27 replies to this topic

[The Planetman]

Never really thought of a Starmaster being considered a classic, but yeah, they are beginning to earn that status. 

My 24 turns 25 this year.  It's crazy when you think that it's been that long ago......

Attached Thumbnails

• 

[Jim Waters]

Great scopes and optics.

[Wildetelescope]

Never really thought of a Starmaster being considered a classic, but yeah, they are beginning to earn that status. 

My 24 turns 25 this year.  It's crazy when you think that it's been that long ago......

I am not the original owner of these but My TV102 and TMB 105 are only 2 or 3 years away from that mark!  And the Sky90 a couple years after that…. Crazy how time flies. Come to think of it, but my 10 inch Orion Intelliquest Dob is 21 years old, and I AM the original owner of that one, lol.    That star master is a great looking scope and I love that picture you posted!

 

JMD

[CHASLX200]

Can't beat the views with a Starmaster as all of mine gave the best snap on in the face views of planets at 700 to 1150x.

[Jon Isaacs]

Three of my Dob's are classics. Both the 12.5 inch and 16 inch started life as Discovery and Meade Tube Dob's from the 1990's but have undergone rather extensive modifications. My 13.1 inch Starsplitter was built in 1999. The 10 inch is 2002 and the 22 inch is 2003. The 25 inch F/5 Obsession I had was 1999.

 

But I don't really think of them as classics. I guess they just don't seem like what classics were when I joined Cloudy Nights more than 20 years ago.

 

Back then 25 years was 1979 and I had a hard time accepting the 1970's Celestron SCTs as classics but I eventually came around.

 

Jon

Edited by Jon Isaacs, 08 January 2025 - 12:22 PM.

[jragsdale]

One more year...

Attached Thumbnails

• 

[scout]

Can't beat the views with a Starmaster as all of mine gave the best snap on in the face views of planets at 700 to 1150x.

Yep, best views of Saturn and Jupiter I've ever seen were through a club member's 18" Starmaster more than a year ago. The photo-like images are burned into my brain.

 

EDIT: Or is it an Obsession? Oh well, I know it's 18" and has a Zambuto mirror. 

Edited by scout, 08 January 2025 - 08:36 PM.

[Bob S.]

Exciting news for the "Classic" Starmasters. Serge from Nexus will be coming out with the "brains" of his new drive electronics that will integrate with the Starmaster's stepper-motor drives. Great news for continuing the legacy of Rick and Carol Singmaster on scopes that have performed amazingly well. 

[photiost]

I have the Starmaster 20in f4.3 with a Zambuto mirror and the Sky Commander / Sky Tracker Goto and Track drive

 

Hard to beat Zambuto ... great news that soon I will be able to say it is a "Classic" Starmaster. 

 

 

Attached Thumbnails

• 

[CHASLX200]

14.5" Starmaster by me coming up for sale soon.

[starman876]

14.5" Starmaster by me coming up for sale soon.

Hope it is going cheap like everything else you sell

[CHASLX200]

Hope it is going cheap like everything else you sell

Not mine. I already had 2 of them and already know what they can do so no thrill in buying another brother. C14 also going up for sale with rings. I think i would need lots more weights for my AP900 and that would cost a heavy amount just for weights. 

[deSitter]

14.5" Starmaster by me coming up for sale soon.

Not freaky sharp?

 

-drl

[CHASLX200]

Not freaky sharp?

 

-drl

I am sure it is but i am not going for a 3rd 14.5".  Maybe the C14 if i can afford 30lbs of AP weights.

[starman876]

I am sure it is but i am not going for a 3rd 14.5".  Maybe the C14 if i can afford 30lbs of AP weights.

buy some round stainless steel bar off ebay.  Have a machine shop drill the hole for the counterweight bar and then drill and tap a hole for the lock down.  You will have some weights for pennies.  

 

https://www.ebay.com...:Bk9SR5zs0OalZQ

Edited by starman876, 22 February 2025 - 11:08 AM.

[deSitter]

buy some round stainless steel bar off ebay.  Have a machine shop drill the hole for the counterweight bar and then drill and tap a hole for the lock down.  You will have some weights for pennies.  

 

https://www.ebay.com...:Bk9SR5zs0OalZQ

I will never in 1000 years understand why anyone would pay $200 for a hunk of steel with a hole in it.

 

Buy a $150 dollar drill press and bore a hole in a $30 counterweight. Spend the other $20 on a good pizza.

 

-drl

[deSitter]

buy some round stainless steel bar off ebay.  Have a machine shop drill the hole for the counterweight bar and then drill and tap a hole for the lock down.  You will have some weights for pennies.  

 

https://www.ebay.com...:Bk9SR5zs0OalZQ

This is how to do it. You could probably set up a small company and just use the profits only for new gear and maybe an observatory!

 

My Meade LXD650 has an unusual shaft diameter, 7/8", and finding the right counterweights was not easy. You are pretty much stuck with Meade or drilling big holes in iron. I pestered Don Rothmann when Astronomy Mall was still around and he gladly helped out, and found a couple in his stash. I have enough to balance a 40 lb scope with room left over.

 

As for when is something a classic? I think there are cases where things made in say the 2000s are classics, if they were also made 25 years ago. So something in continuous production since 25 years ago, has to be considered a classic yes? The Televue 2.5x Powermate is a classic, for example.

 

-drl

[CHASLX200]

buy some round stainless steel bar off ebay.  Have a machine shop drill the hole for the counterweight bar and then drill and tap a hole for the lock down.  You will have some weights for pennies.  

 

https://www.ebay.com...:Bk9SR5zs0OalZQ

No shops around me. I may have almost enough weight. I gots 2 18lbs weighs and a 10lb.  Not sure what a C14 needs on a AP900.

Edited by CHASLX200, 22 February 2025 - 11:41 AM.

[ccwemyss]

Between 60 and 75 lbs depending on C14 model and accessories, if you don't want the weights so far out that they make the shaft vibrate. 

 

Chip W.

[CHASLX200]

Between 60 and 75 lbs depending on C14 model and accessories, if you don't want the weights so far out that they make the shaft vibrate. 

 

Chip W.

I would have to buy the big gun 30lb weight then.

[The Planetman]

No shops around me. I may have almost enough weight. I gots 2 18lbs weighs and a 10lb. Not sure what a C14 needs on a AP900.

I used 3 - 18# counterweights on my 1200 with the C14. I left about an inch between the center weight and upper/lower weight. And I had about 3 inches of counterweight shaft left on the bottom.
So, you can put a C14 on your 900 and be able to balance it with the weight you already have.

[CHASLX200]

I used 3 - 18# counterweights on my 1200 with the C14. I left about an inch between the center weight and upper/lower weight. And I had about 3 inches of counterweight shaft left on the bottom.
So, you can put a C14 on your 900 and be able to balance it with the weight you already have.

It comes with heavy rings so threw them in. I have more weighs but for the AP800 so won't fit.

[ccwemyss]

I balanced my C14 with a 30, 18, 10, and 5. 63 lbs total, but nearly at the top. It has a carbon fiber tube and dew shield, 10x40 finder (originally a fork-mounted black-tube that a prior owner de-forked and modified). Added another 30 lbs when I put the 6"f9 in tandem with it. 

 

Chip W. 

[LDW47]

This is how to do it. You could probably set up a small company and just use the profits only for new gear and maybe an observatory!

 

My Meade LXD650 has an unusual shaft diameter, 7/8", and finding the right counterweights was not easy. You are pretty much stuck with Meade or drilling big holes in iron. I pestered Don Rothmann when Astronomy Mall was still around and he gladly helped out, and found a couple in his stash. I have enough to balance a 40 lb scope with room left over.

 

As for when is something a classic? I think there are cases where things made in say the 2000s are classics, if they were also made 25 years ago. So something in continuous production since 25 years ago, has to be considered a classic yes? The Televue 2.5x Powermate is a classic, for example.

 

-drl

You want to change the accepted classic history, right. Let me ask, if a certain model of scope was first made say 30 yrs. ago and it is still being made say 10 yrs. ago as well are you saying the newer scope is still a classic scope even though it is a lot younger, eh.  Kind of like an NP101 might be or will be.  This has been discussed a few times over the years, lol.  PS:  My NP101 is a 2002 model so I figure 2 more years to go, right.

Edited by LDW47, 01 March 2025 - 12:28 AM.

[skygazer66WA]

My 11" F/5.4 Starmaster with a Zambuto mirror, which I bought in 2000, has become a classic. How time flies! It has provided wonderful views at Pacific NW star parties.

The TV-85 I bought used 5 years ago (made in 2002 according to the serial number) is not far behind in attaining classic status. The older Televues do have that classic look.