A few days ago, a friend offered me his old 6" f/8 Meade Starfinder sonotube Dob for a very fair price, about $140. This particular scope once belonged to my late mentor Per Darnell, who bought it new in 1995. I have observed Jupiter in it, back in 1995, along with Darnell, who had also taken a 4" f/8.8 Vixen FL-102S apochromat on an SP-DX mount out. We had a lot of fun comparing the two. I distincly remember seeing several festoons on Jupiter in a 7mm Vixen LV eyepiece.
After suffering an infection in his lower left leg, which led to an amputation of the foot and ankle, Darnell was unable to use the little Dob, so he gave it to another mentor of mine, Jens Østergaard Olesen, who passed away in January. His widow gave many of his telescopes away to a local club, that was started by a young guy, who has become a friend. And he offerede it to me, as he felt he didn't have the room or was going to use it much. How could I say no to such an offer? And so the circle became complete. The money I paid for the scope will go towards a club room for the small astronomy club.
The scope is still in remarkably good condition, appearing almost like new. It has almost always been kept indoors, in a warm room, when not in use. The coatings look fine. The motions are fairly smooth, without backlash or sticktion. The bearings appear to be real teflon.
The original plastic focuser was pretty horrible, though, even from new, and the years hadn't been as kind to it, as they had to the rest of the scope. As luck would have it, I had a brand new old stock Meade 1.25" metal focuser lying about. One that Jens Østergaard Olesen once gave me. So it, too, found its place, at last, and another little circle was closed. Everything seems to come together. It had the same hole pattern and dimensions as the dreadful plastic focuser, so I swapped them immediately. It fit the scope perfectly. The balance doesn't appear to be affected much at all. It's a very smooth focuser.
The finderscope and 25mm Meade MA eyepiece also needed a bit of cleaning, but looked nearly new, after the dust had been wiped off. The finderscope was a bit scratched up from the adjustment screws, but this is covered by the finderscope holder in normal use, so completely invisible.
The collimation is a fair bit off, so I have to get to work on that.
I realized I couldn't get away with posting something like this, and not show a picture, so here it is, in front of the Christmas tree, as is appropriate for the season.
Close-up of the (new) focuser and finderscope.
This could have been some kid's Christmas gift in 1995, and it would have been a very nice scope for a beginner.
I bought it on an impulse, and I don't regret it one bit. I am very much looking forward to first light.
Clear skies!
Thomas, Denmark