this morning on ZenMarket. Both would have been double that in the US. The AP155 was awfully tempting, but I controlled myself.

[98105dude]

The Q market remains strong despite everything. 

[starman876]

Does my heart good to see the Q fetch a reasonable price.

[apfever]

Orion XT8,  8" dob nice, Colorado Springs, $150, lots of pictures. On FB classifieds. 

No, no pictures of the mirror because people don't know to do that. I no longer expect it. It should be nice by feel for the ad. 

 

Link

Edited by apfever, 03 December 2024 - 03:02 PM.

[oregonstargazer]

Who got the 3-inch Unitron model 145-C photoequatorial refractor telescope at the Cedar Rapids, Iowa high school auction?  This was posted for this group less than a month ago.  The telescope was split into separate lots at this particular auction.

[YourNotSirius]

Does my heart good to see the Q fetch a reasonable price.

You can't afford me! 

 

Q

[deSitter]

Monster Meade Newtonian, 12.5" f/6 RG, $1000. These scopes almost always have good mirrors it seems. This is a good deal.

 

https://astromart.co...h-f6-with-mount

 

-drl

[deSitter]

Since Meade is gone, I think we can allow these discontinued eyepieces. Meade HD60 complete set. They are long eye relief and one of my happiest new purchases. Very happy with them. This is a good buy.

 

From 25mm to 4.5mm in 6 steps. They work great in fast scopes.

 

https://astromart.co...e-set-with-case

 

-drl

[SandyHouTex]

It takes about 10 seconds to look at past sales to know you're both wrong. A 1996 Zerodur model in excellent condition? EASILY $3k. It went for a fair market price.

The prices you cite are for a complete 90mm Questar.  That's not what we're talking about here.  It was a Questar body with a copy of the star map glued on top of the tube, no eyepieces, no legs, no solar filter, no pic of the optics, no case, no power cord, etc., etc..  And with Questar gone, you can't send it back for a refurbish or get parts.  So I don't think we're wrong at all.